My little boy picks at the skin on his fingers. I'm not really sure how to explain it, except when I see it, it looks like a blister that's recently been popped, except there have been no blisters! So far he has peeled skin away from the inside of his thumbs, and the tips of his middle fingers.
I can't figure out what this is, where the behavior comes from, or if he's trying to tell me something I just can't see or understand. I'm worried that one day he'll pick or peel so much away that he'll start bleeding!
Is this some sort of strange habit? Has anyone else experienced this (or something like it) with their kids? Or is there something else going on that I should be aware of or pay closer attention to? I'm getting ready to ask my pediatrician, but thought I'd as you mommies first!
Any insight would certainly be appreciated!
Thank you!
J. S
So, my son's doctor says he's seen this behavior before in kids his age and he's convinced that he's picking at his skin right after bathtime when his skin is "pruney" and soft. He suggested we explain what is happening by making him look at his fingers before getting into the bath, during his bath, and after his bath, and then about 30 minutes after he's dried, dressed and doing something else. We did this and I have not seen the "picking" since then.
(I also asked him if he thought my son needed to see a mental health professional to determine if it was another type of behavioral/sensory issue. He almost laughed and said, "Try this first...then we'll go down that road.")
I'm satisfied at his diagnosis and my son seems to understand what's happening now. Thank you for all your suggestions and advice! I really appreciate it!
~J.
Hi, It could be many things my advise is take him to his doc. My son has autism and has ocd and would do things like that but it also could be a skin condition. Both of my kids have skin issues caused be allergies so look in to it. It could just be a bad habit. But knowledge is everything.. Let us know what happens and have a great night
K.
J.,
I read most of the other responses. I know nothing about habits or ADHD but I can tell you that when I wash dishes or use certain types of soaps the skin on my fingers peels. I tend to pick at it because it annoys me. It could be that he is allergic to something. I don't get blisters, my fingers just peel as though they are sun burned. Only the tips of my fingers and around my cuticles and when it's really bad sometimes my palms, but not the backs of my fingers or hands. Typically I can prevent it by not using things like dishwashing detergent or strong soaps like Irish Spring. Hope this helps.
L.
I honestly think it is a habit - I have it and I'm 32 years old. It all started when I would bite my fingernails. When my nails are too short - I move on to the skin. I noticed that my son (he's 5) is doing it as well. I try to keep his nails clipped so that he wont do it and if I see him doing it I just tell him to stop and he does.
I'm curious to see if the pediatrician says it's any other than a habit. I know several people who do it and there is nothing wrong with any of us! haha!
Hi
My son did that about a year ago when he was 6. The skin at the nail tip would be a little loose (or he'd just pick it) and he would peel it down to his first knuckle.
I took him to the ped. and she gave us a script for some lotion. She said that it was some type of skin irritation and if he did not stop he would get them infected and possibly bleeding. We used the lotion twice a day for a week and it got better.
Since my son was older, I just kept stressing to him to keep his fingers out of his mouth and to not pick and pull at the skin. Have his daycare provider aware of what is going on and they can remind him also.
My mother suggested, at the time, to put gloves of his hands for a few hours at a time. That only worked for a short time cause he would take them off. Since your son is younger, that may not work at all.
I do suggest talking with your dr. asap and don't worry, he will be OK.
It is a habit. My brother sucked on his fingers and they would get all chapped, etc. The Dr told my mom to put mittens on his hands, so then he sucked the mittens and got fuzz in his mouth, etc. So she took the mittens off and he eventually outgrew it. My daughter bit her nails, tehn I put that yucky stuff on her fingers and she quit - don't know what to suggest for picking at fingers though,
Good luck
S.
Talk to your pediatrician. Maybe his skin is peeling and he just picks at it once it starts. Try not to assume the worse until you can find out what the pediatrician's diagnosis is.
J.,
Yes - I deal with this same "issue" with my 2 children. My daughter started doing this when she was 2 or 3 years old. She doesn't bite her nails, but she will pick her nails and when they are too short, she picks her skin.
Her younger brother had never copied the habit, but in the last 6 months or so, I've noticed him doing the same thing.
