ASD parents, nail/skin biting and picking?

[Tifflw1995]

I'm at a loss of what to do for my 5 year old autistic son and his nail biting and skin picking. Any time he's still, he's chewing and picking, whether it be his fingernails or toenails. It's to the point now where he will chew his nails until they bleed, and has picked his nails so far down they don't even grow long enough for me to have to cut before he's chewing at them again. He barely has toenails because of how much of the nail he picks and bites at.

I've tried distraction, keeping his hands busy with puzzles or fidget toys, he has multiple types of sensory chews also but none of those have worked so far. In regards to trying putting anything on his nails such as something mildly spicy or not nice tasting to try prevent chewing, he has a lot of sensory issues surrounding food and tastes and so i won't be attempting anything like that.

Is there any other parents who have experienced this and found anything to combat it? I understand its possibly a form of a stim for him and might be giving him some form of sensory satisfaction however he constantly has sore hands and feet and it can be so upsetting to see him in pain but unable to stop himself.

Thank you in advance for any advice

Hmm. I don’t think this will be much comfort but I am 40 now and I have done this since I was about 5. For me it isn’t really related to stress or not, although I do it more when I’m anxious I also do it to relax - I find it very mindless and a way of not thinking about anything else. I’ve driven partners / parents and teachers mad with it over the years. If people try and stop me doing it it actually makes me really angry The only thing that ever works is if I’ve really over done it and hurt myself too much I’ll stick plasters over those fingers until they heal. (And then I’ll do it again)! Also… if I get gel nails done the thickness of them means I can’t pick so much - but probably not an option for a 5 year old!

Sorry. I know it’s not a great reply but couldn’t read and run.

Both my DD's do this and are NT (as far as I know) I've never cut either of their nails since they were babies. Still dealing in bribes for my nearly 12 year old to try and grow a bit of finger nails

But sorry, no advice - nothing has worked although dd2 does manage to keep hers nicely trimmed. Dd1 has the soreness, skin tags and bleeding

I was going to suggest the fidget toys/chews, but I can see that you’ve tried this. My daughter had been through stages of this, but it’s worse when she’s anxious. Sorry, I’m not much help either!

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What about something like this?

I'm autistic and used to do that, my mum couldn't be bothered to look into it much as she was (and still is) in denial that her kids were disabled.
After trying to stop for a few years, I realised in my tween years that a few weeks into school holidays my nails would grow long enough to have white edges.
Basically, it was anxiety caused by school being so unaccommodating for autistic children. By 14 I had severe eczema all over my body, hands, scalp and face, large chunks of skin missing from the soles of my feet, and regular nosebleeds also due to picking. I never have it if I am allowed/able to expand my comfort zone at my own pace.

Really common issue. There are finger covers all different designs just for this, or put plasters on. Try reward charts too but often it's not a conscious choice. So does he pit sensory toys/poppers etc down to pick? What do you say/do when he picks? How much understanding does he have?
Also try symbols- stop or no picking symbol if he has some understanding. A reward he loves for not picking- try to start small so a few minutes of no picking if it's a constant thing. Use visuals, symbols to show- now and next boards too.

My DD(7) is autistic and has issues with skin picking. She also bites her nails but not to the extent your son does.
I sympathise as her skin licking drives me mad. She had a scratch on her forehead that just got bigger and more sore until I made her wear a plaster for weeks over it.
Mainly she picks her hands and thighs. She becomes very defensive when questioned but it seems to me that she likes the sensory aspect of it she it's not caused by anxiety.
Like your son she has a limited diet so we also wouldn't try anything that would taste unpleasant.
She has all manner of fidget/chew toys none which work.
We have had partial success with a bar of soap that she has in a soap dish to pick instead of her skin.
Has your son been referred to Occupational Health?

Another thought, PVA glue dried that he can pick off his skin.