Mum has had severely sensitive skin all her life with severe breakouts at times. She is allergic to several different things which I am not aware of since she has lost her list and her previous doctor could no longer provide it. However I recall as a adolescent she was once even banned from showering due to severe reaction.
When she was of sound mind she had this under better control, ie you know when you should stop scratching.
Now with her dementia she keeps scratching and scratching and scratching and has open bleeding sores all over.
She has a shower about 2-3 times a week. Usually it’s just a quick shower/rinse of bottom/armpits (as she has incontinence) and once a week I sponge scrub her, we might wash her hair etc.
after shower we apply barrier cream to her bottom half / inner thighs and I apply a moisturiser made for sensitive dry skin that is meant to be good for people with an itch or psoriasis/eczema. However, I’ve noticed the moisturising only makes her itch even more. Funny enough I too suffer from this occasionally. Often if I apply moisturiser even the sensitive type to my legs after shaving,.. I will scratch my legs and cause sores. So I avoid moisturising after shaving. So I kind of understand her predicament and the sensitive skin.
The difference is I make a conscious choice to stop scratching if I notice it.
With mum the scratching is out of control,.... and I fear she will give herself an infection with the dirt she already has under her finger nails (which I’m also always trying to clean). Unfortunately she has a habit of not only scratching herself but also surfaces, plates, cups etc. Ie she sees dirt on balcony table, she will begin scratching it. She has some really nasty sores that aren’t healing as she always re-scratches it open.
Ive tried putting bandaids on them but she removes them, doctors have prescribed her ointments but none work, I try keep her nails short but I’m at the point of where I feel like I need to put her hands in some gloves and somehow secure them. Oh can’t use any tape either as she is allergic.
I’m actually thinking she’s also sensitive to the barrier cream but without it,.. is not good either.
what does one do?
Definitely not a “solution” to a lifelong problem, but when there are no solutions left, it sometimes seems to help my LO to employ some temporary measure.
Have you tried soft mittens, perhaps fastened to her sleeves, to give her skin a brief respite?
The approaches you have chosen may be all you can do. Hoping you receive advice for something else that can help.
One food could cause a mountain of issues if it is a food item that is commonly found in many prepared items. Example is wheat.
It would be a good idea to take her to a dermatologist. Skin issues change as
one ages. She may need allergy testing.
I have very sensitive skin. Dermatitis and rosacea. Dove sensitive skin body wash (and their soap) is great. Vanicream is a good option too; they have a whole line of products for sensitive skin.
Make sure any lotions are labeled ‘fragrance free’ and not ‘unscented’! Unscented means that there is no real scent to it, but it likely has masking elements to cover the chemical smell
it would have otherwise. Fragrance free means NO scent, masking or otherwise, is in it.
And don’t fall for the “all natural” and “plant based” BS out there. Chemicals are not the devil and they are unavoidable! Plants can definitely be irritating. Chamomile is touted as a natural soother for skin. But it also mimics ragweed. Poison Ivy is a natural plant too but no way would I put it on my skin!
I’d be leery of witch hazel. It’s an antiseptic but also can be super irritating. My skin would burst into flames if I sprayed that on me.
It is beyond gentle.
Shower soap is Q.V. intensive with ceramides, have also tried Cetaphil for sensitive skin and Dermaveen for sensitive skin. All are meant to be frangnance free etc.
moisturiser has been by above brands too, most recent q.v. intensive with ceramides which is meant to help with itching.
Layndry detergent is also sensitive or baby detergent. Although at times I use radiant odour removal for heavier soiled items. However, I always use the allergy cycle and do an extra rinse afterwards. These products and tacts she was already using herself even before dementia. Mum is who got me in the habit of doing extra rinses ;)
The barrier cream I can’t guarantee is for sensitive skin but I’ve been assured previously at the chemist that if they can be used on babies, they are gentle. There’s one that was for mature skin which I stopped as I noticed it was scented.
The doctors have prescribed several ointments but most of them leave Mums skin sticky (like Vaseline) which she dislikes. There’s a couple others which I cannot recall the name at the moment but have been of no help.
Its also hard hard as Mum can no longer provide feedback or comparison. Like I can’t ask her if one feels better than the other as she can’t recall the previous.
Happy to take her to dermatologist but her dementia is advanced so hopefully they can figure it out without too much communication from mums part.
Her docotr has not expressed much interest in general. However I’m sure she’ll do a referral if I ask. I think it would be worth getting her allergies re-written for my knowledge.
she does get sores also on the sides of the incontinence wear so I think she’s also allergic to the incontinence pants (maybe the elasticity) and we use / have tried several. I’ve seen some at the chemist for highly sensitive skin but we cannot afford these as they are like $40-$50 for one pack of 8-10.
still have not found any bulk buy option in Australia!!! We are spending so much money on the incontinence wear!!
Theres a gov scheme for discount but as Mum can’t fill out the form herself and I don’t have POA, we can’t apply for it (note we are still on a long wait list for Mum to be fully assessed),.. that’s another story. We have been bounced around all over and it’s doing my head in.
I think the dermatologist is prob the best call. I write this while again telling Mum to not scratch ! And while subconsciously feeling itchy myself lol
My mom has had itchy skin all her life. It’s worse now as she gets older. As she’s gotten older, her skin is thinner. A slight crease in the paper adult diaper can be itchy and really bothersome.
We had an excellent dermatologist at one point in our lives who used to recommend a dilute vinegar bath. I have eczema on my face. I dilute vinegar in a bowl of water and soak a wash rag in it and then compress it on my face. It works! So try dilute vinegar compresses on mum.
Another thing that works is petroleum jelly. I’ve read that your mum doesn’t like it. I agree. It’s icky. However, it works: put a light coating of petroleum jelly all over mum. Then wash. Her skin should come out like a baby’s butt and it won’t itch so much. Yeah. Yeah. It may still itch, but not so much. She’ll get relief. I’m a fellow sufferer. If any medical personnel tells me it’s all in my head, I tell them to go F off!
We do the above for my 100-year-old mom. She gets relief. It’s not a 100% solution, but it makes the problem manageable.
Your right about the petroleum jelly though. We used to use that for care clients who had seriously dry skin. You're spot on about the diluted vinegar baths too. An old nurse who I workd for told me to wash incontinent, diaper clients in the vinegar and water solution. It works wonders in preventing skin fungus, rashes, and other irritation that come from incontinence and diapers. That same nurse put me onto using the coconut oil too. She insisted that coconut oil be used on her rather than petroleum jelly. It's more expensive but I always encouraged families to pay for it. Many refused, so it was petroleum jelly.
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