Potential Causes of Skin Picking with Dementia and How to Help
Dear Carol: My mom is in mid-stage Alzheimer’s, so she has fidgety hands. Even though I lotion her skin regularly, she’ll zero in on a random spot on her arm and pick it open. I’ve contacted the doctor and was told this is not unusual behavior in dementia. They said to use petroleum jelly and cover it with gauze. If it gets worse, we’re supposed to take her to a dermatologist, but it feels like they are just passing us along. No amount of talking to Mom about this helps. Any suggestions? – LM
Dear LM: Like rummaging and shadowing, skin picking is a type of obsessive behavior that is common in certain stages of dementia. It’s frustrating to the caregiver, especially since, as you said, it introduces a chance…
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