I have the same exact issue with my son. The slightest runny nose and he blows,wipes,blows,wipes,rub...excessively. So bad his nose cracks and bleeds and is raw & red. Just this week I had to take him to the doctor and he needed oral and topical ointment to treat it. No matter what I say, he cant stop blowing despite the bleeding and irritation.

Since my son began using Nasalcort each day as a preventive measure, he has not had any ear infections and allergy symptoms have decreased significantly. I was told that keeping the sinuses open will in turn help the ears remain clear.

My son still habitually picks at a spot on his upper lip. This usually happens when his mind is not engaged. I try to distract him with an activity. "Think fast" ...and toss a ball for him to catch.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I do think lots of kids have similar habits. This is definitely a cold. It only happens when he gets a cold. Having a stuffy nose creates anxiety for him and he responds with rubbing it. Then, the worse the rawness gets, the more he rubs. I've noticed my own anxiety is so much higher when he's doing this! Anyway, this doesn't seem to be a particularly bad cold so I'm crossing my fingers that he'll be over the whole thing before school pictures next Thursday!

My son does similar thing to his lips when he has a cold. I find when I give him a little children's pain reliever its not so bad. I think it just dulls the sensitivity enough to not be a constant bother.

For an irritated nose area I would suggest having Dr order bactroban it Is a sticky ointment that treats 2major skin bacteria that can help. Also a dry nose spray with xyitol in can help jeep things moist and decrease bacteria. Of course keeping fingers out Is a challenge