How do I make self injury scars fade?

Question

Okay, I used to cut myself. I started about last year in March, and they weren't really deep, I just scratched them kind of deep, but you can still see those a little, even though they're my oldest ones. Those scars on my left forearm, and now they're just a light reddish color, you can still tell they're there, though. I also have some newer ones from the summer, and they're on my left wrist. These scars are also fading pretty well, they're still a light reddish color, as well, but I have one that I made this November, and it was kind of deep. Now, it's raised and still a reddish color. I'm using vitamin E capsules, and my mom's Stretch mark cream, which should fade redness and make the scar smoother, but it still hasn't faded. How do I make these scars fade faster? I've decided to quit this horrible habit once and for all because of that deep cut. I know that they're fading pretty well, so that must mean that someday they'll be barely noticeable, right? Please help. Thanks.

Thanks for the help, you guys. And as for the girl who said to 'wear them with pride', I'm sorry, but theres really nothing to be proud about for me. I wish so badly for the scars to fade because some of my friends know already, and the night that I made my deepest cut was the night that my mom and my brother found out about it, and heavens knows what my dad would do if he found out. also, i want to wear short sleeves whenever I want. I want to so badly. But i hate having to look at these scars every day, because I regret it completely. People at school have started the whole "all emo kids cut themselves" thing, and they make fun of cutters a lot, and I feel bad because they dont know i do it, and i have to hide it all the time. I really want to know, does Mederma work on the scars that I described, even if they're not raised, and even if they are old? And could self-tanner help cover them up?

Answer 1

Bio-oil is excellent for scars. It's similar in consistency to vitamin E oil.. try it:
http://www.bio-oil.info/

You can get it from most supermarkets and pharmacies!!

Answer 2

Hey,
Well, firstly congratulations for stopping cutting yourself :D I know from personal experience just how hard this is to do, and I think you're amazing for achieving it.
The first good sign is that the scars are still a red colour. You can still treat them whilst they're like this, but once they turn white, there really isn't much hope.

When you cut yourself, your body produces something called collagen (a protein) which fixes the wound. This is what is visible as a scar. In some cases, too much collagen is produced, and the scar becomes raised (a hypertrophic or keloid scar). Both of these are treatable, but only to a certain extent.

Using Vitamin E cream is a good start, keep up with this. The most helpful thing I have found is a body lotion called Palmers, which is advertised for use during pregnancy for stretch marks. Well, I'm not pregnant, and it works just as well for me! It has Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter in it, the only two ingredients which have been proven to help with scars.
I put it on before I go to bed, after a bath/shower (the skin absorbs it better when you've just had a bath) and any other time that I remember during the day. Really exfoliate the area and massage the lotion well in, this will improve the circulation and speed up the process a bit. I know this is going to sound really annoying, but keep going and it will make a difference eventually. I use it on my legs and inner wrist and it really has made a difference, but it takes a LONG time. Scars don't make their final shape until up to 2 years after the wound has been made, but it's better if you can start treating them early. I HAVE noticed a difference in mine, but it took a couple of months before I noticed anything. Try taking a photograph of your scars, treating them for a month, and then taking the same photograph a month later.

The only other thing you can do is have steroid injections for raised scars, and laser surgery is being experimented with for others, but neither of these have been proven to work very well and are really expensive. So I think you're stuck with the cocoa butter! I'm guessing you live in the U.S (I'm in the U.K) so I don't know if you have it over there, but ther'll be something similar, and you could always order it over the internet??

I know you can't wear them with pride, it's a little part of you that you probably wish didn't exist (I know I do) but if you're patient enough they'll fade a lot. I'm not going to say they'll vanish completely (they won't) but they get to the point where you don't see them and have to look really closely and feel them to see if they're still there.

Mederma - I don't know about this, I've never heard of it. Sorry! Although I do know that self-tan doesn't really cover them up - they either go darker than the rest of your skin or just say the same colour they were. If you go somewhere really hot and get a real tan, be prepared for the scars to not tan, as the skin is effectively dead and won't tan. If you want to use make-up to cover them up, cream concealer is pretty good for that, or a cream foundation. The powders and sticks don't work as well and tend to rub off more easily.

Anyway, I hope this helped some, sorry for going on, but I get exactly what you're going through. I'm 17, been cutting since I was 12, and I hate my scars. But hopefully you've caught them quick enough to do something about them. I don't even know you and you sound like a great person, who really wants to fix what they've done. And I think it's inspirational that you managed to stop. Be proud of yourself, if not your scars.

Feel free to drop me a line if need be. [e-mail]

Answer 3

It sounds as though they will fade in time. I have quite a few myself and also regret it. Silgel is available over the counter and costs £10-20 depending on the size and is a gel treatment that helps to reduce scarring when used regularly. Until they do fade you may also want to try dermacolour make up which can be ordered from your local chemist. It's really good, comes in a range of colours and you can mix them if you can't find a perfect match. They do a foundation and loose translucent powder which are both waterproof and last ages. Good luck with everything.

Answer 4

any kind of oil, lotion, or triple anitbiotic ointment can help... they just won't work so well. and by all means don't expose them to the sun! use sunscreen because if your scars tan they'll stay that color while your skin will continue to naturally change. and of course the ultimate treatment. therepy. I do strongly suggest you seek help. someone can help you work through what your feeling and why you're feeling like that so you can stop self injury in the first place.

Answer 5

Awwww, Anita. I am sorry you have those battle scars but at least you had the sense to quit. Kudos to you.
I don't know how to make them heal quicker. I wish I did. I think taking the Vitamin E capsules and perhaps healing lotions will help.
As a former cutter I know how you felt/feel. Instead of cutting I picked up tattoos, lol. I love the way they feel and they decorate my body.
Happy holidays.

Answer 6

i used to self harm ,,many years ago.but i was at stage in my life when i didn't care who saw them,i thought they looked quite good at the tI'me.(sad eh)
im now married and happy with kids,and regret ever doing them,but i cant turn back time,so in the summer i wear a watch and thick bracelets as most of mine are on the inside of my wrists,

good luck Hun,my hearts with you,been there and done that

Answer 7

yes dear time will fade the physical scars. your emotional scars are the ones you need to work on. stay in couseling so that you never self injure yourself again

Answer 8

Why are you hurting yourself? That's so sad!! they will fade eventually but they won't disappear totally. You should talk to your Mam, if you haven't already, this is not normal behaviour hun. Get some help. xxx

Answer 9

Use Aloe Vera gel u can get it from normal shops I self harm it helps but if u hav stopped then well done!!!

Answer 10

As above, great for you that you have stopped!

Aloe Vera springs to mind in helping to heal up cuts and stuff, particularly with winter coming on.

If you feel strong enough, would you please seek out a few other girls that have asked questions about how to qiut cutting and share some hope and help? Thanks and congratulations!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aq_5Ecf.w_Hqmcr_couTfT7sy6IX?qid=20061210160117AAHrjsh&show=7#profile-info-494797f03229796c9d6f86fdad0c0f54aa

and

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoCZOH9E_QfEcj6CGdJP_UHsy6IX?qid=20061206022056AAaSFDs&show=7#profile-info-96b53fca7a22525515673634be58cd15aa