DeskGuard

For trichotillomania & skin picking · Mac

Catch hair pulling
the moment it starts.

Most pulling happens on autopilot: while you read, code or sit on a call. DeskGuard watches the areas you choose through your Mac's camera and nudges you when a hand lingers, so you notice in seconds instead of an hour later.

Download on the Mac App Store

7-day free trial · macOS 14 or later · Video never leaves your Mac

A Mac screen covered by DeskGuard's full-screen alert, which reads: Not the face.

How it works

Set it up once.
It watches while you work.

DeskGuard runs in your menu bar. You decide what it watches and how loudly it speaks up.

1

Choose your areas

Scalp, eyebrows, lashes, beard, mustache, cheeks, chin or neck. Only the ones you pick.

DeskGuard's Areas to watch list: eyebrows, eyes and lashes, mustache, cheek and jaw, neck, chin, scalp and hairline
2

Pick your nudge

A soft glow at the screen edge, a sound, or a full-screen “Not the face.” Your call.

DeskGuard's alert styles, including Glow, Stickers, Breathe and Pixel
3

Reset your hands

A short hand break gives your hands a different job until the urge passes.

A DeskGuard hand break with a countdown and the prompt: rest both hands flat on the desk

Built for the desk

Fewer false alarms.
More real catches.

Your hands touch your face all day for normal reasons. DeskGuard's filters know the difference.

  • Ignores everyday touches: sneezing, coughing, eating, adjusting glasses.
  • Waits before it alerts: a brief touch passes; a lingering hand doesn't.
  • Shows your progress: how often it noticed a hand, and the stretches between the pulls you log.
  • Stays out of the way: alerts pause while you set it up, and a cooldown stops repeat nags.
DeskGuard's Today page showing touches noticed, stretches between pulls and a daily chart

Privacy

Your camera feed
stays on your Mac.

Frames are analyzed with Apple Vision on your Mac, then discarded. Your history stays on your Mac too, unless you export it. Crash reports and anonymous usage counts are off unless you turn them on.

Read the privacy policy →
On-deviceCamera frames are never sent to any server.
No video savedOptional alert snapshots are off by default and never leave your Mac.
DiscreetYour subscription is listed as “DeskGuard,” with no diagnosis in the name.

Guides

Practical help for
pulling and picking.

Plain advice that works with or without the app.

Hair pulling

How to stop pulling your hair while working at your computer

Why desk time triggers pulling, and seven changes that help: from habit reversal to your Zoom settings.

Read the guide →

Questions,
answered.

Does DeskGuard record or upload video?

No. Apple Vision analyzes camera frames on your Mac and discards them. Nothing is uploaded, and no video is saved.

Can it tell if I actually pulled a hair?

No. It detects hand position: a hand lingering in an area you chose. That is enough to interrupt automatic pulling, which usually starts with exactly that.

Does it work for skin picking?

Yes, for picking at the face: cheeks, jaw, chin, eyebrows and neck. It does not watch your fingers or arms.

Does it detect nail biting?

Not yet. Hands at the mouth are ignored today so eating and coughing don't trigger alerts. Nail biting is on the roadmap.

Is DeskGuard a treatment for trichotillomania?

No. It is an awareness tool, not a medical device. It works well alongside habit reversal training or therapy with a BFRB specialist.

What does it cost?

Seven days free for eligible new subscribers, then $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Cancel anytime in your Apple Account.

Pricing

Try DeskGuard
free for 7 days.

$4.99per month
$29.99per year
Download on the Mac App Store

A subscription is required after the trial. The trial is for eligible new subscribers. US prices shown.