Skin picking

[cloudatlaschapter2]

Hi all,

My daughter has always been a picker of scabs and spots.

In the last two years it has become worse, often left with small scars where she has picked and picked at a tiny cut, graze or spot.

We have tried a multitude of things - squeeze balls instead, praise, targets, plasters ....

I am at the point where I think we need to go to the doctor.

Does anyone know what they might suggest?

She is generally healthy, happy and sporty. I have of course considered it might be anxiety related but there's no fixed pattern. It is a definite compulsion that she would like to stop.

She's 7 for reference.

It sounds like OCD and/or a way of coping with anxiety. I would take her to the Dr but also look into therapy.

My niece started deflecting the habit onto something more harmless. So she had an elastic on her wrist which she snapped instead of picking, it gave a similar small sharp sensation and a sticker book to keep her hands busy in a similar way... Then also start to try to notice triggers and anticipate when and try to distract. Hard when they're doing it under the bed covers at night though.
My niece did grow out of it eventually luckily.

Thanks both - apologies for the delay here.

I think it's time I spoke to the GP.

@cloudatlaschapter2

My 10yo daughter is a picker. We make sure her nails are kept short and she wears cotton gloves at night as that's when she picks, it started when she was very young and she wasn't really conscious of doing it at all.

Does anyone else in your family pick? I am a lifelong picker and have the scars to prove it, still going strong at fifty unfortunately.

I understand that the official term is dermatillomania, and can be linked to OCD/ADHD. I have an ADHD diagnosis and, I think if it had been recognised when my very elderly father was young, he probably would as well. My daughter is awaiting assessment, although there may also be OCD in play (from her father's side).

Not sure if there is any proven treatment, although I definitely pick less now I'm medicated, but I won't go down that route with my daughter. Distraction, and as much prevention as we can. I try not to mention it too much to her or comment negatively as that makes her anxiety about it worse. It does go in phases too.

It's so hard seeing your beautiful baby harming their skin, I hope your GP can offer some solutions.