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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A doctor can assess BDD by video, refer you for CBT and prescribe an SSRI when it is right; severe BDD may need a specialist service.
- What it is: a mental health condition in which you spend a lot of time worrying about flaws in your appearance that others often cannot see. It is not vanity.
- How common: about 1 in 100 people. It usually starts in the teenage years and affects men and women.
- Treatment: CBT with exposure and response prevention, and an SSRI such as fluoxetine, alone or together. Without treatment, it rarely goes away on its own.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department if you might act on thoughts of ending your life, or have harmed yourself.
Do not book a video appointment if you are thinking about ending your life and might act on it, or have harmed yourself or taken an overdose. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat body dysmorphic disorder?
Yes, usually. BDD is recognised from what you describe, so a doctor can assess it by video without examining you. The doctor can refer you for cognitive behavioural therapy, prescribe an SSRI after a full assessment, and review how treatment is working. Severe BDD, or BDD that has not improved with treatment, may need a specialist service, and skin damaged by picking may need to be seen in person.
How an online consultation helps with body dysmorphic disorder
- No judgement on your looks: The doctor asks about the worries and what they cost you, not about whether the flaw is real.
- The right therapy: A referral for CBT with exposure and response prevention, the therapy that works best.
- Medicine when it helps: An SSRI for moderate or severe BDD, with reviews while it takes effect.
- What travels with it: Low mood, anxiety, OCD, eating problems and thoughts of self-harm asked about and treated.
What the doctor checks in an online BDD consultation
The doctor asks about safety first, then about the worries and what they stop you doing. The doctor asks about:
- Safety: thoughts of suicide or self-harm, which are common with BDD and asked about plainly.
- The worries: which part of your body, how many hours a day they take, and how sure you are that the flaw is real.
- What you do about them: checking mirrors or avoiding them, hiding the area, grooming, skin picking, seeking reassurance.
- What they stop you doing: work, studies, going out, relationships, photos.
- Mood and eating: low mood, anxiety, OCD, and whether you are restricting food or exercising excessively.
- Cosmetic treatments: procedures you have had or are planning, and how you felt afterwards.
You can keep your camera on your face only, or off when you need to. Nobody will ask you to show the area that worries you.
What are the symptoms of body dysmorphia?
The main symptom is being preoccupied with a flaw in your appearance that others cannot see or think is minor, often with a strong belief that it makes you ugly, and that others notice it or mock you. The worries lead to behaviours that are hard to resist:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you may do | Examples |
|---|---|
| Checking | Looking in mirrors a lot, or avoiding mirrors altogether |
| Comparing | Comparing your looks with other people’s, again and again |
| Hiding | Concealing the area with styling, make-up, clothes or your posture |
| Fixing | Excessive grooming, picking at your skin to make it smooth, seeking cosmetic procedures |
| Seeking reassurance | Asking others whether you look all right, without the answer helping for long |
| Avoiding | Staying away from social situations, photos or work |
The most common areas of concern are the face, including the nose, complexion and blemishes, and the hair, skin, chest, stomach and muscles. BDD can seriously affect work, social life and relationships, and it can lead to depression, self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
Muscle dysmorphia
Muscle dysmorphia is a form of BDD in which you believe your body is too small or not muscular enough, however you look. It occurs almost only in men.
How sure are you that the flaw is real?
Insight varies. Some people know their worries are excessive, some think they are probably true, and some are completely convinced. The more convinced you are, the more distress and disruption BDD tends to cause, but treatment helps at every level of insight.
What causes body dysmorphic disorder, and who gets it?
It is not known exactly what causes BDD. These make it more likely:
- a relative with BDD, OCD or depression
- being teased, bullied, neglected or abused as a child
- perfectionism
- pressure and expectations around beauty
- another mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression
About 1 in 100 people have BDD, and men and women are equally affected. It usually starts in the teenage years. Some people with BDD also have OCD, generalised anxiety disorder or an eating disorder.
Body dysmorphia or something else?
