My mother keeps picking at her skin until it bleeds!

This must be devastating for you as a caregiver to watch your Mom repeatedly performing an act that can potentially become a grave medical problem. It is difficult enough to See also:
How can I keep my father, who has dementia, from losing things?

See all 660 questions about Alzheimer's and Other Dementias deal with Alzheimer's without the addition of this ongoing habit. I'm sure it is also less than pleasing to be viewing this ritual and its bloody results day after day. It does sound like you have done all the right things in seeking your physician's help and in attempting to cover her hands to prevent the dreaded scratching. In the hundreds of Alzheimer's disease folks I've seen in the past 3 decades, I must admit to only knowing a few who have manifested this same seemingly harmful need to scratch at areas that have been tested and show no underlying skin irritation or allergy which would be the first consideration. I have also seen several others with as dementia-related psychiatric illness. I'm sure your physician has already checked this possibility as the trigger for the picking. Having ruled out medical, psychiatric, or dermatologic causes, I would suggest you try a different kind of clothing that has worked well for the other patients to whom I previously referred. It is a one piece garment that fastens in the back and leaves the person's skin totally covered; because of the back closure your Mom would not be able to remove it. I would also suggest a "busy apron" which is, exactly as it sounds, an apron that is worn over the back-fastening garment and has items attached that keep the person wearing it busy interacting with various buttons, textures, zippers etc. Not only does it provide some healing time but it may hopefully redirect her focus onto something other than her skin. Try "The Alzheimer Store" online to find the articles I mentioned or for assistance in finding a place near you that has them in stock. If you or a friend are handy with a needle and thread, do buy some interesting objects and sew them onto a cobbler-style apron to create your own version of a busy-apron. Be sure to take care of yourself! I would also suggest a "busy apron" which is, exactly as it sounds, an apron that is worn over the back-fastening garment and has items attached that keep the person wearing it busy interacting with various buttons, textures, zippers etc. Not only does it provide some healing time but it may hopefully redirect her focus onto something other than her skin. Try "The Alzheimer Store" online to find the articles I mentioned or for assistance in finding a place near you that has them in stock. If you or a friend are handy with a needle and thread, do buy some interesting objects and sew them onto a cobbler-style apron to create your own version of a busy-apron. Be sure to take care of yourself!

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first cut her nails as short as you can. then try to find a solution but it will be like many things there isnt a solution, just an ongoing problem.

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My mother has this problem. She will dig at her face, hands and arms. I have found that if I put long sleeves and gloves on she stops. I put them all day (24 hrs) at first. then only at night after all is healed. She would pull them off so I started to tape them on around the wrist, being careful to not tape on the skin - skin tears - just the glove or too tight as not to stop the flow of blood. (use white breathable knit or thicker gloves as to take the sense of touching something to pick away. $1.99 at target and other places. I also pick out the seam on the fold on the wrist as to not cause undo pressure in that area.) So you will also need to give the hands plenty of glove off time to give light and air time to keep skin fungus from developing. Just be vigilant.

I now only put them on at night because all have healed and she likes to pick at night most. Can't be that watchful when sleeping.

She seems to like putting them on as I tell her it's to keep her hands warm and toastie.

Good luck WRS

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My Mom would pick at herself also. I kept her nails very short and used a little neosporin on a bandage. I found that she was not able to remove Nexcare Waterproof bandages by 3M. They are ultra-thin and clear. I hope this helps.

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This problem is, unfortunately, fairly common, although picking at the stomach is a little unusual. I wonder if the problem might not lie deeper than the skin -- some sort of gastrointestinal disorder, for example.

Sometimes, Alzheimer's patients can develop obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it's possible that an SSRI might help.

There are also many suggestions about other factors that could cause the scratching/picking, and how to deal with them, at: http://alzheimers.boomja.com/Alzheimer-s-and-Scratching-Picking-Skin-27698.html

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