# How does a single person scratch her own back? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179 "2007-01-08T18:10:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/1 "2007-01-08T18:10:22Z")
Well, not actually scratching. And a backscratcher wouldn’t help. Here’s my problem: my dermatologist is “sectioning” me–taking all of the suspicious moles off of one section of my body at a time. And I have a lot of them. It is about time to do my back, where there are two right between my shoulder blades. My question is: does anyone have creative ideas about how to care for these spots on my own? I totally can’t reach them, no matter how I contort, and they will need washing, application of antibiotic, and bandaging twice a day for a week. For the first two-three days they will be sore, which would make contorting painful. I have one friend who is close enough to do this for me, but said friend is being a PITA about possibly being out of town for the whole month in which this is supposed to be done. I suppose I could, last resorts, stay with my parents for a few days and have them do it, but really, at this point in my life I’m too old for that, and I know they would _mind_. Any ideas, aside from scheduling a different month and making my dermatologist hopping mad? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/2 "2007-01-08T18:29:05Z")
Do you have any kind of medical facility at your job? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/3 "2007-01-08T18:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=mack] Do you have any kind of medical facility at your job? [/QUOTE] I work from home, so no. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/4 "2007-01-08T18:35:34Z")
Make friends with your neighbours, quickly. Or advertise on Craigslist. There’s folk who would pay good money to do this for you. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/5 "2007-01-08T18:39:58Z")
More serious: Do you have a doctor’s office nearby where the nurse will apply the dressings for you? Over here (UK), this is the kind of thing a practice nurse would do. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/6 "2007-01-08T18:49:03Z")
You could ask your doctor for suggestions. They are great resources for finding services for things like this. Situations like this aren’t uncommon. Also, would it be possible to switch sections? That is, do your back section when you know your friend is going to be in town, and right now do another section. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/7 "2007-01-08T19:30:54Z")
[QUOTE=Kal] There’s folk who would pay good money to do this for you. [/QUOTE] Heck, the right kind of perv would do it for free. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/8 "2007-01-08T19:32:00Z")
And I now see that I totally misread what **Kal** said. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/9 "2007-01-08T19:53:10Z")
If your parents would _mind_ helping you out with a minor medical condition, be sure to remind them how much they minded when they’re looking for someone to change their bedpans in teir golden years. Seriously, this just does not compute for me. If you have any sort of positive relationship with your parents, what is the big damn deal about changing a couple of bandages for seven days? Fourteen bandage changes, that’s only seven each. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/10 "2007-01-08T20:41:49Z")
Go to any singles bar and work out a barter-of-services arrangement. 😉 Easy as pie if you’re a woman. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/11 "2007-01-08T23:23:52Z")
What about simply getting a [backscratcher](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backscratcher)? Around here they’re generally available in any Asian supermarket or merchandise type of store, made of bamboo or plastic, with the end carved or etched like a little hand. And I’m sure you could get one on eBay or elsewhere online. Or find a nice rough elm tree and make like a bear by rubbing your back against it. I do that from time to time while hiking if I get really sweaty. 'sgood. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/12 "2007-01-08T23:31:57Z")
Yes, I was all set to answer the title question, but the actual one I can’t help with. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/13 "2007-01-08T23:45:50Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Seriously, this just does not compute for me. If you have any sort of positive relationship with your parents, what is the big damn deal about changing a couple of bandages for seven days? Fourteen bandage changes, that’s only seven each. [/QUOTE] I love my dad dearly, but I know he sometimes faints at the sight of blood, so I would never ask him to do anything like this for me. Maybe the OP’s parents are like that. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/14 "2007-01-08T23:57:45Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] I love my dad dearly, but I know he sometimes faints at the sight of blood, so I would never ask him to do anything like this for me. Maybe the OP’s parents are like that. [/QUOTE] Heh, my dad slogged through world war 2 as a ground pounder. Having heard about some interesting times with mortar rounds hitting the foxhole next to his and _splashing_ um… “stuff” into his hole, blood doesnt bother him. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/15 "2007-01-09T00:53:16Z")
County nursing office? Social services? Twice a day is a problem. But maybe you could get to them once a day? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/16 "2007-01-09T00:54:11Z")
**robardin** , did you even read the OP? **JThunder** how did you misread it? I thought your original comment was witty, you beat me to it. Did **Kal** mean something else? ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/17 "2007-01-09T00:59:19Z")
[QUOTE=Pygmy Rugger] **robardin** , did you even read the OP? [/QUOTE] Err… Is it opposite day? :o ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/18 "2007-01-09T03:16:01Z")
[QUOTE=Pygmy Rugger] **JThunder** how did you misread it? I thought your original comment was witty, you beat me to it. Did **Kal** mean something else? [/QUOTE] I thought **Kal** was talking about paying people to scratch one’s back. Instead, he meant that certain people will pay for the opportunity to scratch a woman’s back. Which, if you think about it, is more appealing than my “pervs will do it for free” scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/19 "2007-01-09T03:17:05Z")
I can’t think of anything that would help with the bandaging part, but there are lotion applicators for the back that could be used for the washing and applying antibiotic part. > **[Lotion Applicator - LifeSolutionsPlus](http://www.lifesolutionsplus.com/lotion-applicator-p-162.html)** > > This hand held applicator?is specially designed to help apply moisturizing lotions, suntan oils, sport creams, and medications on the back and other hard to reach places. The lotion applicator's built-up ribbed ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179/20 "2007-01-09T03:51:34Z")
put all the dressings and stuff face-up on a pillow and put the pillow on the floor, then lay down on the pillow really hard how far around your back CAN you reach? Have you asked and dermatologist-type people what to do? They’ve probably seen it before and may have some advice [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-single-person-scratch-her-own-back/387179.md?page=2)