How to Stop Skin Picking in Alzheimer’s Patients

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A quick word on skin picking disorder:

Your loved one could be scratching, rubbing, or picking their skin for several different reasons. So, I would not automatically assume that skin picking is a direct symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

However, skin picking and scratching can occur in people living with dementia. Sometimes the behavior is connected to anxiety, boredom, restlessness, confusion, dry or irritated skin, pain, or another physical problem. The Alzheimer’s Association also recommends looking for things such as pain, hunger, thirst, constipation, fatigue, infection, or skin irritation when a person with dementia develops a new or troubling behavior. Alzheimer’s Association: Anxiety and Agitation

This is important because simply trying to stop the picking may not solve the real problem. If your loved one’s skin is itchy, painful, dry, or irritated, they may continue picking until the underlying problem is addressed.

Non-Medical Methods To Stop Skin Picking In Alzheimer’s Patients

Give Them A Safe Activity For Their Hands

If your loved one repeatedly picks at their skin, try giving their hands something safe to do.

A soft stress ball, piece of fabric, a towel to fold, large beads, a simple sorting activity, or another familiar hands-on activity may give them something else to focus on.

The idea is not to punish or shame them for picking. Instead, gently redirect their attention.

This approach is especially useful when the picking appears to happen during quiet periods when your loved one has little else to do. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends turning repetitive behaviors into safe activities and providing structure when boredom may be contributing to the behavior. Alzheimer’s Association: Repetition

I would be careful with complicated puzzles or activities that require too much concentration. What worked six months ago may now be frustrating for someone whose dementia has progressed.

Choose something that matches their current abilities.

Keep Their Fingernails Short And Filed

If your loved one uses their fingernails to scratch or open the skin, keeping the nails short and smooth can reduce the amount of damage they can cause.

Trim the nails carefully and file sharp edges. If your loved one becomes upset or resistant during nail care, do not force it. You may need to have a family member, caregiver, nurse, or healthcare professional help with nail care.

Remember, short nails will not necessarily stop the behavior itself. They simply make repeated scratching less damaging.

Consider Soft Gloves Or Protective Coverings

A soft pair of gloves may help in some situations, particularly when your loved one repeatedly scratches an area without realizing it.

However, I would not treat gloves as a complete solution. Make sure the gloves fit properly, do not restrict circulation, and do not create sweating or additional skin irritation. You should also check the skin regularly.

The goal is to protect the skin while you work out why the person is picking.

If your loved one becomes distressed by gloves, remove them and try another approach.

Redirect Instead Of Arguing

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is repeatedly saying, “Stop picking your skin.”

A person with Alzheimer’s may not remember the conversation a few minutes later. Repeated correction can also increase frustration or anxiety.

Instead, gently redirect their hands.

For example, you might say, “Here, help me fold this towel,” and place the towel in their hands. You are changing the activity without making your loved one feel that they are doing something wrong.

This matters because dementia can make it difficult for a person to understand why a behavior is dangerous, even when you have explained it many times.

Look For A Pattern

I would also keep a simple note of when the skin picking happens.

Does it happen mostly in the evening? After bathing? When your loved one is sitting alone? When they seem anxious? Does it start after changing medications? Does it happen more when the skin looks dry?

Finding a pattern can give you a clue about the trigger.

The National Institute on Aging recommends looking at physical problems, emotions, medications, sleep, and the environment when trying to understand changes in behavior in someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Sudden or rapidly changing behavior should be brought to a doctor’s attention. National Institute on Aging: Managing Personality And Behavior Changes

Do Not Assume Skin Picking Is A Mental Health Disorder

There is a condition called excoriation disorder, also known as skin-picking disorder.

It is a recognized condition in which a person repeatedly picks at their skin and causes skin lesions, often with significant distress or impairment. Treatment can include behavioral approaches such as habit-reversal therapy and, in some cases, medication. PubMed: Excoriation Disorder Treatment Review

But that does not mean every person with Alzheimer’s who picks their skin has excoriation disorder.

In dementia, the behavior may have a completely different explanation.

