Does your daughter have some developmental disability that necessitates your taking responsibility for her? If she is (apart from this one behavior) otherwise normal, she should consult with a psychiatrist and therapist who can help her with both medication and Habit Reversal Therapy to stop this behavior.
I don't agree with the drs. answer to your daughters picking problem. I have been dealing with this for years- since I was about eight years old. I have tryed counseling-for over 20 years with 5 different drs. I have gone to dermatologists/ family dr etc, I have tryed hypnotism,self will,meditation, diet,prayer band aides- which I too peal them off in order to pick and peal scabs until they bleed. My whole body is scarred from years of this. I do not like anyone to see or know about it because I am ashamed. I am a strong person and this just baffles me as to why I would do this to myself.
I am now nearly 47. Something interesting happened to me this year. I had to be treated with prednisone for ulcerative colitis. I noticed that my picking behavior while on this drug stopped with absolutely no effort. As soon as I went off the drug I started picking again. Right now My arms are bleeding, red and sore.
I discussed this with my psychiatric practioner who has prescribed all sorts of drugs for depression and habit problems over the years to no avail. She suggested that because prednisone is a strong anti-imflammatory, and it is used to treat severe allergies that I might want to consult an allergist. I have an appointment in early jan and will let you know what happens. also chrons and ulcerative colitis are diseases of the auto immune system which is overactive- in other words my immune system actually kills my good bacteria as well as the bad. I have to wonder if my picking is a response to this immune system that needs/craves infection to fight off. The prednisone seemed miraculous because I stopped with absolutely no effort. It's a very strong drug with side effects but perhaps I will be prescribed something similiar. This is my experience- I am not suggesting anything but it will be interesting to see what happens. debbie