I have bad scars from when I used to cut myself, any tips on what 2 do cuz I wanna wear short sleeves?

Question

It's very warm here in Cali and I really wanna wear short sleeves, but my arms are covered in bright pink scars that are so ugly. I don't cut anymore, and Im embarressed about the scars. Makeup doesnt seem to cover that well. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I can't believe the insensitivity of some of these answers. To all of you who were cruel: if you don't know about a situation, don't bother making rude and hurtful comments.

Mederma is a scar treatment that is supposed to reduce the appearance of scars. My doctor told me it works, but I didn't buy it because it was rather expensive, and I don't really care. I've used Curad Scar Therapy on other scars, though, and that worked (it was also less expensive).

If you haven't yet, you should try a thicker makeup like Dermablend. It's made specifically for hard-to-cover things like birthmarks and scars. You might be able to find a drugstore brand that's comparable. Look for something very thick. You can use a thin layer, then powder it. You could also try a good-coverage mineral foundation, like Monave's concealer powder.

If your scars are really bad, you might consider getting a flesh-toned liquid latex (it should be available at a local costume shop) that you can paint on. That may sound odd, but since it's liquid, it can be very very thin, and since it's latex, it's like a second skin.

If makeup isn't the way you want to go, you might try a cortisone cream to temporarily reduce the redness of the scars.

Another option would be to wear a very thin stocking-type mesh shirt under your short-sleeved shirt. If you get one with a pale color, it won't be noticable from far away, and the mesh won't add a lot of clothing weight/warmth.

The scars will fade over time, but if you expect to wear short sleeves and *really* don't want them to show, I'd start using a scar treatment right away. Depending on the severity, they might need a push like that to really start to disappear.

However, I know that it takes a while to really break the addiction to cutting, and if yours was on your arms, publicizing the cutting was likely part of your process. And if the scars are still pink, it probably hasn't been that long since you stopped. So you might not be fully recovered yet. If showing your marks was ever a part of your cutting routine, try to hold off on showing your scars for the time being. It will only poke at your old addiction.

If not, and if none of the options work for you, stuff it all---grin and "bare" it. They're not fresh cuts, so anyone who sees would at least know you were healing, not cutting. If you're really worried about it and/or younger than I thought, you could always have an explanation on hand, like an old skittish cat at your house, or a hiking/climbing excursion gone awry where you had to pull yourself up with thorny plants or reach through brambles. Realize those aren't the best cover stories, though, which is why I only recommend using them in case of emergency.

Talk to your family/friendfamily and your doctor about things you can do to treat your scars, because that makes a commitment you won't be able to break---they'll be right there helping you get rid of them. Make healing them and getting your old skin back a healthy new goal you can work on. The further your scars get from the cuts they once were, the less you will be reminded of your old patterns.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you find things that work for you.

Answer 2

Bio Oils (google it) will help settle down and be less ovious in time. Its good stuff that does work, I use it on some smalls scars I have from falling off horses (I work with problem horses) other than that the only other thing I can surgest is asking ur gps advice, see if they have any tricks up there sleves?!

Answer 3

I am so glad you don't cut anymore! My son was a cutter too and has horrible scars. I know there is something out there but not sure what it's called. I wasn't much help but maybe someone out there knows the name. There is some sort of patch that matches your skin tone and I think you could ask a pharmacist about it.

Answer 4

There is a product called Bio-Oil. Not sure if you can buy it where you are, you can ask your pharmacist and they may be able to ship it in for you, It is very good for reducing scars and stretch marks. They have them in Australia, You may be able to purchase it over the net. Just Google it and it might be there.

Answer 5

go to the grocery store and you should be able to find a product that can reduce the visibility of your scars... Im glad you dont cut anymore... there are products to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks as well... i hope i have been helpful and imformative...

Answer 6

I am an independant distributor for Market America. We have a product called Pentaxyl that might be able to help. Originally developed for stretch marks, it has been shown to reduce not only the appearance of stretch marks, but also scars, fine lines, wrinkles and even those dee furrows. Might be worth trying.
http://www.marketamerica.com/lemonadestand/index.cfm?action=shopping.wpProductNoShop&prodID=11150

Answer 7

Scar creams with AHA and vitamin E can help to smooth it (but will never go away completely)...

Answer 8

i used to cut too the best thing i use when i wear short sleeves is foundation...works really good...but make sure you use the perfect skin colour match...if not it would just look funny..hope it works ^_^

Answer 9

The only thing that i can tell you is to look in your yellow pages and look for a laser or cosmetic surgeon. They can remove your scars and most of them accept medical insurance.

Answer 10

it's part of your past... you just have to learn to live with the scars, as mean as it may sound.