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SN children

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Original poster

DS picking at his skin

12 replies

starfish71 · 01/09/2012 15:32

DS2 has been quite relaxed this week,coped really well with having a hair cut and responding very well to reward chart but he he still picking at his skin,making it bleed.

I can understand it a bit more when he is very stressed and anxious but this week when apparently he is more relaxed and he is still doing it. Just wanted some advice on how to get him to stop doing it. He knows I know he is doing it and is getting a bit secretive about it, going out on the trampoline, going into the corner etc.

Thanks x

OP posts:

Triggles · 01/09/2012 16:01

At the risk of sounding ridiculous, where on his body is he picking his skin?

DS2 did this for awhile and literally picked his hands and fingers until they bled. Cotton gloves (with lotion on his hands) broke the habit after a bit - mainly because I liberally put lotion on them and he hated touching anything with lotiony fingers, so left the gloves on.

Original poster

starfish71 · 01/09/2012 16:14

No not ridiculous I should have said, its mainly on his arms. it can be a tiny, tiny spot and he just cant leave it alone.

OP posts:

Triggles · 01/09/2012 17:39

Is it somewhere that can be covered by sleeves? or down by the wrists?

I would think either covering it up or giving him something else to pick at? What about something like a couple pieces of cloth with a number of lines of stitches (from sewing machine) in it? maybe something little he can roll into little balls, like playdoh?

How old is he? DS2 is 6yo, so if I see him picking at his hands now, I give him something little to do ... count coins in a coin box, a blank sheet of paper that he can tear up and roll into little balls (always stressing that it's only okay to do this with blank paper lol), coloured beads to sort.... anything that replicates that pincer grip and picking IYSWIM... sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, depending on how stressed he is...

Not a clue if any of that helps... sorry...

DrWhoTakeTwo · 01/09/2012 18:03

ds is picking his skin too the skin around his finger nails and on the bottom of his feet, he also picks his nails, he does it when watching tv etc, is it an anxiety thing or something?

Original poster

starfish71 · 01/09/2012 18:57

Thanks Triggles, will try the cloth idea, funnily enough he does pick at our settee cushions till there are loads of threads! they look awful but not going to replace them yet! DS is 8. Thanks, seems so obvious when someone else gives you ideas :)

DrWho I think it is a anxiety thing or possibly a stim?

OP posts:

FalseStartered · 01/09/2012 19:20

DD picks her toes until they bleed - i thought this was because she didn't want me to cut them, but it seems it's anxiety-based.

she does it at night when she can't sleep, then has extra anxiety because of the pain, then she's frightened to sleep because the nails catch on her covers...

we've suggested socks and talking about different things she can do to alleviate her anxiety - one thing is she's going to use chewy necklaces

does your DS have fiddle toys he likes?

Triggles · 01/09/2012 20:34

It seems to be anxiety related for DS2, but he absolutely doesn't do well with fiddle toys - he either takes them apart and destroys them or simply ignores them. We have tried all sorts of different ones and he just doesn't like them. We try to find things around the house he can use instead.

Original poster

starfish71 · 01/09/2012 20:48

DS is the same doesn't really 'do' fiddle toys, today he has walked around with a little plastic wire from toy packaging and some blu tac!

After saying DS has been calm, he is quite agitated tonight so have given him the most 'thready' cushion and he is currently sitting on an exercise ball, fiddling but not picking his skin, so will try to be alert and pass him different items if he starts to pick.

False, yes it can be worse at bedtime when he has trouble settling too.

OP posts:

porridgelover · 01/09/2012 20:51

OP my DS picks and picks at his fingertips and his toes.
I think its a combination of anxiety and a stim.
I never cut his nails as they never grow long enough. He tears his cuticles to shreds. Rarely he will pick hard enough to bleed.

Funnily enough, he is constantly looking for thumb tacks and paper clips. and uses the point to stick firmly but gently into his fingertips...he'll often hide one in his pocket at school. This rather than a fiddle toy.
Thats what makes me think its a stim...because its not just when he's worried about something.

He adores Space Putty which is quite firm but malleable. I have also found it in Tesco.

FalseStartered · 01/09/2012 20:58

DD hates those 'wonderful' fidget toys too, i just thought i'd throw that up in the air, see what came down

Original poster

starfish71 · 01/09/2012 22:27

Thanks porridge, will have a look at that putty.

False :) I have bought loads of the fiddle toy things in the past too and still have a look on websites! I will stand outside with you!

OP posts:

Shellywelly1973 · 02/09/2012 00:18

My ds does this, we now realise its due to a combination of anxiety, sensory and a stim... Took an O.T 4 months to work him out he's so complex.

At times he's totally picked his toe nails off!

He picks any little thing... I do as suggested, fiddle toys, space putty, play doh, blue tac, covering the area hes picking and general distraction techniques.

Its very distressing to see but also part and parcel of ASD unfortunately.

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