For example, the person may have an itchy rash, dry skin, pain, anxiety, confusion, or simply a repetitive habit. A medical professional can help determine what is actually happening.

What Causes Skin Picking In Alzheimer’s Patients?

There is no single cause.

This is one reason I would avoid telling a caregiver that skin picking is simply a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can change behavior, but physical discomfort and environmental factors can also play a major role.

Dry Or Irritated Skin

Dry skin is extremely common in older adults.

If the skin is dry, flaky, itchy, or irritated, your loved one may scratch it repeatedly. Unfortunately, scratching can then damage the skin, making the area even more uncomfortable.

This can create a cycle:

Dry or irritated skin → itching → scratching → damaged skin → more irritation → more scratching.

A fragrance-free moisturizer or plain petroleum jelly may help when dryness is contributing to the problem.

Pain Or Another Physical Problem

Sometimes what looks like a behavioral problem is actually a physical problem.

A person with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty explaining that a particular area hurts or itches. Instead, they may repeatedly touch, rub, scratch, or pick at that area.

Pain, infection, constipation, poor sleep, medication side effects, hunger, thirst, and other physical problems can contribute to behavioral changes in people with Alzheimer’s. National Institute on Aging: Managing Personality And Behavior Changes

This is why I would not immediately reach for a behavioral solution.

First, look at the person’s physical comfort.

Anxiety Or Restlessness

Anxiety can also lead to repetitive behaviors.

The Alzheimer’s Society specifically notes that a person with dementia who is anxious may become restless or fidgety and may repeatedly rub, pick, or scratch their skin. Alzheimer’s Society: Anxiety And Dementia

If the picking happens when your loved one is frightened, confused, overstimulated, or unable to communicate what they need, reducing the anxiety may help reduce the picking.

A quiet room, familiar routine, calm conversation, music, or a familiar activity may be more useful than repeatedly telling them to stop.

Boredom And Repetitive Activity

Sometimes a person is simply looking for something to do.

Alzheimer’s can cause repetitive behaviors. The person may repeat an action because it feels familiar or because they have nothing else occupying their attention.

This does not necessarily mean they are deliberately harming themselves.

If your loved one spends a lot of time picking at their skin while sitting quietly, try giving them another simple activity that keeps their hands occupied.

The activity does not have to be complicated.

Folding towels, sorting large objects, looking through familiar photographs, holding a soft object, or helping with a simple household task may be enough.

Medication Or A Sudden Change In Health

If the skin picking begins suddenly or becomes much worse, think beyond Alzheimer’s.

A new medication, medication interaction, infection, pain, dehydration, poor sleep, or another medical problem can sometimes produce noticeable behavior changes.

This is particularly important if your loved one is suddenly much more confused, agitated, restless, or different from their normal behavior.

In that situation, speak with their doctor rather than assuming the dementia has simply progressed.

How To Heal Skin That Has Been Picked

This is where I would make one important change from my original advice.

I would not recommend putting turmeric, raw garlic, garlic oil, or other homemade herbal preparations directly onto open or repeatedly picked wounds.

Natural does not automatically mean safe for damaged skin.

Some substances can irritate an open wound, cause contact dermatitis, or make the area more painful. In addition, an older person with dementia may touch the treated area and then rub their eyes, mouth, or another sensitive part of the body.

Instead, keep wound care simple.

Clean The Area Gently

For a minor skin wound, gently clean the area with mild soap and water.

Do not scrub aggressively. Scrubbing can further injure the skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends gently cleaning minor wounds, applying petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist, and covering it with a sterile bandage. American Academy of Dermatology: Proper Wound Care

Apply Plain Petroleum Jelly

Plain petroleum jelly is a much simpler option than experimenting with several herbal ingredients.

Keeping a minor wound moist can support healing and prevent the area from becoming excessively dry and crusted.

The AAD also notes that routine minor wounds generally do not need topical antibiotic ointments when they are properly cleaned. American Academy of Dermatology: When To Use Antibiotics On Your Skin

Cover The Wound

If your loved one immediately picks at the same area, a suitable dressing can provide another layer of protection.

