Follow
Share
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
My mom picked at a spot on the tip of her nose and it looked awful. It went on for quite a while and we talked with her doctor about it and he put her on a med but I don't remember what (it's been a few years). Something they give for OCD. She finally left it alone and it healed up. Ask you mom's dr about it.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Llamalover47 Jun 2022
Jamesj: Wow. So sorry for your mom as no doubt once she'd started with that habit, it may have become difficult for her to stop.
(0)
Report
Guayaquil: Your mother has developed a tic, which is a habit. Perhaps her physician can assist in a remedy, but oftentimes it's difficult to break such a habit. Good luck.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Mom, 96 in MC for 5 years has done this for years. We have the care givers apply sensitive skin cream all over every morning, it helps some. Trying to get them to keep her nails SHORT would help, but does not seem to happen. At least they are finally cleaning under them. She keeps her hands in fists when not scratching so checking them is difficult. She is on hospice so has anti anxiety and pain controll meds, I think it is a combo of itchy, bumpy skin, habit and dementia. Very hard to watch and I do try to redirect.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

My husband picks at his cuticles and hands bloody and then unaware he smears blood on sheets, sofa, walls, clothes, etc. These open wounds were extra scary with Covid but it was great to know where he had been messing around in the house when I wasn’t looking. :(

Some captive birds will pluck themselves bald from the neck down and as you can probably figure, it could be due to dietary and medical reasons, and there are two other possibilities. 

First, not getting enough attention. (I hated to mention that because, man it's already a 24/7 thing for caregivers, but you know what I'm talking about), and the second and the key that worked for us, as again you know, is a lack of mental stimulation.

Crossword puzzles once helped. Now books of great photographic images of animals, with absolutely no text, are helpful. Cute baby animals photos work best in our case.
I dump all my clean rags and ask him to fold them. 
At a craft store like Michaels and I bought soft balls of very thick and medium thick yarn and make a wild mess of easy knots and then say “help” and give it to him to undo.
I have tons of socks and ask him to match them up. Who cares if they are not. I got a few minutes of peace out of it.
There is a website called The Alzheimer Store where I get ideas and make my own version of something I see or I make the purchase.
I know what age my husband's manual capabilities have reached and go to the children's section of book stores to find stuff. He was at 10, then eight, he's closing in on 6. I still admire all the things he fixed and built, when he was well, for our house. He needs to be busy.
Online I bought kinetic desk toys which make him feel like he made something happen.
I bought a Simpl (no e on Simpl) one touch radio that is pre-recorded with his beloved '40's music.

He still picks but way, way less.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Speak with the Dr. There are disorders (trichotrillomania sp? Which is hair pulling, but there are others) that are compulsive (OCD type) disorders that I think dementia may bring out. Mentally disabled people have these issues sometimes. Usually anti anxiety meds help, but as most know, once dementia really takes hold, there not much that can be done.

My husband pulls at his mustache or the hair on his arms. His anti anxiety meds helped a little.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I have no solutions. My mother does the same thing. She has temporarily stopped picking at her face and her sore places have healed. She does pick her nose and her scalp quite a bit and nothing has stopped her yet.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

It’s miserable to watch someone scratch, pick skin off their own body creating sores, just another problem for the caregiver.

When I see my LO picking skin off her lips, I hand her a stick of lip balm and stand there to make sure she use it.

When she start picking on her arms, legs or forehead, I put baby oil on the area to make it real slippery so her hands keep sliding off.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

I know from experience there is nothing that will work, short of having her in restraints. My mom picks at herself so bad, face, arms, upper back, legs, that sores looked like they were getting infected. The doctor said he's never seen it this bad. We just had to start rubbing antibiotic cream on her sores or someone sit with her 24/7 to slap her hands away. Sitting with her 24/7 was not going to happen. She is on medication, but nothing stops her. I bought her fidget toys & coloring books, she just wants to pick her nose & pick her sores. This is just a way of life for her now.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Hello
With my mom I have found that a combination of anti-anxiety medication (Xanax) and distraction (folding towels, looking at her pop-up books or dolls, etc.) helps out a lot. My mom chews her fingers when she’s sundowning and over anxious and really confused.
I’m going to make her a fidget blanket to see if that helps.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

My aunt with Alzheimer's did something very similar; she picked at her scalp until she was bald in certain areas. Nothing stopped her; not meds or fidget blankets, nothing.

You can purchase mittens online at Amazon to put on mom's hands:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=alzheimers+mittens&crid=JLWWW1VADSM4&sprefix=alzheimers+mittens%2Caps%2C257&ref=nb_sb_ss_retrain-deeppltr_1_18

The mittens will prevent her from harming her face and scalp, IF she cannot figure a way to remove them from her hands.

Otherwise, consult her doctor to see if anti anxiety meds may help.

Good luck!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Keep her nails very, very short.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Do you think putting a pair of lovely gloves on her hands might discourage her?  

Have you consulted any medical people about this?  

Are either or both her scalp and face dry if not extremely dry?  

How much moisture is she consuming in her food?   How much water does she drink daily?

Has she been tested for allergies for any skin cream she's using?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter