Scars of Shame is the only documentary to examine the skin picking disorder, dermatillomania. Many individuals with this compulsion live with embarrassment and shame from the marks it leaves on the skin and the inability to stop. This educational film delves into the details of this mental illness, explores possibilities for recovery from body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and provides insights from leading experts, including researchers, professors, and psychologists.
Angela Hartlin, author of FOREVER MARKED: A Dermatillomania Diary, shares her experiences through interviews, life-style coverage and personal video diary footage. She travels from the east coast of Canada to the west coast of the United States, searching for answers about her condition.
Trailer
Filmed in 2010 and 2011, Scars of Shame is a comprehensive documentary highlighting treatment options, research, and the impact that this stigmatizing disorder has on Angela’s life, along with thousands of others around the world.
Check out the trailer for a preview of the documentary and Angela’s story.
Features
Conference attendees Doug, Rahel, Molly, and Stephen speak out about their struggle with compulsive skin picking. Jude Stevenson and TLC board member Dana Marie Flores detail their stories in the special features. TLC’s founder Christina Pearson discusses how the non-profit began and offers insight into her recovery from BFRBs.
Professionals Dr. Charles Mansueto, Dr. Fred Penzel, Dr. Douglas Woods, Dr. Christina Noble, and Dr. Suzanne Mouton-Odum share their expertise in Scars of Shame, including in an extensive special features section. Angela’s family and friends share their perspectives on her condition.
DVDs are no longer available for individual purchase. If you are a provider or institution please contact Angela for more information.
Reviews
Credits
Scars of Shame was made possible through a crowd-fundraising campaign, along with assistance from the National Film Board of Canada. Special thanks to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, now the TLC Foundation of BFRBs, for allowing us to film at the 2011 conference.
DIRECTOR
Lisa Heyden
PRODUCERS
Lisa Heyden
John Rosborough
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Darryl Leblanc
MUSIC
Kyle Cameron
EDITING
David Anthony Mullins
Release
Scars of Shame was first screened in New Jersey, USA, at TLC‘s 2013 conference. The documentary made it’s official debut in Nova Scotia, CA, Sept. 19th, 2015, at the Atlantic Film Festival, with DVDs becoming available to the public shortly after.
Due to the dated material in the film, Scars of Shame was released online for free in 2022.
Media
The Scars of Shame trailer made a few television appearances, including on local news, GMA Network in the Phillipines, and a [questionable] Fox News 11 debut.
Update
A lot has happened with TLC, awareness, and Angela since filming Scars of Shame:
- In 2013, the DSM-5 was released to include excoriation disorder, the official name for compulsive skin picking.
- Trichotillomania Learning Center changed its name to TLC Foundation for BFRBs.
- Christina Pearson left TLC and created the Heart & Soul Academy for BFRB Living Skills.
- Angela appeared on The Doctors in 2015, and went into recovery after receiving 12 weeks of therapy from Karen Pickett.
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