Choose a dressing that is appropriate for the wound and change it as directed. Check underneath the dressing regularly to make sure the skin is not becoming more irritated.

For someone with dementia, this can be particularly useful because the dressing creates a physical barrier between their fingernails and the healing skin.

Be Careful With Neosporin And Other Antibiotic Ointments

My original article recommended Neosporin rather casually. I would not give that advice today.

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that most minor cuts and wounds do not require topical antibiotics, and antibiotic ointments can sometimes cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. American Academy of Dermatology: When To Use Antibiotics On Your Skin

If you believe the wound is infected, it is better to have a healthcare professional examine it rather than trying different antibiotic products at home.

What About Aloe Vera, Turmeric, Garlic And Coconut Oil?

You may see many websites recommending natural remedies for picked skin.

I understand why these remedies are appealing. They are inexpensive and easy to find.

However, I would not recommend using them as the main treatment for an open wound caused by repeated skin picking.

Aloe vera has been studied for wound healing, and turmeric and its compounds have also been investigated for their biological effects. However, evidence from laboratory or animal studies does not mean that putting a homemade preparation onto an open wound is safe or that it will make an Alzheimer’s-related skin wound heal faster.

The same applies to garlic and coconut oil.

For a person with dementia, I would choose simple wound care over experimenting with ingredients from the kitchen. If the wound is large, deep, repeatedly reopened, bleeding, or showing signs of infection, medical evaluation is more appropriate.

Watch For Signs Of Infection

Repeated skin picking can break the skin and give bacteria an opportunity to enter.

Watch for increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pain, pus, yellow or golden crusting, red streaks, fever, or a wound that appears to be getting worse rather than better.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeking medical advice when a wound develops signs such as increased redness, swelling, pain, pus, or other indications of infection. American Academy of Dermatology: How To Treat Minor Cuts

If your loved one has diabetes, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, or another condition that makes wound healing more difficult, I would be even more cautious.

When Should You Call The Doctor?

You should contact your loved one’s healthcare professional if the skin picking is severe, happens frequently, causes open wounds, or suddenly becomes much worse.

I would also arrange a medical evaluation if you cannot figure out why the person has started picking.

The doctor may look for dry skin, eczema, infection, allergies, pain, medication side effects, anxiety, or another condition that could be triggering the behavior.

Sudden behavioral changes deserve particular attention. In someone with dementia, a sudden change may sometimes be related to infection, medication effects, dehydration, pain, or another medical problem rather than simply being a new stage of Alzheimer’s disease. National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet

My Advice To Caregivers

Instead of focusing only on how to stop your loved one from picking their skin, I want you to shift your focus slightly.

Ask yourself: What is happening immediately before the picking starts?

Maybe their skin is dry.

Maybe they are anxious.

Maybe they are bored.

Maybe they have pain that they cannot explain.

Maybe the room is too noisy.

Maybe they have developed a rash.

Maybe a new medication was started.

Or perhaps it has simply become a repetitive habit.

Once you understand the reason, the solution becomes much easier to find.

I also would not shame your loved one for doing it. If they have Alzheimer’s disease, they may not fully understand what they are doing or remember your previous conversations about it.

Stay calm, protect the skin, redirect their attention, and look for the underlying cause.

That approach is usually much more useful than repeatedly saying, “Stop picking.”

Conclusion

Skin picking in an Alzheimer’s patient can be frustrating and worrying, especially when it creates cuts, bleeding, or wounds that keep reopening.

But there is usually more to the behavior than simply saying that Alzheimer’s disease caused it.

Look for physical discomfort, dry or irritated skin, anxiety, boredom, repetitive behavior, medication changes, and other health problems. At the same time, protect the skin with simple wound care rather than relying on unproven homemade remedies.

If the picking is severe, sudden, persistent, or causing significant wounds, talk with a healthcare professional.

The goal is not simply to stop the person’s hands.

The goal is to understand why those hands keep going to the skin in the first place.