I have always attributed it to being a bad habit, like nail biting. As far as I know, we are a fairly normal household and try to stay in a routine, so there should not have been any factors in my children's lives that would have "caused" this behavior.
We are VERY firm with them when we catch them doing this, because they HAVE made their fingers bleed before. So far, we haven't been able to break the habit, but have slowed it down. Warning: in the summer, when we've been at the pool or the beach, they will also pick their toes. Watch your son for this behavior too.
If your pedi tells you this habit has a name, I'd love to know. Good luck!!!
C. B
Dahlonega, GA
You should take him to his doctor. It could be ecxema which causes the skin on fingertips to peel, crack open, and even bleed sometimes. One of my sisters has it, and so does one of my nephews.
Hi! J.,
Has anything changed in your lives recently? It could be a stress thing or possibly an O. C. D. . Is there any history of this type of didorder. It doesnt always mean people wash their hands repeatedly or clean constantly. It could be a cumpulsion- he just can't control it. When I was a child I used to shake my leg all the time whie sitting. I had no idea I was doing it. My mom never said anything, she just put her hand on my leg to stop me. I did grow out of it. Try distracting him from doing it. Definitely see a doctor, maybe a behaviorist.
I hope I helped. T. D. ____@____.com
J.,
It sounds like your son has an irritation on his fingers. Check out what he's touching with his hands and not the rest of his skin. Sometimes kids don't wash the soap out from in between their fingers and they develop an irritant. It could also be something in a fabric or toy he may hold (i.e., playdough, etc). I would try to hurry and find out what it is before he develops a habitual scratching habit.
M.
My daughter has this condition. The therapist as well as the psychitrist and the peditrician all said the same thing, it is a nervous disorder that came from her having ADHD/BiPolar disorder. For some reason they have a facination with picking their skin off. She has it all over her hands. According to the doctors it is not dangerous but will eventually get him picked on. Take him to the peditrician and show them this just to make sure it is this disorder. Then they will be able to help you find treatment for it.
Good Luck!
I'd have to agree with April, who mentioned that this behavior your son is displaying might be more than just a habit. I don't believe it's normal for a child to be so self-destructive. I have a son with Asperger's Syndrome, which is a disorder that includes --among other things -- sensory integration issues. I know that some children on the Autistic Spectrum display self-distructive behaviors, and fortunately my son is not one of them. Definitely talk with your pediatrician, and if you're not satisfied with his or her answer, then continue to follow up on it until you've found an answer. You might need to consult with an occupational therapist, to have his behavior evaluated. I hope I'm wrong, and it's just a bad habit, but having dealt with sensory integration issues with my son, I know a high tolerance to pain is common in kids with Asperger's, so better to be safe than sorry.
Best of luck.
I work for a rehab center for children with developmental delays and other issues, one of them which is called sensory integration. That particular diagnosis can cause all kinds of strange habits or behaviors. I would be talking with your pediatrician about taking him to a specialist to get him evaluated, not just for this but to see exactly what it is, it could many things.
Hi J.,
My son is 9 and he also bits and picks at his fingers. I talked to the doctor about it and he said it's a habit just like biting their nails. I've tried breaking him of it but so far haven't had any luck. Let me know if you come up with a solution that works!
D.
P.S. Are you still looking for an opportunity to work at home? If so, let me know, I'd like to share my business with you.
My son who is now 7 still does it occasionally but not as bad. He never never bit or picked his nails. He just picked his skin at the tips of each finger. I started getting worried too so I brought him to his pediatrician who said it was a nervous habit. He also has ADHD so I understood what she meant because he has a lot of little habits like this. Twirling his blankets while watching tv or the weirdest one now is getting a piece of cat fur and tickeling his ear with it while he sucks his thumb. He's a strange one I know. lol Anyway, it calms him down but she told me to watch him but he should grow out of it. If he continued to pick his skin, then I was supposed to bring him back in because it could be some kind skin problem that his skin peels and then he picks at it. I looked closely on his palm, and there was little circles where the skin was gone. It was a lot worse after baths. I don't know what it's called but it has to do with skin peeling all the time on hands and feet. Your pediatrician should be able to look at it and diagnose it better. Mine just started playing soccer so he doesn't really care to do it anymore since his medicine keeps him focused. Good luck. Let us know what happens.
