My eldest daughter has this really bad, I also do it and so does my youngest. They didn't copy it from me because I never did it in front of them, it was self-initiated. I believe there is a strong correlation between CSP and autism, like there is in OCD behaviours. Just wanted to see if any others on the spectrum have this.
Thanks. She's had hand cream for a while now, but she doesn't always use it as she says she can't touch her things once it's on (she has OCD) and refuses to bring it to school to use. I've just done some research and found this:
http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/understanding-behaviour/challenging-behaviour/self-injurious-behaviour.aspx
http://www.trich.org/about/skin-picking.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2910998/
"A variety of psychodermatologic diseases have been associated with skin-picking behavior.4 Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified is a type of autism spectrum disorder not meeting the criteria for either autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome. Self-inflicted skin-picking behavior is frequently noticed in this patient population. In one study, 14.8% of patients with autistic disorders had skin picking.5"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17915977
http://ws.lynchburg.edu/documents/GraduateStudies/Journal/SusanLMcCorkleDecreasingSelfInjuriousBehaviorsinChildrenwithAutismSpectrumDisorders.pdf
"Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) are common in children with ASD according to research by Baghdadli, Pascal, Grisi, and Aussilloux (2003). Their findings show that 50% of children in the study experienced SIB, with 14.6% at severe levels. These behaviors can have far-reaching consequences and may restrict children from reaching their full potential."
"Self-Injurious Behaviors
The Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) is based on a questionnaire that examines repetitive and restrictive behaviors in autism. One of the six sub-scales is self-injurious behavior (SIB), defined as "actions that cause or have the potential to cause redness, bruising, or other injury to the body" (Lam & Aman, 2007, p. 856). Included in this sub-scale are eight behaviors: hits with body; hits with object; pulls hair/skin; hits against surface; picks skin; bites self; rubs/scratches; and inserts finger/object (Lam & Aman, 2007). A common SIB is skin picking, defined as "the scratching or picking of healthy skin…often producing tissue damage, infection, and potential scarring" (Ladd, Luiselli, & Baker, 2009, p. 55).
Repetitive behaviors may cause significant impairments to children with ASD that can consume their waking hours and interfere profoundly with daily life. Some behaviors are considered socially inappropriate and may even become stigmatizing to a child. SIB in particular can have short and long term damaging effects on a child and impact the entire family. The most serious effects are tissue damage, disfigurement, health risks due to infection, and stigmatizing consequences (Humenik, Curran, Luiselli, & Child, 2008).
A study by Baghadadli et al. (2003) sought to identify risk factors for SIB among children with ASD. The results showed a correlation between SIB and lower chronological age, higher degree of ASD, and lower daily living skills. These variables may be helpful in predicting the occurrence of SIB. This may also reinforce the idea that maladaptive behaviors raise the risk of SIB in children with ASD (Baghadadli et al., 2003)."
Sorry for the delay I have been at tge the gp then an appointment with the educational psychologist and deputy head this afternoon.
I have been chatting to K about her picking and what helps her to reduce her picking when she really wants to she said that the blue tack is the best because she can mould it and squash it she said it feels nice because it gets warm from her skin sometimes she spreads it on the back of ber hand and picks it off like picking her skin without it hurting.
She said that she tries to think about the pain when she feels like picking and to imagine it multiplied by 100 thats its so sore she might cry.
Everyone stop giving her into trouble for picking apartenly me telling her off made her want to do it more.
The safe place technique, imagine the nicest place in the world something that makes her feel cosy and safe and close her eyes and think about being there when it gets to much.
She had a sore chunk off the bridge of her nose which everyone commented on she was so glad when it healed up.
How about buying her some nice hand cream she could keep in her bag or pocket and use as soon as she gets the urge to pick maybe getting used to feeling of rubbing her hands together could replace the satisfaction of picking.
really hope it passes or reduces for you and your girls soon
Sorry I stopped mis post because I was in the gp waiting room on my way home just now I will finish off soon.
Bits sort owrapping your arms across your self and patting your self like wings flapping it might not suit an older child though, my little one is 8 but very young. We have had on going issues with bullying which is when the picking is at its worst fortunately Ks school have been fantastic completely caring and supported. Like ywe talked about moving schools and would have if the teachers hadn't been so goodies.
As my daughter is being assessed for a statement, she's just had a medical as part of that. The doctors were really concerned about her hands and her depression. We've been referred to CAMHS, who are going to do a home visit, but I don't know how successful that will be as in my experience of our local CAMHS they just don't understand autism or how to engage with children. She previously was upset with them due to things they said to her during her ASC assessment and didn't want to see them any more, hence the home visit (at my request).
My daughter is already being bullied a lot and has had teasing from peers saying that her hands are in that state from fighting and punching people. She tells them it's dermatitis or eczema. She's literally skinned her knuckles though so I don't imagine they are fooled.
My daughter is aware she is doing it, she says she needs to do it to get out her stress. Thanks for the list of what helped your daughter. I think as my daughter is in such distress at being in her present school, the only thing that will ultimately calm down her habit (as a result of improving her mental health) is getting her out of that school. I will ask her if she wants to be given access to fiddle things etc., the trouble is, her school are being awful, because she's not yet diagnosed they refuse to accept she has any special needs or needs support.
BTW what's a butterfly cuddle?
K had this really bad at the beginning of the year, teachers asked if she had been burnt and the gp referred us straight to dermatology at the local children's hospital they confirmed that it wasn't a skin condition and passed us to camhs. Working together we tried a few different things I think it was an accumulation of them that helped just now she is down to 1/2 scabs and is aware she doesn't want to pick them which is a massive improvement from a time she didn't know she was doing it a d couldn't feel any pain.
I will list them.
School had a star chart on her desk because the bleeding was distracting others.
Was allowed to fiddle with blue tack or an elastic band during lessons to occupy her fingers.
Used tegaderm dressings on bad ones until they healed a bit.
Distraction
techniques like giving herself a "butterfly cuddle"
My daughter picks her skin especially when shes feeling anxious.
Hi IntenseWorld. My memory's a bit hazy on this but I think there may have been a thread a while ago, so have a look. I think skin picking is linked to anxiety. I know an NT who does it. It can be very difficult to stop once established as a habit. Info on google etc about it.
