Hi! Wondering if anyone has had success with using N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) to treat nail picking. My son's Dr. said this has been shown to help with obsessive nail and skin picking. It is over the counter. She said it would not interfere with any of his adhd meds or zoloft so thinking of trying it.
My son's picking is not due to anxiety, it's just strictly a years long bad habit that is becoming more of a problem lately. He doesn't bite them just picks the cuticles and actual nail, which causes them to bleed sometimes. Probably is brought on more by stimulants but they are a necessity for him right now. (9 year old with pretty significant hyperactivity and impulsiveness)
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I have used NaC with some success for the condition of hair pulling. I am not adhd (my daughter is) but probably suffer from OCD, undiagnosed. I never really related the compulsion, which has come and gone from childhood to stress or anxiety but now as an adult I do see the connection. It is somehoe calming for me and extremely difficult to not do once I have started. I started taking NAC during pandemic as it had been recommended by an alternative health practitioner and upon researching myself online learned of its other uses. I did find it helped control my hair pulling. (I stopped because I receive weekly infusions for another condition and I was bleeding more than normal and it could be a side -effect of NAC. When I notice I have the urge or have already started to pull I do go take it again for awhile.
Thank you for your response. That is really great to hear you do notice some relief when taking it. At first I thought it was from him being anxious, but he has come a long way for the better in regards to his anxiety this past year. He said he isn't nervous or anxious he just can't stop. We will definitely give it a try for a few months.
I have never heard of this stuff! My daughter is trying to stop sucking her thumb. We have tried the topical funny tasting polish and cuticle drops. She bore through it when she was younger, and is finally decided she wants to stop at 10yo. I would love to know more about this stuff.
My son's primary and psychiatric said it can be helpful for anxiety and obsessive behaviors like skin and nail picking. Doesn't seem there is too much risk with trying it so curious to see if it works. From what I have read, need to give it a few good months.
Our son sucked his thumb and stopped cold turkey in 5th grade. He just decided he was ready. He sucked his thumb while holding/sniffing a lovey cloth and when he put that aside (in a glass jar) he stopped his thumb sucking. Just want to give you hope that it's possible!! I wondered how he'd ever stop.
My son and husband have severe ADHD and a psychiatrist recommended natural treatment with NAC, but above 2g (here in Brazil it is equivalent to 3 600mg tablets a day) I hope for improvements over time. I hope I was bold. Hug
I was recently dx with ADHD. Nail and cuticle picking has been an issue my entire life. I find if my cuticles are dry I have a tendency to pick and also if my nails aren’t even. It’s the discomfort of the dry cuticle that your mind starts obsessing about then you feel like you just have to DO something about it. When I keep my nails filed as smooth as possible and the cuticles trimmed and oiled, then apply clear polish over the nail and cuticles, it really helps. Polish is a thing these days, even for boys. He might get on board with it.
That's a really great idea. I will try and keep them even filed and use cuticle oil plus the clear polish over them. Maybe a nail strengthening one. Thank you for the advice
Our psychiatrist recommended it as well for cuticle picking for our son. I never tried it so thanks for the reminder and for the responses of others who have tried it.
For my son, the nail and skin picking came about after a few months of taking anti anxiety med. When we stopped that med, the nail picking stopped in the next month.
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