TankTop
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Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2015 12:38:52 GMT
Dd has mild acne. Nothing severe, but severe enough that I have taken her to the dermatologist a few times. Her skin is very fair. Peaches and cream skin that causes it to really stand out. We have tracked it, and it seems to be menstural cycle centered.
The derm prescribed a blood pressure medicine that has low doses of hormones in it to help with this last week. I have not filled it because my factor 5 blood disorder can be hereditary. I spoke to him about it and he said it was safe, but I am checking with my obgyn at my appointment on Monday. With this disorder I can't take hormone based medications.
Dd did also has an anxiety disorder that she takes medicine for.
So, here is the issue. When she gets any zit or bump on her face she will pick it until it is red and raw. This makes the issue so much worse. If she is caught in the act of picking she has to finish getting off any lose pieces of the spot she is picking, but can let the rest go. She has never attempted to stop behavior all together even though she knows she needs to.
I am terrfied she is going to scar her face beyond repair.
-How do I tell if it is a habit or a compulsion? Maybe part of her anxiety? The fact that she can easily stop once caught makes me think it is a habit, but I don't know.
-is it reasonable to give her a month (our next derm appt. is January 10thish) to try to stop on her own before seeking further advice and speaking to her derm and doctor who treats her anxiety?
-Any tips on breaking this habit?
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Nov 28, 2015 13:34:58 GMT
If the doctor said the medicine was safe, why not take it? Is your ob her doctor? Is anyone testing her for this blood thing?
as for the picking, maybe it itches. Perhaps she could try ice, warm compress or some topical cream to soothe it?
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 28, 2015 13:51:30 GMT
Habits are hard to break. Think nail biting. How many have tried over & over to stop that?
And if her picking is caused by anxiety, well, it just may give her more anxiety to have someone constantly remind her that she is picking at her face and going to cause scars.
My younger dd is a face picker. She even does have one or two little scars, which hurt my heart but I can do nothing about. But what I do for her, instead of nagging at her about the picking, I just say to her gently, "You need a little ointment on that." (We use Neosporin)
It's antibacterial, so tends to help clear up the infected pore. And the texture of the ointment makes her not want to put her finger on that spot again to pick some more.
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Post by Flowergirl on Nov 28, 2015 14:10:41 GMT
I just read recently about two skin picking disorders which are classified in the DSM-5. Look in to excoriation and dermitillomania symptoms to see if they fit her behaviors.
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2015 14:31:28 GMT
If the doctor said the medicine was safe, why not take it? Is your ob her doctor? Is anyone testing her for this blood thing? as for the picking, maybe it itches. Perhaps she could try ice, warm compress or some topical cream to soothe it? The doctor that prescribed it is a dermatologist. He is not a specialist in this blood disorder. The blood disorder caused me to throw two blood clots to my lungs, so I feel more comfortable checking with my of before starting her on it. I have also talked to Melissa who suggested she be tested for the disorder before starting birth control pills due to the hormones in those. I know the med prescribed was not BCP, but it still does have a hormone element. I feel I should be safe before I fill it. Kwim? She has not been tested as of yet because she has not had a hormone based medicine or condition. For instance, I am fine day to day. I just have to do injections of blood thinners during pregnancy due to the hormone increases. I also can't take hormone based meds. |
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 28, 2015 14:36:53 GMT
I am the same way. There is no way I could leave a zit alone. In fact even if a coworker has one they won't touch I can't look at them. It is a compulsion but I never ever worry about scars.
Dermatologists can do so much with scars these days that I would no way be able to leave a zit alone just in case it scars. No way.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2015 14:38:07 GMT
And if her picking is caused by anxiety, well, it just may give her more anxiety to have someone constantly remind her that she is picking at her face and going to cause scars. That is my fear as well! I know I do not always react in the appropriate manner for her. I am working on that. It kills me that things I say out of haste or frustration are most likely making this worse. Thank you you for the ointment suggestion. That is a good one! She said to me last night that she does not pick after she washes her face and puts her topical meds on because that would be dumb to wipe them off. Comments like that make me lean towards it being a habit that has the potential to be broken. I could be wrong though. |
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Post by shanni on Nov 28, 2015 14:49:54 GMT
I don't have any help for you, but wanted you to know you aren't alone. My dd was hair pulling, but stopped that and went on to skin picking. She has a massive red scar on her chin from it. I'm hoping it will fade with time. She is on a medicine for anxiety, but I have been wondering if we need to look at therapy again or adjusting her meds. She has stopped picking her face as much, but now she has a huge sore on her foot. It started with an itch that she just kept scratching and and picking until it is now over an inch long and 1/2 inch wide. Limiting access to the area helps, but she then seems to just move on to a different area. I feel so helpless when I see her picking and wish I knew how to help her stop.  |
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Nov 28, 2015 14:53:49 GMT
Have her cover the 'thing' with a little round bandaid. I have an allergy that causes little blister things and I pick at them if I can see/feel them. I have scars that I kept going for a year! The only way I can control myself is to bandaid them.
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Post by 2peafaithful on Nov 28, 2015 15:05:12 GMT
Skin Pick WebsiteMy ds saw a therapist that also specialized in this area. It wasn't his issue but she is one of the top experts in this area. There is also a facebook page that has some good insight and community in offering support . I don't know her age but I am guessing she is a teenager and therefore might be on FB.
