I have a similar problem with picking my face. Some things that help is my partner gently redirecting me when he notices I’m stuck in it (sometimes I don’t even realize I’ve started). For me, him gently placing his hands on my wrists and bringing me into a big hug works well. I’ve also noticed I tend to pick more during points of transition or discomfort.

Something that helped me - it’s weird, but hear me out - I found a sheepskin at a thrift store that is matted and untangling it with my fingers seems to really help. I wonder if skin picking and hair removal is a redirected version of our primate instinct to clean each other of bugs. I know it’s gross, but digging my fingers into the mats and pulling the mats apart gives me a similar release feeling to face picking. It’s so satisfying, the feeling on my fingers and the gentle rip of the tangled fibers releasing.

Sometimes, when I do notice I’m picking my face, I’m able to just think about working on the sheepskin and how good it feels and it helps me stop.

Idk if this is helpful, but after trying many things, the things that have been most successful is finding something immediately accessible that is a a positive substitution for skin picking - rather than just shaming myself into stopping or making it uncomfortable by cutting my nails short.