It's been almost 2 months, and I can't get my 2 yr old to stop picking at the scab on her face. We've tried covering it with a band-aid, putting band-aids/mittens/socks on her hands, and even applying a liquid bandage. She's good about not picking at it during the day, but when she's going to sleep/waking up, she seems to pick at it almost sub-consciously. I've tried giving her something told hold at bedtime (a stuffed animal) thinking that might fill her need to "touch" something. I've been putting aloe, neosporin, vitamin E, etc to try and get it to heal quickly, but she just keeps gouging out the scab before it can heal. Other than putting a veterinary cone on her (just kidding!), does anyone have any ideas?
She has fairly sensitive skin anyway, so we do put Aveeno cream all over her face 2 to 3 times a day. As for the binky/pacifier, she hasn't taken one in over a year...I'm not sure she would still find it comforting. She's found a new scab to pick (on her hand), though, so maybe she'll leave her face alone for a while.
My daughter did not stop scratching the scab, and she does now have a scar on her face, though one would have to look closely for it. Jilly's advice sounds good--put the balm all over her face so the sensation is everywhere. And try the pacifier. I wish I had thought of those things. Let us know whether those things work.
Hi Mama Twinkie,
Just to let you know you are not alone. We have a similar although different situation....Someone suggested to me that your LO may be picking because it itches etc. So...why not put aquaphor or another good balm not just on the scab, but all over the face so that you LO will not focus on that part...if you even out the sensation, maybe she will forget about it....the other thing, not very pc, is to let her have a binkie until the scab heals. It may be that she needs a comfort and picking mite provide her that. You can deal with the binkie after the sore heals.
HTH. Jilly
Oh it probably itches! A lot easier to ignore itching when you're running round and keeping busy than when you're trying to doze off. c: I honestly don't know anything that stops itching in scabs, so my only suggestion is to take a gander in the medical isle next time you're at a store, or maybe visit a drug store and ask a pharmacist, might have something to suggest.
I wish I had the answers. My little one got eaten up by mosquito bites last year, and picked at them until they were the size of quarters. Now she has huge scars on her legs. Bandaids at least helped a little, but were gone by morning. Hope it heals fast.
