Obsessed with shaver/stubble

May flowers

This has been going on a while with my FIL. He has a skin picking issue that started last year. He is convinced that he is feeling stubble, so he picks more and more trying to get rid of the stubble, but it is actually scabs or dry skin he is trying to get rid of. We have tried everything, the only things that work are keeping him busy (not just his hands, he doesn’t like fidget toys), Eucerin cream, and CBD oil (which they can’t give him at MC). The neurologist tried several different meds, nothing worked, some made it worse.

Anyway, his obsession with the “stubble” has turned to an obsession over his shaver (almost new), He’s convinced it doesn’t work. I have felt his skin  after he shaves and it is smooth so it’s not the shaver. I tried helping him shave, but then it was my fault he had “stubble”. 

The caregivers at MC seem to doing a good job handling the picking issue, but the shaver keeps coming up in every conversation with us. I’m thinking we just do a fiblet and pretend we are replacing the shaver whenever we visit. Thoughts?

jfkoc

Have you tried giving him the shaver each time he feels stubble?

May flowers

I tried that when he was here, but he would just try it and then get upset that the shaver is broken - he’s not feeling stubble, he’s feeling scabs and rough skin

Marta

Can the shaver disappear and let him grow a beard?  Just thinking outside the box.

You may logically think that a beard would bother him more, but logic does not apply in dementia, and you won't know until you try.

Good luck.

harshedbuzz

Sometimes picking has an almost OCD/repetitive behavior element and responds well to an SSRI like Zoloft or Prozac. Has something like that been trialed?

Meantime, I'd go with your plan- validate his frustration with the "broken" shaver and offer to bring in a replacement when you visit. 

Dad's beard became something of a "food diary" at a certain stage, so I would not suggest growing one if he's not awesome about grooming.

HB

May flowers

Yes, they’ve tried several different OCD/anxiety/depression meds, and different doses. Nothing has worked, some made it worse. He is on low dose Zoloft now, not helping, but not harming. Higher dose of Zoloft made the picking worse and he became very agitated.

The only thing that worked was CBD oil, which the MC can’t give him because the neurologist won’t rx it. That’s just annoying, honestly, his doc has no problem with his using it, just doesn’t believe there are enough trials to warrant prescribing it.

The nurse at MC is going to contact their geriatric docs to see if she can get it approved.

I think we may just bring in his other shaver, also pretty new, and just switch them out from week to week. I don’t think he will ever grow a beard but I will run it by DH.

Thanks all!