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | How it differs | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Eating disorders | Worries centre on weight and shape, with changes in eating | Eating disorders |
| Obsessive-compulsive disorder | Obsessions and compulsions about other things, such as germs or harm | OCD |
| Social anxiety | Fear of being judged in general, not about one feature | Social anxiety |
| Depression | Low mood and loss of interest; often comes with BDD | Depression |
| Gender dysphoria | Distress because your gender identity does not match the sex recorded at birth | A specialist gender service |
How is body dysmorphic disorder treated? Does it go away?
BDD rarely goes away without treatment and may get worse, but treatment works. Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most effective talking therapy, and SSRI antidepressants usually work best of the medicines. Treatment depends on how severe it is:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| How severe | Usual treatment | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | CBT, alone or in a group | Usually includes exposure and response prevention |
| Moderate | CBT or an SSRI | The SSRI can take up to 12 weeks to work |
| Severe, or not improving | CBT together with an SSRI | If there is no improvement after 12 weeks, a different SSRI or clomipramine, or a specialist clinic |
Exposure and response prevention means gradually facing the situations that set off the worries, such as being seen without make-up, while resisting the checking, hiding or reassurance-seeking, with a therapist helping you find other ways to cope. If an SSRI works, you usually continue it for several months, and reduce it slowly once you have had no symptoms for 6 to 12 months.
Will cosmetic surgery help?
Rarely. People with BDD often seek several procedures to fix the flaw. Any relief is usually temporary, and the anxiety returns.
Which BDD treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how much time the worries take, what they stop you doing, and how you are coping. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worries about your looks that take up time, but you manage daily life | Referral for CBT | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Avoiding going out, hours of checking or hiding | CBT or an SSRI, with reviews | Yes | If there is no improvement after 12 weeks |
| Severe BDD, unable to work or leave home | CBT and an SSRI, and a specialist referral | Partly | For a specialist service |
| Skin picking that leaves wounds or infected spots | BDD treatment, and care for the skin | Partly | If the skin is infected or scarred |
| Planning a cosmetic procedure | Assessment for BDD first | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Eating very little, or rapid weight loss | Assessment for an eating disorder | Partly | For specialist eating disorder care |
| Thoughts of ending your life that you might act on | Emergency help | No | Call 112 now |
Worries about your appearance taking over your day? A doctor can tell you in one consultation what will help.
See available times →Treatment options for body dysmorphic disorder
What you can do yourself
- Notice how much time checking, comparing and hiding take, and cut back step by step.
- Limit mirror checks, or cover mirrors you check most often, while you are in treatment.
- Take a break from photo filters and from comparing yourself on social media.
- Tell someone you trust what you are going through.
- Put cosmetic procedures on hold until you have been assessed.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. For moderate or severe BDD, the doctor may prescribe an SSRI, most often fluoxetine, after a full assessment. It can take up to 12 weeks to work, and people under 30, and anyone with a history of suicidal behaviour, are reviewed closely. Benzodiazepines are controlled medicines and are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Cosmetic procedures to fix the flaw, which rarely bring lasting relief. Reassurance from others, which helps only briefly. Avoiding every situation that sets off the worries: facing them gradually, with support, is part of the treatment.
Special situations
Cosmetic procedures at home or abroad
If you are thinking about cosmetic surgery, hair transplants or other procedures, including on a trip abroad, talk to a doctor about BDD first. Procedures rarely help BDD, and complications far from home are harder to deal with.
Skin picking
Picking can damage the skin. A doctor can treat the skin and the BDD behind the picking. The acne page covers spots that need treatment.
Pregnancy
Tell the doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, because it changes which medicines are suitable.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When body dysmorphic disorder is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: assessment of BDD, referral for CBT, SSRI treatment with reviews, and care for the low mood and anxiety that come with it.
