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I have a fixation with feeling my face and irritating any blemishes or bumps until they bleed.

Not really a "caregiving" question, but it sounds like you have some kind of obsessive disorder going on. Talk to your doctor as there are medications that do help with obsessive disorders.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/body-focused-repetitive-behavior-bfrb
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Reply to MG8522
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Are you diagnosed with Parkinsons? Is that why you posted under that topic?

Compulsive skin picking can occur in people with Parkinson's disease, and there are several possible reasons. Sometimes it's related to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, or a "body-focused repetitive behavior" where the urge to pick becomes almost automatic. In some cases, Parkinson's medications—particularly dopamine agonists such as pramipexole (Mirapex) or ropinirole (Requip)—can contribute to impulse-control behaviors. Dry, itchy, or altered skin sensations can also trigger picking.

Because you're picking to the point of bleeding, it's worth discussing this with your neurologist. Bring a list of your Parkinson's medications and note when the picking is worst. Your doctor can review whether medication adjustments, treatment for anxiety/OCD-type symptoms, or behavioral strategies might help.
In the meantime, some people find it helpful to keep their hands occupied (stress ball, fidget item, knitting, etc.), keep nails very short, use a magnifying mirror less often, and treat any dry or irritated skin aggressively so there are fewer bumps to trigger picking.

(Info from ChatGPT5.5)
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Reply to Geaton777
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Get gel nails applied at a nail salon. They will be thick and blunt and prevent you from picking your skin to the point of bleeding.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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My DH aunt did this. One day she stopped. I tried different things. The one that seemed to work best for her was CBD drops. This is of course antidotal and not proven.

Looking back in her case I think it was a form of anxiety in early stages of dementia and started after she had to stop driving and was losing mobility.

You can find many posts on this subject here on Agingcare because many caregivers have written in about it. You are the first person I’ve seen to ask for themself although I think it’s common to notice bumps or uneven skin. Stay hydrated, see a dermatologist for the many skin disorders, some of which come with aging.

Notice how you handle stress.

Here is a link for this question asked by others on this site.

https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=Picking
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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