Overview: Skin Picking in Children
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The act of impulsive and constant picking of one’s skin to the point of causing damage is called compulsive skin picking in children. Though dermatillomania is considered to be ways that generalize anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, they are rarely manifested in children. Skin picking in children may be rooted to their helplessness to express what they want to say or convey their feelings.
Children who frequently keep their thought and emotions about particular situations and events that happened in their lives have a difficult time expressing messages. It is perceived that they internalize the message and privately act it out that is likely to be self-defeating. It is almost impossible to get the child to relay what he or she feels and why the desire to pick, but once skin picking in children is already detected, then there are certain steps that one should take when dealing with children suffering from CSP.
The first thing to check is if the child’s fingernails are trimmed. Trimming children’s nails will help prevent skin picking and can cause less damage to the skin. Second, make sure that the nails are also cleaned. This is important, even if it is a very problematical because it will prevent infection caused by skin picking.
As a parent, you can also purchase sets of gloves or mittens or even finger toys for children. This would empower them since they are already involve in choosing materials that would help them treat compulsive skin picking.
It is of utmost importance that parents and guardians prevent their child to experience stress and anxiety. Calling out their skin picking habit all the time may head to unwarranted anxiety. Just like in marriage, persistently criticizing will only lead to more anxiety and stress. Amplified stress connect to increased anxiety that would lead to increased picking.
Medications for physical treatment of skin picking in children are available, either oral or topical. Just make sure that the drugs are formulated for children. It is best to consult a medical profession if you are considering to use psychological treatment, this will allow a better insight about the mental outlook of the child.


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