In-person care: specialist services for severe BDD or BDD that has not improved, wounds from skin picking, eating disorder care, and any emergency.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- thoughts of ending your life that you might act on
- having harmed yourself, or taken an overdose
Get medical advice the same day for:
- thoughts of death or self-harm without a plan to act on them
- skin picking that has left a spreading, hot, painful area
- not eating, or fainting
You can also find a free, confidential crisis helpline in your country at findahelpline.com.
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your worries: say how much time they take and what they stop you doing, and mention any treatments or procedures you have had.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s body dysmorphic disorder? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about body dysmorphic disorder
What is body dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you spend a lot of time worrying about flaws in your appearance that others often cannot see or think are minor. It is not vanity, and it can seriously affect daily life.
How do you know if you have body dysmorphia?
Signs of body dysmorphia are worrying a lot about one area of your body, comparing your looks with others, checking or avoiding mirrors, hiding the area, picking at your skin, and avoiding social situations. A doctor can assess it with you.
Does BDD ever go away?
BDD rarely goes away without treatment and may get worse, but CBT and SSRIs help most people. If an SSRI works, it is usually continued for several months and reduced slowly after 6 to 12 months without symptoms.
What is the difference between body dysmorphia and body dysphoria?
Body dysmorphia is a preoccupation with flaws in your appearance that others barely notice. Gender dysphoria is different: long-lasting distress because your gender identity does not match the sex recorded at birth.
Is body dysmorphia a mental illness?
Yes. Body dysmorphic disorder is a recognised mental health condition, related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, that affects about 1 in 100 people and usually starts in the teenage years. It is not vanity and it is not a choice, and it responds well to treatment with cognitive behavioural therapy and, when needed, an SSRI.
What causes body dysmorphia?
The exact cause is not known. A relative with BDD, OCD or depression, teasing, bullying or abuse in childhood, perfectionism and pressure around beauty make it more likely.
How is body dysmorphic disorder treated?
With cognitive behavioural therapy, usually including exposure and response prevention, and an SSRI such as fluoxetine for moderate or severe symptoms. Severe BDD often needs both together.
What can I do myself about body dysmorphia?
Start with small steps that break the cycle: set limits on mirror checking and on comparing yourself with others, stop asking for reassurance, and keep up social plans even when you feel you look wrong, because avoidance keeps body dysmorphia going. Keep a note of the thoughts that come up and how much they cost you in time, which helps a doctor or therapist, and read a self-help guide based on CBT. These steps support treatment; on their own they rarely replace it.
Can body dysmorphic disorder be prevented?
There is no proven way to prevent body dysmorphic disorder, because it comes from a mix of genes, temperament and experiences such as bullying or teasing about appearance, but early help makes a big difference: BDD usually starts in the teenage years and is often hidden for years out of shame, so recognising the signs early, taking appearance worries seriously without feeding them with reassurance, limiting time spent on image-focused social media, and getting CBT at the first signs help stop it becoming entrenched.
Will cosmetic surgery fix body dysmorphia?
Rarely. People with body dysmorphia who have cosmetic procedures are usually dissatisfied with the result, and any relief is temporary: the worry moves to another feature or returns to the same one, and the anxiety comes back. Treating the BDD itself, with CBT and an SSRI when needed, works far better, which is why surgeons are advised to screen for it.
What is muscle dysmorphia?
A form of BDD in which you believe your body is too small or not muscular enough, however you look. It occurs almost only in men.
How can I help someone with body dysmorphia?
If someone has body dysmorphia, listen without arguing about their appearance, avoid giving reassurance again and again, which helps only briefly, and encourage them to see a doctor. If they might act on thoughts of suicide, call 112.
Can an online doctor treat body dysmorphic disorder?
Yes, usually. A doctor can assess BDD by video, refer you for CBT and prescribe an SSRI when it is right. Severe BDD may need a specialist service.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 18 October 2023.
- Body dysmorphic disorder: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), updated 13 December 2022.
- Body dysmorphic disorder, Johns Hopkins Medicine (US), accessed 15 October 2026.
- Gender dysphoria, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 14 May 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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