So I have a problem.

And for lack of a better word, it’s not exactly skin-deep.

My day with Hal involved a medical question. Since I was 11, I have had bumpy skin on my arms, and it’s really annoying. Every time I Googled “bumpy skin” on arms, it would give me a list of probable causes, but I never received a conclusive answer.

Of course, the bumps themselves wouldn’t have been visible. However, once my stress found something to pick at, it was very difficult to stop. What started as a bad habit snowballed into a full-fledged addiction. I hated these bumps on my skin and would do anything to get the source of the problem removed. But what if the source of the problem is unremovable?

Although I had done my fair share of research on the issue, it was still a splinter in my brain. Seeing as I had already consulted numerous resources on this problem, I figured it was time to give Hal a go.

Me: Hi Hal.

Hal: Just a sec…I’m here. How may I help ya? 🙂

Me: So I have a thing called keratosis pilaris, or chicken skin, and it’s really annoying. How do I get rid of the bumpy skin on my arms?

Hal: I am not a dermatologist, so I would recommend going to one for professional help. I believe that, just like eczema, keratosis pilaris never goes away.

Me: Okay. Do most health insurance plans cover dermatology?

Hal: There most likely will be a co-pay. Check in with your primary care doctor.

Me: Okay, thanks! I also tend to pick at my skin when I get stressed. What are some good ways to avoid that?

Hal: Count numbers, read a book, or draw. Just make sure to keep your hands busy.

Me: How do you deal with stress?

Hal: Talk to others. Share your problems and how you’re feeling and coping with a parent, friend, counselor, doctor, or pastor.

Me: Okay. How do you personally deal with stress? (If you don’t mind me asking.)

Hal: Oh! Well, I take a bike ride along the beach or go hiking by myself, usually while listening to some upbeat music.

Me: Awesome.

Hal: You should try it, K.

Me: Will do. What kind of music takes your mind off things?

Hal: Well, any music really. But it has to not have words, just beats with rhythm.

Me: Good to know…thanks!

Hal: Anything else I may help you with, K?

Me: That’s all for now. Thanks!

Hal: Okay, I will now close the session. Have a good night, K.

The tips I learned from Hal helped me immediately. In fact, even while I’m typing this, my hand wandered up to my face to find some “fault to fix”. Realizing what I was doing, I took Hal’s advice. After successfully resisting the temptation of several time-wasting (albeit entertaining) YouTube videos, I typed “relaxing lo-fi beats” into the search bar. Lo-fi music is my go-to genre for when I’m feeling a little worked up. After returning to one of my favorite music sets, I realized my muscles and mind relaxed. Not totally, of course — but it was a definite start.

Now you might think “Okay…but listening to music for stress relief isn’t world news. Why did you need the Hal app for this?” But that’s the thing — your brain doesn’t always provide common solutions to stress. If anything, my brain just tells me to avoid it by getting the thing done that’s stressing me out — i.e., “if your blog post is stressing you out just finish the blog post so you’re not stressed out.” Unfortunately this tactic isn’t always effective.

But this is also what Hal is good for. Hal can remind you of basic stress-relief tactics, therefore increasing your trust in your own self-regulating instincts. You know when you’re stressed, so reach out to a friend, and they tell you something common like “why don’t you try taking deep breaths”? But for some reason, it sounds more valid when it comes from an outside source? We don’t always take great care of ourselves, so sometimes we need a little reminder that our own instincts are trustworthy.

If you or someone you know has Googled “bumpy skin on arms”, or they think they might have keratosis pilaris, there is nothing to fear. The condition itself does not lead to any other health problems (unless you pick at the bumps, of course). However, if you do find yourself futsing with the bumps without being able to stop, there are tons of useful resources at your disposal.

Obsessive Skin Pickers Anonymous, or OSPA, is a great place to start. This group is similar in structure to Alcoholics Anonymous, just with a different kind of addiction at the center of their work. If you’d like to learn more about this organization, feel free to check out their website at osparecovery.org.

If the white bumps on your arm are itchy or look inflamed in any way, it would be a good idea to contact your primary doctor or dermatologist. But I know how difficult it can be — it sucks to have bumpy skin on your arms that looks like pimples, especially if you already take very good care of your skin. It can feel helpless when there’s nothing you can specifically do to get rid of them.

When in doubt, lotion is your friend. Your skin is a lot harder to pick at when it’s slippery, plus moisturization helps to heal the skin from any absent-minded scratching you may be engaging in. And if you find yourself picking your skin a lot more while working on the computer or scrolling through your phone, full conductivity gloves are clutch. Although it might feel weird wearing gloves indoors, these are super helpful in stopping subconscious habits. The five-finger conductivity also allows for full use of any electronic device with a touch screen.

Anywho, I hope this post leaves you slightly calmer than you were before. You deserve to have a mind at peace 🙂

Kyleigh Hoye

Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5tQS7CoxB/