Mom has been picking the skin off of her arms, legs and back. The arms and hands are looking the worst. She keeps picking at the scabs which causes bleeding. I got fidgety tools, but she has refused to use them. The arms just look awful. I am at a loss. Any help would be appreciated.
My mother's dermatologist told us that older people often inflict damage on their own skin by scratching at it. The only solution I can think of for someone who does this is mittens. :) It drives me crazy to watch my mother rubbing and fidgeting with her hands all day. I know how you feel. I think much of it is boredom and too much attention to self.
I just thought of one thing that can have "magic" properties with my mother -- hydrocortisone creme. I tell her the doctor says it will make the itch go away. You can get it OTC. It works best if it is doctor recommended in their minds. (Of course, it is actually doctor recommended. Dermatologist often write prescriptions for it for itchy skin. Just don't let her use it on too large an area.)
The scratching is a sign, symptom of an underlying problem.
The longer it continues the more of a habit it will become.
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