Picking at skin

TXGram

please help! My husband was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia. He picks at his arms, face, hands, ears and legs. Today he picked at his hands from morning to night. I can’t keep him preoccupied long enough to stop. I put bandages on him but he takes them off. I’m at a loss and he’s getting more and more open areas everywhere.

ronda b

Is the dr aware he is is doing this? It could be from anxiety and they could give him something for that.

TXGram

I called the neurologist and he said there was nothing else they could give him. I think I’ll try again tomorrow because it’s gotten worse.

SDianeL

never had this with my DH but read that they make gloves for dementia patients. you can search on Amazon. Also Try a fidget board. Keep skin moisturized and make sure the drink plenty of water. Have them wear long sleeves. Hope this helps.

TXGram

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the fidget toy but he isn’t interested. Same with the gloves. I find that giving him scrap books that he has made about his military career helps keep him occupied and keeps his hands busy. The neurologist is send a referral to a geriatric psychiatrist who may have some answers. In the meantime I try to keep bandages on the open areas.

jehjeh

My hubby does this. I have been trying to keep them covered with band aids but he, too, picks at the band aids. He thinks these sores are appearing out of nowhere. He doesn't realize he's causing them. I will even see him picking at the scabs and remind him not to touch them. He insists he's not touching them...as he's touching them. It's maddening. Long pants, sleeves doesn't help. He still gets to them.

Never thought of anxiety. His pcp left the practice and we won't meet new dr. for 3 weeks. Hope he's a good fit. You just never know.

harshedbuzz

@TXGram

Skin picking is often driven by anxiety. I am active in the ASD community where picking is a common issue as well. Some strategies parents managing this behavior use are:

Medication. It's great that you have a referral to a geripsych. They should have options that might tamp down the behavior. Often an SSRI or tricyclic antidepressant is prescribed. Anecdotally I have heard many folks suggest Zoloft as the best of the bunch.

Sometimes there's a sensory piece where "pulling" of scabs leads to a cycle of picking- scabbing- picking. Dressing the spots with plain Vaseline to avoid hard dry scabs may lessen the behavior.

Redirection is good. One strategy I found by accident was painting the palm of DS's non-dominant hand with a non-toxic glue like Elmer's and allowing him to pick at that once dry.

HB