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Post by shanni on Nov 28, 2015 15:17:21 GMT
Skin Pick WebsiteMy ds saw a therapist that also specialized in this area. It wasn't his issue but she is one of the top experts in this area. There is also a facebook page that has some good insight and community in offering support . I don't know her age but I am guessing she is a teenager and therefore might be on FB. Your link didn't work. Would you mind reposting it? I'm very interested in learning more about this and figuring out what we need to do to help dd. |
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Post by SallyPA on Nov 28, 2015 15:29:55 GMT
Tank- is the medication called spironolactone? If so, you can be reassured there is no hormones in the medication. It BLOCKS testosterone by sitting on the receptor so testosterone cannot stimulate them and cause acne.
It does NOT increase her risk of clots at all. It still may take several months to notice an improvement.
And definitely get her to a hematologist for a coagulation work up because at some point in her life she may need or want to take hormones AND before she ever gets pregnant she should know if she has inherited your condition.
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Post by Zee on Nov 28, 2015 16:04:37 GMT
First, take her to her to her own doctor for bloodwork. Then you can make informed decisions about her medication.
Second, I'd see about a therapist to help her get a handle on the behavior now. Even if it's "just a habit", it sounds like she needs input from someone besides you to help her develop coping techniques.
Third, in the meantime, have her put neosporin on it instead of picking, every time she gets the urge. It may not work 100% but it can't hurt.
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2015 16:34:43 GMT
Tank- is the medication called spironolactone? If so, you can be reassured there is no hormones in the medication. It BLOCKS testosterone by sitting on the receptor so testosterone cannot stimulate them and cause acne. It does NOT increase her risk of clots at all. It still may take several months to notice an improvement. And definitely get her to a hematologist for a coagulation work up because at some point in her life she may need or want to take hormones AND before she ever gets pregnant she should know if she has inherited your condition. The medicine is aldactone. |
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Nicole in TX
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Post by Nicole in TX on Nov 28, 2015 16:36:44 GMT
If the doctor said the medicine was safe, why not take it? Is your ob her doctor? Is anyone testing her for this blood thing? as for the picking, maybe it itches. Perhaps she could try ice, warm compress or some topical cream to soothe it? The doctor that prescribed it is a dermatologist. He is not a specialist in this blood disorder. The blood disorder caused me to throw two blood clots to my lungs, so I feel more comfortable checking with my of before starting her on it. I have also talked to Melissa who suggested she be tested for the disorder before starting birth control pills due to the hormones in those. I know the med prescribed was not BCP, but it still does have a hormone element. I feel I should be safe before I fill it. Kwim? She has not been tested as of yet because she has not had a hormone based medicine or condition. For instance, I am fine day to day. I just have to do injections of blood thinners during pregnancy due to the hormone increases. I also can't take hormone based meds. You are smart to double check. Doctors do their best, but they don't know everything about every medication. Do you feel it is a compulsion that she could be treated for? Or just a bad habit. |
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Post by ten&rose on Nov 28, 2015 16:37:54 GMT
Aldactone is Spirolactone.  |
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Post by christine58 on Nov 28, 2015 17:47:27 GMT
If the doctor said the medicine was safe, why not take it? Is your ob her doctor? Is anyone testing her for this blood thing? as for the picking, maybe it itches. Perhaps she could try ice, warm compress or some topical cream to soothe it? The doctor that prescribed it is a dermatologist. He is not a specialist in this blood disorder. The blood disorder caused me to throw two blood clots to my lungs, so I feel more comfortable checking with my of before starting her on it. I have also talked to Melissa who suggested she be tested for the disorder before starting birth control pills due to the hormones in those. I know the med prescribed was not BCP, but it still does have a hormone element. I feel I should be safe before I fill it. Kwim? She has not been tested as of yet because she has not had a hormone based medicine or condition. For instance, I am fine day to day. I just have to do injections of blood thinners during pregnancy due to the hormone increases. I also can't take hormone based meds. Why wait to have her tested for factor five?? My teaching assistant's DH has it and waited forever to be tested (many family members have it)....then their daughter almost died from giving birth..yup...he has it and she has it also. |
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2015 18:04:00 GMT
I was not diagnosed until she was 5. My diagnosis came when I was pregnant with my youngest.
At the time the hematologist and my ob said to test her when she was approaching the sexually active stage. Until she needed a hormone based medicine she would be fine.
Before all of this with the Acne and the skin picking became an issue I had already planned on talking to my obstetrician about it at my appointment this Monday. She is going to be 16, and has her first boyfriend. I feel it is time for her to be educated in case she wants to be sexually active.
This just sorta happened out of order due to appointment dates.
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stittsygirl
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Post by stittsygirl on Nov 28, 2015 18:12:18 GMT
I've suffered from dermatillomania since I was a young teen. It started with acne picking, then moved on to cuticles and any kind of scab. I also have a more mild case of trichtillomania (hair pulling), and have to be very careful not take all my eyebrows out. My own daughter went for a couple of years without eyelashes, but she has since learned to control pulling her hair out. It is a compulsory behavior for me, triggered by anxiety and stress usually, and I still deal with it. I would just suggest keeping an eye on it and educating both you and your daughter on BFRB's so she can hopefully stay out of the damaging cycle, if that is what her current picking might lead to. eta: I forgot to mention that one of the best remedies for me to turn to if I'm really feeling the compulsion to pick is to rub elmers glue on my hand or arm, let it dry, and then peel that off. Weird, I know, but it really does help. |
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Post by SallyPA on Nov 28, 2015 19:11:33 GMT
Aldactone is Spirolactone. yes! Spironolactone is the generic name and Aldactone is the brand name. |
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