Picking Skin

trm

There is a big fancy word called Dermatillomanina which is a OCD thing of picking one's on skin.  My spouse picks her arms over and over and over.  They bleed.  It is messy and it is frustrating.  The Doc raised the antidepressant but it didn't help.  Just curious if anyone else has had this issue and any luck of how to control it?  This is such an exhausting disease.  It is brutal and each day seems to bring more challenges, more battles, and more exhaustion.

toolbeltexpert

Trm I see several here in the mcf where my wife is, who incessantly pick. One man has opened several sores on the top of his head that put creme and bandage it once it heals he starts all over again.

It does seem to come and go though.

Stewart

harshedbuzz

trm-

This is a fairly common behavior among people with autism as well. I used to be forum moderator for a support and information forum around Aspergers/HFA where this topic came up frequently. It can be difficult to get a handle on it.

Some strategies that can help extinguish this behavior follow. Many families report that it can take a multipronged approach to dealing with picking and that sometimes only a slight improvement can be gained even with vigilant care.

1. I'm not sure which medication your doctor prescribed, but psychiatrists and developmental pedis I have talked with typically cite Zoloft as the most likely to be successful in dialing back this kind of behavior. 

2. Often this picking is worsened by the sensations created when scabs form. There's a feeling of the skin not being smooth/scabs pulling as the skin under them heals. If you can keep the skin moisturized in general and especially prevent scabs from forming in the first place, the need to pick may be lessened. Using a rich cream like Cetaphil can keep the skin moisturized and current wounds can be dressed with an application of something like Aquaphor or petroleum jelly. I'd avoid Neosporin as many people are sensitive to it. 

3. Limiting access to healing wounds helps, too. A tightly fitting long-sleeved top may help limit the damage she can do to her skin. A cotton or silky thermal tee might be worth trying. Also, keep her nails trimmed really short-- a quick file daily with an emery board can maintain this once you've gotten them cut. Some folks use mittens or mitts--especially overnight.

4. When my son did this it was about a scab that he wouldn't leave alone. I used Liquid Bandage on healthy skin to redirect this allowing him to pick at that rather than skin. 

5. Adding a figit might help if this behavior is driven by boredom. Theraputty, a poppet toy or even towels to fold might keep her busy enough to give her skin a rest. 

HTH-

HB

Quilting brings calm

It can also happen to people who have anxiety and depression. My mom picked at the skin on her arms, until they bled, for decades, as has my spouse.   Yes, mom now has dementia, but only for the last few years. It is as if they feel imaginary bumps or scabs. Then of course they end up with scabs, that they then pick at.   Both are on medications for their anxiety and depression.

Niki_Fred

My dad has Alzheimer's and picks at his skin. He will sit on the toilet forever picking out his arms and legs. He gets mad at us when we try to tell him to get off the toilet. He just says he'll get off when he's ready. He picks up the scabs and then takes little pieces of toilet paper and dabs up the blood and he will spend hours if you let him. We have tried putting lotion on him, but he doesn't like the feeling of lotion on his skin. Once we put the lotion on he'll want to take a towel and wipe it off.

He will pick at his skin while watching TV, at the dining room table, and even in bed. I have asked him why he picks and he says it's just for something to do so I've given him hidden picture books to try to keep him busy when we are outside of his room. Sometimes it seems to work, but the worst part is trying to get him out of the toilet without making him mad.

Dio

So sorry you and your LO are going through this. I remember so clearly when DH was picking scab after scab, and the bleeding. Nothing helped to curb it. He finally stopped when Depakote was added which truly was a life saver in all aspects…it's like his brain got reset back to normal. I'm still searching high and low for others who have had this experience with Depakote.

Maru

I guess I should feel lucky. DH doesn't pick at his skin, but scratches or rubs. He complains about it itching. There is no rash and the itch can be anywhere on his body. We go through enough Aveeno and Cerve that I should buy stock in the companies. I think it is anxiety, something he has struggled with for 50 years plus.

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/242297#Comment_242297

My husband does the same thing. He will scratch so much on his torso and arms he will cause welts. We have had to go to the ER for him to get a steroid shot. Dermatologist said his scratching and rubbing is creating the problem with his body and histamines. They gave me a prescription called Triamcinolone acetonide cream that does seem to help. Occasionally I give him an antihistamine and that seems to help. The doctor said use those very sparingly because of studies linking that to dementia. I may need to check into the depakote.

Maru

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/242300#Comment_242300

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/242300#Comment_242300

He is using an antihistamine. The cream that you mentioned, which I have for my exzema, can only be used sparing and only where needed, then 2 weeks off. I have finally come to the conclusion that this is anxiety, which he has always been prone to. We will be asking for antianxiety meds and hope that that does it.

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/242371#Comment_242371

You are correct, it is anxiety. He was very anxious last night and was scratching. The cream is used very sparingly. Ironically a dab of preparation H stops the itching more than anything I have tried. My husband is on anti depressants which does help but my doctor was concerned about him taking anti anxiety meds.

Maru

preparation H….interesting. We will give it a try.

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/242672#Comment_242672

we use the ointment. He said the cooling gel didn’t work.