How to stop scratching?

[swagstar]

Hi everyone

This is a bit strange and gross, but my almost 2 year old daughter has a scab on her nose which I cannot for the life of me get her to stop picking off. She does it predominantly in her sleep, which is why every morning she wakes up with a worse scab right on the end of her nose. She also has a touch of eczema on her face (which she doesn't touch as far as I can tell) too so that may well be why she started off picking at her nose.

I've tried a plaster on the nose (came straight off) and barrier cream but nothing has worked so far. Any advice anyone has would be gratefully received xx

[oimissus]

could you put scratch mitts on her, maybe once she's fallen asleep?

[GinaG3]

Is she picking it because its itching? Could it be something other than just a scab like staph or impetigo? Not always blisters as commonly thought.. Just food for thought.

[SBot]

Maybe put a plaster on it or you can buy spray on plaster, maybe harder to pick off??

[crystal7]

We had the same issue. My daughter always had a small scab or 2 on her face that never got the chance to heal as she would just pick at it constantly. She sucks her fingers when she's tired too which doesn't help as she'd do it at the same time. We kept her nails really short, cutting them every other day and slathered on Savlon or E45 when she was asleep. We bought her a comforter thing in the hope that she would rub that on her face rather than pick but that didn't really work. Daughter is now nearly 4 and hasn't been doing it for the last 6 months or so, hoping she's just grown out of it. Last winter it was awful though so I do sympathise.

[swagstar]

Thanks All - I am trying the spray on plaster which seems ok so far! xx

[buggie]

Putting Vaseline around scabs a few times a day can help soften them a little bit (think the amount you'd put on as lip balm) and stop them going so crispy round the edges or cracking which makes them itchy. HTH x

[swagstar]

Just wanted to update this in case anyone is interested. I tried a few things including spray on plaster and cream from GP but eventually at the end of my tether I looked online and found something called scratch sleeves. Basically like a cotton shrug with silk mittens. I would totally recommend. Think I have narrowly avoided her scarring herself. Just wanted to share in case useful xx