Non-verbal ASD & PICA wound healing

[SachiLars]

6yo non-verbal ASD and diagnosed PICA, is bad at letting wounds heal. Scabs are picked and poked at etc.

current problem- he’s bitten the skin away around his finger nail down to the top knuckle. It’s been red, swollen and angry looking. I keep trying to keep it clean and putting lots of Savlon on but every time it starts to heal he makes it worse again.

Anyone had similar? Any way to stop it or make it less bad?

So sorry you haven't had any replies to this @SachiLars. How are things now?

It’s still pretty sore and he flinches if touched but it’s not worse and no heat or pus so not infected. Just can see it happening again and again.

thanks for checking!

Hello my dd is 4 and every time she gets a cut she will pinch it and make it bleed it's horrible I know.
she doesn't seem to understand that touching it makes it worse the only thing I seem to have any success with is being strict I will say aww ouchh and blow it for her dab n clean then she will make it bleed by pinching poking etc I say ahh ahh noo ! Quite loudly and try to make eye contact when I say no and I will say ouchh hurt as one word speech or simple to the point seems to get through to her after 5 minutes she will stop touching it then I distract her from it, she will not wear a plaster bandage or anything so I can't hide it.
there's really no quick fix it's awful I know I hope your lil one is ok and you aswell it really is awful seeing them make it worse. You feel helpless and so sad hopefully with age and more understanding it will get better all the best to you x

My 6 year old (ASD) does this - she bites her hands and picks off scabs. I redirect her to chewlelry. She won't let me put savlon on (she says it stings) but will tolerate sudo or o'keeffe's. She's always sucked and chewed her fingers and nails but this got suddenly worse and it's because she is teething her adult teeth. One is coming up behind the baby tooth. Children who chew usually like to bounce too (mumsnet told me this!) so we've also got a trampette for indoors.

Ds is 14 and has always been like this. Will he keep a plaster on? We've used a plaster with a small bandage to make it harder to remove before. We keep his fingernails low so it's harder to pick skin/scabs. Ultimately if he really wants to do it he will. There's only so much you can do. Do he show any interest in chews? It may help to try and redirect him.

Thanks for the messages.

He’s always got something in his mouth, usually straws or other plastic toys.

He has got various chew toys but he’s not massively keen.

He won’t tolerate a plaster at all.

Have you tried a spray/liquid plaster? You probably have but just a thought.

@Jigglypuff87 I've never heard of that so we’ve just ordered some. Thank you.

No problem. Good luck x