Resources (tips / support groups)
r/calmhands if she peels her fingers/cuticles
r/nailbiting if she bites or picks at her cuticles/nails
I suggest taking before pics/progress pics! They’re highly motivating.
For face/acne picking, make sure hands/nails are clean at all times (dirty hands touching face lead to more acne), try to never touch your face when bored/stressed, pick up a different repetitive habit. Weird, but when I want to touch/pick my face when bored or stressed, I crack my knuckles or stretch my hands instead. Spend less time in front of mirrors if you can. I try to avoid looking at the bathroom mirror when I’m in there (ex: only look down at sink when washing hands, do skincare “blind” or backwards not facing mirror or I do skincare in my bedroom where I don’t have a mirror). I use hydrocolloid patches (CosRX pimple patches (I buy the pack of 10 sheets so I have a ton at all times) or large medical hydrocolloid sheets (note that you need to cut these to size each time) on every pimple except for cystic ones so I can’t see or touch/pick my acne. I keep them on for at least 8-10 hours unless they fall off on their own.
For healing scars or picked acne, I hydrate and moisturize heavily. If the wound is still open, I use less hydrating layers (toners/serums) bc they might sting and become red, and focus on repairing my skin barrier with thicker, soothing healing creams like Soonjung 2x Barrier Repair Cream, ceramide creams/gels, squalane oil, or La Roche Posay cicaplast baume b5 on top of a light hydrating or soothing layer that I’ve found doesn’t sting my skin (either 1 toner or 1 serum or both - this product will be ymmv/based on trial and error and depends on what stings /your/ skin. For me, this is Thayers alcohol free witch hazel toner, Soonjung low pH toner, Hanskin hyaluronic acid essence, or Hada Labo hyaluronic acid lotion). If your skin is in truly dire need of repair and your skin can tolerate petrolatum (very thick, greasy feeling, and occlusive), I slather on vaseline, aquaphor, or eucerin on my skin as a final layer after moisturizer, usually at night.
If nail biting or cuticle picking is an issue, I recommend using reparative hand creams (morning/night/anytime after washing hands/after shower), cuticle oils morning/night/anytime she washes her hands, cuticle pens to carry with her on the go, maybe a nail polish. Aquaphor or Eucerin are super greasy feeling but also amazing for healing dry or peeling skin and helps you not touch it (because it’s so greasy). Doing manicures regularly also helps. I like the CND RescueRX daily keratin treatment, Sally Hansen miracle grow clear polish, CND solar oil, and Bliss Kiss cuticle oil. One thing that was helpful for me was watching YouTube videos on how parts models (like hand and foot models) take care of their hands and nails.
Slathering on tons of lotion on hands and wearing plastic gloves for around 40mins to 1hr (while relaxing or watching Netflix) has helped my super dry cracked peeling hands/fingers.