N-acetyl Cysteine Supplementation to Alleviate Skin Picking Disorder: A Case Report

Cureus. 2024 Feb 2;16(2):e53440. doi: 10.7759/cureus.53440. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Abstract

There are body-focused repetitive behaviors, such as skin picking, trichotillomania, or nail biting, for which therapeutic interventions are available and can be tried, but unfortunately, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for them. These disorders can cause functional impairment, disrupt activities of daily living, and be burdensome for both the patients and their loved ones. This case report will discuss an over-the-counter vitamin supplement, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), that can be used safely but is often overlooked.

Keywords: anxiety; mood; n-acetylcysteine (nac); pediatric; vitamin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports