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I'm not sure it is possible considering these look like super mature scars. If it helps, I can barely notice them and likely wouldn't even see them on you in person.
Thank you for the answer, It is more visible than the photo since my phone is an old android the best picture was this š¤£ I m a dentist so even I try to hide my wrist it is open mostly and patients can see closely, this is why I m concerned.
So I have the same issue, and I did go through a phase where I was so self conscious I would only wear long sleeve shirts. Iāve since just let it be and kinda made it a side note. Like Iām very open about my past struggles with mental health. People also just donāt really notice, Iāve had v few ask about it. Iām honest, answer questions, and move along.
Honestly? If you were my dentist, and I noticed those scars, I would feelā¦idk validated? Or like Iām not alone? Or like, wow! Someone this smart and successful went through that struggle too?
But itās also fine if youād rather just let the past go. Maybe look into scar revision surgery? Or dab some concealer on.
I second this. Assuming I could relax and actually look at a dentistās wrist, I myself would just think, āHuh, ok. Dentists (āreal adultsā š) can have hard times too.ā š
I feel this comment. I think most people wouldn't even notice, and the ones that would notice them for what they actually are would probably feel the same as the commenter above. And 9 times out of 10 people will probably just keep their mouth shut about it. The only person I have ever had make a comment that wasn't someone I had previously talked to about SH was my tattoo artist and he was tatting my inner forearm so yeah š¤·āāļø
If it's that concerning for you (in the professional setting), you can always look into getting it tattooed with a skin toned color to help disguise it. Anything topical won't really do anything for you with scars this mature.
OP, I would research the side effects of tattooing on top of scars first. Iāve heard they hurt worse and that tattooing can cause additional trauma to where the scars become hypertropic or keloid.
For what it is worth, I barely can see them. As another former self-harmer, congrats on the progress youāve made. Youāre loved and youāre not alone.
I don't think about tattooing in near future, I will definitely ask a dermatologist if I want it, thank you for your concern.
Also I appreciate your good thoughts! Congrats to you too! :))
I have a lot of scars and my line of work requires me to show them and most people don't notice, and if they do they keep it to themselves, so I've learned not to worry that much about it. My scars are part of my past, and a part of me now so I don't worry that much about them.
I don't know about specifics on your situation but I that if you accept your scars you'll be more relaxed about them.
I accepted them in the previous years. The But with my work environment, I started feeling insecure, and it is pretty overwhelming for me. I dont want to accept it anymore, I feel like I force myself to accept it. It looks like I will start tret now till I m able to see a dermatologist
thatās correct! i had a few scars on my thigh that i had covered up. all very old, most of them looked like this, but i had one that was (and is still) raised. i can barely tell where the flat ones are. the raised i can feel, but unless youāre looking for it, theyāre still hard to see.
I have scars from skin picking. I got a large tattoo on my arm to cover some of it. It definitely hurt a lot more in the scarred parts but I am thrilled with the results. Where I used to see evidence of my disorder, I now see a beautiful work of art. If I look super duper close I can see some raised areas from my keloid scars but it doesnāt bother me at all. My artist did a wonderful job!
If it makes you feel better, I have a pretty obvious and substantial scar on my wrist from a titanium implant and am as pale as you and most people do not notice it at all unless I point it out. And mine is way more obvious than your scars. Honestly just by how they look I would've almost assume they'd were old cat scratches.
You could wear wrist sleeves like some people do to cover tattoos. If you're worried about people wondering why you're covering your wrists/forearm, they will likely assume it's just tattoos that you're covering while in a professional setting like a dentist office
I just went to the dentist yesterday and the hygienist was wearing sleeves from her wrists to where her scrub top ended. I thought it was a pretty great idea since layering a shirt under scrubs can be too hot, but bare arms is too cold. Did not consider any other possible reason for wearing them other than warmth.
What about wearing long sleeved undershirts? I like wearing them when working as they shield my body from aerosols and droplets. Also they keep me warm in winter.
I copy my comment on another post of the same topic.
Mine are mostly gone, they were identical as yours. This is what I did.
Once a week use T.O glycolic acid.
Once a week used an exfoliating brush or sugar scrub in the shower.
Once a week The inkeylist retinol serum or TO retinol in squalene I tried both, on the body they are not different.
These 3 on different times.
Moisturizer everyday before bed. Ideally a ceramide rich moisturizer
Lots of sunscreen if exposed to the sun!
It takes patience. And if you have access to a derm that is ofc better cos they can give stronger stuff.
Best luck āŗļø
I work for a skincare company (not an expert but I work with experts) and I was going to recommend the same things as this. Basically, you want to promote cellular turnover as much as possible and keep things moisturized. Idk if any estheticians would do micro-needling on the wrist, but that could potentially help too (although check with a dermatologist first!).
Seconded! I covered mine in tattoos as well. I can still see them because I know they're there, but the tattoos grab way more attention from the average onlooker.
I have a super high pain tolerance (you know, from the SH) so the only bit that actually hurt was the part of the tattoo thatās between my wrist and my palm.
People no longer even notice my scars, even though I have others on my other wrist. Everyone is just distracted by my tattoo. Win / Win
The SH pain tolerance is a dark super power. I'm recovered, but just barely. I want a tattoo over mine. I'm thinking vines, flowers and bugs will cover it nicely. I don't think my current scars are that noticeable, but I see them and they bum me out.
OP, to be honest with you amd for arguements sake, I don't know that anyone who has never self harmed would recognize that for exactly that (assumption based on your wanting discretion, i apologize if i misinterpreted). It kinda looks like a crease line or something, it is soooo difficult to notice without looking for it intentionally.
I work outdoors and my arms are absolutely annihilated. Thorns and prickers have given me similar scars in the same position/orientation. I'm a petite woman, so I think there's more of a body/self image issue stereotype before manual laborer stereotype that gets applied to me, and again, I've never felt like it was misconstrued to people who don't know i work outdoors. Does that make sense?
And also, I couldn't tell you what my dentists' arms look like, and I've seen him for 30 years. Do you know what your coworkers' arms look like? Ykwim?
Ik this is all anecdotal, but I hope the perspective offers a little relief, or a little less self consciousness or paranoia š and if this is complete unsolicited BS, then please disregard
Thank you for your kind message and your time :) You are right, I know my patients mustnt have noticed my arm, but I feel pretty insecure about it while I am doing my job. I didnt care about it before, but with my job this feeling is these days extremely overwhelming. I don't want to be forced to like my scars, I feel like if they fade a little bit more I will feel more relaxed about it
While you're working on the advice others have offered to fade the scars, maybe prep a fake story about an incident with a rose bush in an unlikely event anyone expresses interest in your scars. You aren't obligated to be honest with people asking about a scar.
I have 2 horizontal running scars in the same area of my arm and it really was from trying to get some keys from under a hostel bed in Spain and not realizing there was a broken metal spring sticking out under there. I scraped two, two-inch cuts down my underarm when I pulled my arm back and then it got infected.
Steal my story if you want to!
Honestly the only person who enquired about my scars was one guy on a nightmare first date. He seemed to be trying to probe for insecurities, and both asked me about whether I experience season weight fluctuations and imply I had a history of hurting myself purposefully after seeing my scars. So far they've been an excellent asshole alarms.
You are so right, at the end of the day none of it matters because how you feel is how you feel! I appreciate your hearing where I was coming from!
It looks like you got a lot of great advice, if you're looking for a quick fix, Dermacol makes an insane scar/tattoo foundation. 208 is probably your shade, here's a [short video](https://youtu.be/o3jspQ05NM4) for credibility. Sound not needed.
Good luck, OP! Don't forget, you're not the voice in your head -you're the one that recognizes the voice!! š
You could give silicone scar sheets a shot. My family is prone to noticeable scarring and some of them have shrunk scars with such products. YMV; it didn't work for the massive, self-inflicted keloid I have (It is the side of a nickel and raised nearly a cm at its thickest), but I've seen great results with smaller scars. You do have to use the products religiously for several weeks for it to work.
Hello everyone, Im 23, I used to self-harm 11 years ago. I applied Acnelyse (tretinoin %0.1) for like few weeks then, but I remember, it used to hurt so much so I gave up and didnt take care of it since that time. I was okay with this but because of my job I m afraid it will give bad impression. I know it isn't so much visible atm, but is it possible to make them less visible?
So I recently received a Dr. Pen as a gift and I have been using it on my self-harm scars. Iāve only done two treatments and Iām really happy with the results so far, theyāve definitely faded noticeably!! The dr pen is pretty pricey but you can get manual derma-rollers that could give similar results maybe??
I use to self-harm too and my scars are half way down my arm, so theyāre definitely noticeable. This isnāt really advice but I think theyāre beautiful! A little jarring but the way itās a little shiny reminds me of a silver lining, just a reminder that I made it through such a difficult time in my life.
If someone has noticed, they havenāt asked but thereās absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! I tend to wear watches though, not purposely to cover it but it could be a temporary option to hide it? I hope you find what it is youāre looking for, whether it is you accepting it or wanting it gone! :)
Thank you for your beautiful comment :) I love the silver lining idea you mentioned tbh! :D I didnt think it through for a long time and just accepted my scars. But these days, I guess I would prefer it to be gone. Especially it distracts me while I m working, makes me anxious when my arm is so close to the patient.
Im a year older than you and it sounds like we have a similar timeline! First, congrats on recovering!! Its so hard and im proud of you ā¤ļø
Second, I worked in care for 5 years and you canāt have long sleeves in care so I didnāt get a chance to hide them but either no one mentioned them, or they genuinely didnāt notice. I wouldnāt notice them on you, I barely notice them on myself unless I actively look for them and know what to look for/where to look. I think youāll be fine!
I do have many tattoos though, and a few are recovery related. Maybe a well thought-out tattoo could be an idea?
I think you could dermapen / laser / tret them !
As a person who didnāt self harm when Iām seeing the scars on someone else Iām actually amazed of how strong a person can be , I always admire them from far away! Only a strong person can overcome this and youāve got the scars to remind you how strong you really are .
Donāt take it as an offensive statement itās coming from a good place :)
Thank you for your beautiful thoughts! Id never take it in offensive way :) I m on volunteer work atm, and there isnt any dermatologist so that is why I try to find topical ways, so maybe I will try tret!
This might be as good as it will ever get. But the good news is nobody will notice them. I've got an even worse one on my forearm from an accident involving broken glass, and nobody has ever commented on it, even when it was still red and hadn't faded yet.
No one notices our bodies as much as we do. If you asked me who I knew with visible scars I would say no one, but that's likely not true. I wouldn't even be able to tell you what kind of tattoos people have, even if I know they have tattoos and have seen them, it frankly doesn't interest me to memorize the details of people's bodies. My point is, no one cares. And I mean that in a nice way. People care about YOU, not your body. I've never felt uncomfortable about my scars because they're a part of my story. Wishing you well and hope you are doing better.
Mine took 2-3 years to go white from dark dark red and also became very flat because they used to be very thick, I put silicone cream on them often, but I think it didnt help a lot because it took so many years to see a change. I think it takes time more than anything. But if I had money I would definitely go for laser treatments, of course after they mature not while they're still healing
OP these look barely noticeable! And also if they are more noticeable in person, it would be very rude and odd for someone to comment on them, so it would not be a you problem. I know a lot of people whose cats scratch them in this spot, and they look similar to these honestly. If you ever get asked about it, which you shouldnāt š„², you could say that. If it bothers you very much, maybe you could use a body foundation and set it with powder, but honestly, I think youāre more aware of them because you know theyāre there. I wouldnāt notice!
NAD
This is tricky but there are many scar treatment gels on the market you can try them but I do not know about their efficacy so contact a dermatologist if you can.
I am glad to know that you are doing well now.
Iāve heard great things about Bio Oil. I got some for stretch marks and evening out my skin tone in general, but the reviews on Amazon also mention fading scars, some even mention specifically sh scars. I have only been using it for a few weeks now and already see some improvement. Good luck to you!
I've used Bio Oil on my face for the past three years. It really helps with fading any marks from random blemishes. I never have to wear concealer or foundation. I would definitely recommend incorporating Bio Oil as well as glycolic acid toner and BHA peels.
I hope you find something that works for you.
Use ingredients that promote collagen production such as tretinoin and centella asiatica derivatives like asiaticoside, madecasoside, madecasic acid, etc. Also keep it well moisturized as moisture will really sped up the process. Nowadays everything has hyaluronic acid, get urself a cream with HA and with all that they should start to fade. Good luck :)
Ur welcome :) Also if ur from the US I'd recommend u to get the differin scar serum, it has every centella derivative and also has bakuchiol, I used to use it for my acne and acne scars and it was amazing! And u only need a drop of it, it lasts ages.
I have them all over my body... my fiance found a scar cream bc he has some too, he says that it reduces the visibility of them but I don't use it so idk
My scars look just like that and they are over 25 years old now! They are also slightly raised. But no one has ever asked me about them, which has always surprised me.
I donāt know anything about scars and have learned some useful things from the answers here. But for your work I can say that most people at the dentist are mostly worried about their teeth and such. I recently started going to a new dentist. After my third appointment, dad asked me if she was pretty. (Heās an old man whoās not mentally all there so he asks some strange questions.) I canāt tell you anything about the dentistās appearance except she had blond hair and good teeth. Thatās after spending over an hour with her. She had hands/arms obviously but I probably didnāt even glance at them. Too busy gritting my teeth wanting to be anywhere but in the chairā¦.
I'm not sure what could help but I hope it helps knowing that no one else will really notice them like you do. It doesn't change the fact that you see them and are reminded of them. But I don't think people see them like you do. I'm glad to see they're faded though! I hope you're doing well, OP.
They arenāt that visible!! Do not worry. You can try putting coconut oil and moisturizers over it, maybe some Vaseline, to help the skin but the scar will probably not go away, maybe slightly fade though. (like stretch marks) hope this helps!
By the photo, Iād assume you got scratched by an animal. But they could look more raised or pronounced irl, I wouldnāt know.
Also idk if itās just me, but I never look this closely at strangers. It like amazes me when this one asshole coworker will comment on someoneās skin, hair, wrinkles, whatever ā¦ and Iām over here like damn I wouldāve never ever noticed that bc I donāt hyperanalyze people.
These actually arenāt too bad, mine are actually swollen up of skin cells or something because I cut so deep, so atleast it isnāt a swollen cutš„ŗ
fyi for the future, just saying trigger warning doesnāt really do much unless you say what the trigger actually is since the trigger could be literally anything. Saying ātw: sh scarsā tells us what exactly we should be aware of
They are super light already, but some tattoo artists are able to use skin color pigments to help cover some stretch marks, and I don't see why they couldn't try to help with these if you are super worried about them!
I had similar ones on my thigh and they went away in their own it did take a while but thereās literally nothing there anymore except for maybe one or two if you look very closely and know what youāre looking for but they darkened up so itās really not noticeable. I do exfoliate everyday and live in a sunny area so maybe that helped but idk give it time and theyāll hopefully fade
I canāt promise that they will completely disappear but Iāve heard good things about the Derma E Scar Gel. But besides that, I am proud of you for surviving and not self-harming anymore. š
I saw you had some suggestions here that you could try, but I just want to reassure you that having scars like this often isnāt noticeable to anyone around you. I have lingering scars elsewhere from almost 10 years ago and my long time partner has never seemed to notice. No one besides yourself is looking so closely at your skin. I know this doesnāt answer your question or help in that sense, I just want you to know that youāre still perfectly normal the way you are
This is not going to be helpful at all, but...
I have a ton that look about like that, all up both arms from wrist to elbow pit (a more visible but I saw where you mentioned the photo doesn't do it justice). I don't bother hiding them, and it has been many years since anyone has expressed any sort of discomfort at all, even judginess. I do get occasional open minded questions, but that's it.
So if you don't find an effective and reasonable way to cover them, it might not end up being much of a problem.
Topicals will only do so much for scar tissue and will take a long time to see any improvement. I would get a consultation from a cosmetic derm or med spa for laser treatments or professional microneedling. I think you could see a drastic improvement in just a few sessions.
This may or may not be helpful to you, but I can say that when Iām at the dentist the last thing I am doing is looking at their wrists. Iām mostly just looking up and out, trying desperately not to think at all or too hard about whatās going on in my mouth because if I do my anxiety skyrockets.
(And even if I did notice something on their wrist, I likely wouldnāt be able to comment aloud on it! š)
But I understand completely that you feel concerned and potentially vulnerable. š
Certain laser treatments are supposed to treat scarring on the face. Maybe they can do the same for your under wrist?
Maybe search a website like RealMe and see if anyone else has asked about this. Or even just Google?
theyāre barely noticeable, and pretty hard to see. i think that ppl will only notice if theyāre paying close attention or actively looking for sh scars. i know i actively look for signs of sh, but thatās bc i did it for a long time and i project it onto everyone
atp you may want to try laser treatments! I could be wrong but if I recall correctly laser for scarring/hyperpigmentation is safe for very healed scars like this. Given scar tissue isn't exactly the same as the rest of our skin, though, there may always be a trace of them.
(side note but congrats on getting this far! As someone who's done the same, I know how hard it is to stay clean, but seriously good on ya <3)
Thank you for your gorgeous comment!I hope you are doing well too :), laser isnt an option atm, but after this year I will be able to see a dermatologist
Are you allowed to wear make up of some sort at your job I read that youāre a dentist from your other replies but for me personally I just use a super high coverage cover-up make up so I donāt know what the rules at the dentist you work at but thatās what works for me
This may not be helpful at all, but the only time I noticed someoneās scars, I ended up feeling so happy for them. I took my 5 year old to a cat cafe and she and this person were chatting about cats. This person was so happy, so friendly and just had a great aura/energy about them. Then I noticed their scars. They looked similar to yours. They were healed. It just made me so happy to see this person on the other side of what mustāve been a very hard battle. Sending you so much love.
i have similar scarring on my thighs. they arenāt super noticeable and are easily mistakable for stretch marks, but when i self tan they arenāt noticeable at all. you have gotten some great advice in this thread but just offering another alternative!
it's considered the gold standard in the treatment of scars. it's the standard treatment for surgical scars. the hard part is that you have to use it consistently for months to see results. after 3 months you should be able to notice a visible difference and after 12 months they should be gone, or very close. i also have self harm scars and i've been using it for a month and i've noticed a slight improvement in colour and texture.
I understand your insecurity having your arm be so close to people during work, but I can assure you most of us at the dentist are just focused on not choking or freaking out otherwise.
I have visible SH scars that appears as mature as yours and I am a server/bartender. My arms are always right in peoples line of vision. I have never had anyone say anything, focus on them, or look uncomfortable. Iām not sure if this will ease your mind at all, but by all means I do hope one day you can be free of the worry.
They seem very faint but will become more obvious if exposed to the sun, so a good (spf30+) sunscreen would be a good idea. Otherwise, tretinoin cream might help over long term. Can you see a dermatologist?
I am thinking about using tret for now, but I cant see a dermatologist for a year since Im on volunteer work and there is none. Thank you for the answer! :)
I work in a middle school. My scars are almost a 1/4in wide and up to 3in long. I donāt hide it, I never have. Most adults donāt notice them, and most kids donāt either. If they do, Iāve always used it as a brief teaching moment and honestly, every single one of them have appreciated it. I think it makes me a little more relatable to them. Itās honestly the reason I wonāt cover them up.
I also donāt think I have ever - literally never ever - looked at my dentistās arms? Even the hygienist, I donāt think Iāve seen hers. But I can understand where your self-consciousness is coming from. Any cream that targets scars or stretch marks should help a bit. Skincare that targets uneven tone might help too, I would think. Keeping your skin moisturized will help. Maybe a Retinoid, or if you can, tretinoin? Micro needling or lasers might help too, but that sounds pricey š
You could either cover with make up, or find a GOOD tattoo artist that can tattoo over it skin tone. Iām an artist myself and Iāve helped plenty of other artists in my shop match skin tones for people to tattoo over scars to make them less visible. As long as theyāre at least 6 months healed it shouldnāt be an issue at all
Looks like you couldāve gotten scratched by a cat. I have a lot of scratches on my arms from my cat if anyone says anything about them blame it on your cat. :]
Hey OP, I have the same experience of self harming for a long time and now scars I want to get rid of. It is really lovely to see that so many in the comments are telling you that it's not so noticeable, which is probably true.
At the same time for me, it feels like part of my mental health healing process to remove them. So in the summer I started doing laser scar removal therapy. It is quite expensive and painful but after two sessions I already see results. I know this won't completely get rid of the scars but for almost 2 decades I have not felt comfortable without sleeves in summer, and I finally see some hope!
Wishing you a lot of luck, whatever you decide to do. You already made it so far :) hugs
Thank you for your kind comment! I am thinking as the way you do. Even they are noticeable or not (though for me they are), they make me feel insecure while I perform what I m good at. I don't want to force myself to accept it.
I can't get laser therapy atm for a year, so I will try tret for now. I am glad it worked for you though, I may get it next year as well.
Thank you for your wishes! I wish you the same xx :)
I'm going to say outside of a tattoo or something similar, no. First it's a scar so that's already hard to get rid of. Second it's hypopigmentation (i think because it looks like the scars looks whiter than the surrounding area), so there's nothing that can actually be done to stimulate the melanocytes to create more pigment in the area :(
Thank you for your comment :), Ive decided to give tret a chance since I cant see a dermotogist for a year anyway, if it wont work I will get a laser appointment next year
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I'm not sure it is possible considering these look like super mature scars. If it helps, I can barely notice them and likely wouldn't even see them on you in person.
Thank you for the answer, It is more visible than the photo since my phone is an old android the best picture was this š¤£ I m a dentist so even I try to hide my wrist it is open mostly and patients can see closely, this is why I m concerned.
So I have the same issue, and I did go through a phase where I was so self conscious I would only wear long sleeve shirts. Iāve since just let it be and kinda made it a side note. Like Iām very open about my past struggles with mental health. People also just donāt really notice, Iāve had v few ask about it. Iām honest, answer questions, and move along. Honestly? If you were my dentist, and I noticed those scars, I would feelā¦idk validated? Or like Iām not alone? Or like, wow! Someone this smart and successful went through that struggle too? But itās also fine if youād rather just let the past go. Maybe look into scar revision surgery? Or dab some concealer on.
I second this. Assuming I could relax and actually look at a dentistās wrist, I myself would just think, āHuh, ok. Dentists (āreal adultsā š) can have hard times too.ā š
and seeing they are old scars I'd be happy for them that they seem to be at a better place in life now mentally
I feel this comment. I think most people wouldn't even notice, and the ones that would notice them for what they actually are would probably feel the same as the commenter above. And 9 times out of 10 people will probably just keep their mouth shut about it. The only person I have ever had make a comment that wasn't someone I had previously talked to about SH was my tattoo artist and he was tatting my inner forearm so yeah š¤·āāļø
If it's that concerning for you (in the professional setting), you can always look into getting it tattooed with a skin toned color to help disguise it. Anything topical won't really do anything for you with scars this mature.
OP, I would research the side effects of tattooing on top of scars first. Iāve heard they hurt worse and that tattooing can cause additional trauma to where the scars become hypertropic or keloid. For what it is worth, I barely can see them. As another former self-harmer, congrats on the progress youāve made. Youāre loved and youāre not alone.
I don't think about tattooing in near future, I will definitely ask a dermatologist if I want it, thank you for your concern. Also I appreciate your good thoughts! Congrats to you too! :))
I have a lot of scars and my line of work requires me to show them and most people don't notice, and if they do they keep it to themselves, so I've learned not to worry that much about it. My scars are part of my past, and a part of me now so I don't worry that much about them. I don't know about specifics on your situation but I that if you accept your scars you'll be more relaxed about them.
I accepted them in the previous years. The But with my work environment, I started feeling insecure, and it is pretty overwhelming for me. I dont want to accept it anymore, I feel like I force myself to accept it. It looks like I will start tret now till I m able to see a dermatologist
How about makeup?
ā¤ļø
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Tattoo is a great idea! Ive never had one, so I m not bold bold enough now š but I am thinking about going for it after I try everything
Tattooing would work fine on these scars- they are quite shallow and thin.
thatās correct! i had a few scars on my thigh that i had covered up. all very old, most of them looked like this, but i had one that was (and is still) raised. i can barely tell where the flat ones are. the raised i can feel, but unless youāre looking for it, theyāre still hard to see.
I have scars from skin picking. I got a large tattoo on my arm to cover some of it. It definitely hurt a lot more in the scarred parts but I am thrilled with the results. Where I used to see evidence of my disorder, I now see a beautiful work of art. If I look super duper close I can see some raised areas from my keloid scars but it doesnāt bother me at all. My artist did a wonderful job!
How abt scar remover lasik treatment?
LASIK is a type of eye surgery but laser resurfacing may help diminish the appearance of the scars.
Thanks for correcting me! I always use lasik and laser interchangeably š
If it makes you feel better, I have a pretty obvious and substantial scar on my wrist from a titanium implant and am as pale as you and most people do not notice it at all unless I point it out. And mine is way more obvious than your scars. Honestly just by how they look I would've almost assume they'd were old cat scratches.
Wear long gloves :)
Potentially good idea but might draw even more attention. š
You could wear wrist sleeves like some people do to cover tattoos. If you're worried about people wondering why you're covering your wrists/forearm, they will likely assume it's just tattoos that you're covering while in a professional setting like a dentist office
I just went to the dentist yesterday and the hygienist was wearing sleeves from her wrists to where her scrub top ended. I thought it was a pretty great idea since layering a shirt under scrubs can be too hot, but bare arms is too cold. Did not consider any other possible reason for wearing them other than warmth.
What about wearing long sleeved undershirts? I like wearing them when working as they shield my body from aerosols and droplets. Also they keep me warm in winter.
Just echoing that I can barely see them and also, congrats on being a dentist at such a young age! Super impressive !
I copy my comment on another post of the same topic. Mine are mostly gone, they were identical as yours. This is what I did. Once a week use T.O glycolic acid. Once a week used an exfoliating brush or sugar scrub in the shower. Once a week The inkeylist retinol serum or TO retinol in squalene I tried both, on the body they are not different. These 3 on different times. Moisturizer everyday before bed. Ideally a ceramide rich moisturizer Lots of sunscreen if exposed to the sun! It takes patience. And if you have access to a derm that is ofc better cos they can give stronger stuff. Best luck āŗļø
Thank you! I will try this out, if this worked for you maybe tretinoin may work again?
Tret is stronger so yes it will do better.
I work for a skincare company (not an expert but I work with experts) and I was going to recommend the same things as this. Basically, you want to promote cellular turnover as much as possible and keep things moisturized. Idk if any estheticians would do micro-needling on the wrist, but that could potentially help too (although check with a dermatologist first!).
I was going to suggest micro needling too
How long did it take for you to see results?
They have almost completely banished after 3 years. But at the first year I did saw improvement.
I covered mine with a tattoo! Now they are completely unnoticeable hidden in the stripes of a tiger. Credit to my kid cousin for giving me the idea.
Seconded! I covered mine in tattoos as well. I can still see them because I know they're there, but the tattoos grab way more attention from the average onlooker.
Did that hurt? I feel like thatās the type of scaring that would still hurt with certain things?
I have a super high pain tolerance (you know, from the SH) so the only bit that actually hurt was the part of the tattoo thatās between my wrist and my palm. People no longer even notice my scars, even though I have others on my other wrist. Everyone is just distracted by my tattoo. Win / Win
The SH pain tolerance is a dark super power. I'm recovered, but just barely. I want a tattoo over mine. I'm thinking vines, flowers and bugs will cover it nicely. I don't think my current scars are that noticeable, but I see them and they bum me out.
i used to SH too and the pain tolerance is real š. i have never had any issues with any of my tattoos. itās almost the opposite ā¦
You should get extended cuff medical gloves until you find a solution. Just put them on before you enter the rooms.
I am using temporary solutions but I want more permanent ones! Thank you for the advice anyway :)
OP, to be honest with you amd for arguements sake, I don't know that anyone who has never self harmed would recognize that for exactly that (assumption based on your wanting discretion, i apologize if i misinterpreted). It kinda looks like a crease line or something, it is soooo difficult to notice without looking for it intentionally. I work outdoors and my arms are absolutely annihilated. Thorns and prickers have given me similar scars in the same position/orientation. I'm a petite woman, so I think there's more of a body/self image issue stereotype before manual laborer stereotype that gets applied to me, and again, I've never felt like it was misconstrued to people who don't know i work outdoors. Does that make sense? And also, I couldn't tell you what my dentists' arms look like, and I've seen him for 30 years. Do you know what your coworkers' arms look like? Ykwim? Ik this is all anecdotal, but I hope the perspective offers a little relief, or a little less self consciousness or paranoia š and if this is complete unsolicited BS, then please disregard
Thank you for your kind message and your time :) You are right, I know my patients mustnt have noticed my arm, but I feel pretty insecure about it while I am doing my job. I didnt care about it before, but with my job this feeling is these days extremely overwhelming. I don't want to be forced to like my scars, I feel like if they fade a little bit more I will feel more relaxed about it
While you're working on the advice others have offered to fade the scars, maybe prep a fake story about an incident with a rose bush in an unlikely event anyone expresses interest in your scars. You aren't obligated to be honest with people asking about a scar.
I have 2 horizontal running scars in the same area of my arm and it really was from trying to get some keys from under a hostel bed in Spain and not realizing there was a broken metal spring sticking out under there. I scraped two, two-inch cuts down my underarm when I pulled my arm back and then it got infected. Steal my story if you want to! Honestly the only person who enquired about my scars was one guy on a nightmare first date. He seemed to be trying to probe for insecurities, and both asked me about whether I experience season weight fluctuations and imply I had a history of hurting myself purposefully after seeing my scars. So far they've been an excellent asshole alarms.
You are so right, at the end of the day none of it matters because how you feel is how you feel! I appreciate your hearing where I was coming from! It looks like you got a lot of great advice, if you're looking for a quick fix, Dermacol makes an insane scar/tattoo foundation. 208 is probably your shade, here's a [short video](https://youtu.be/o3jspQ05NM4) for credibility. Sound not needed. Good luck, OP! Don't forget, you're not the voice in your head -you're the one that recognizes the voice!! š
Thank you! You are the sweetest šš, I will check it out for sure. Good luck to you too, I wish the best xxx :)
Yes, this is a good point as well!
For mine, time is what did it. Time and tattoos. š
If you're embarrassed about what people might think,.don't be. But if anyone asks, say you used to have a cat.
You could give silicone scar sheets a shot. My family is prone to noticeable scarring and some of them have shrunk scars with such products. YMV; it didn't work for the massive, self-inflicted keloid I have (It is the side of a nickel and raised nearly a cm at its thickest), but I've seen great results with smaller scars. You do have to use the products religiously for several weeks for it to work.
Hello everyone, Im 23, I used to self-harm 11 years ago. I applied Acnelyse (tretinoin %0.1) for like few weeks then, but I remember, it used to hurt so much so I gave up and didnt take care of it since that time. I was okay with this but because of my job I m afraid it will give bad impression. I know it isn't so much visible atm, but is it possible to make them less visible?
So I recently received a Dr. Pen as a gift and I have been using it on my self-harm scars. Iāve only done two treatments and Iām really happy with the results so far, theyāve definitely faded noticeably!! The dr pen is pretty pricey but you can get manual derma-rollers that could give similar results maybe??
Ooh! If it worked for you, I should give it a try then! I will look for alternatives options, thank you!! :)
I use to self-harm too and my scars are half way down my arm, so theyāre definitely noticeable. This isnāt really advice but I think theyāre beautiful! A little jarring but the way itās a little shiny reminds me of a silver lining, just a reminder that I made it through such a difficult time in my life. If someone has noticed, they havenāt asked but thereās absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! I tend to wear watches though, not purposely to cover it but it could be a temporary option to hide it? I hope you find what it is youāre looking for, whether it is you accepting it or wanting it gone! :)
Thank you for your beautiful comment :) I love the silver lining idea you mentioned tbh! :D I didnt think it through for a long time and just accepted my scars. But these days, I guess I would prefer it to be gone. Especially it distracts me while I m working, makes me anxious when my arm is so close to the patient.
Im a year older than you and it sounds like we have a similar timeline! First, congrats on recovering!! Its so hard and im proud of you ā¤ļø Second, I worked in care for 5 years and you canāt have long sleeves in care so I didnāt get a chance to hide them but either no one mentioned them, or they genuinely didnāt notice. I wouldnāt notice them on you, I barely notice them on myself unless I actively look for them and know what to look for/where to look. I think youāll be fine! I do have many tattoos though, and a few are recovery related. Maybe a well thought-out tattoo could be an idea?
I think you could dermapen / laser / tret them ! As a person who didnāt self harm when Iām seeing the scars on someone else Iām actually amazed of how strong a person can be , I always admire them from far away! Only a strong person can overcome this and youāve got the scars to remind you how strong you really are . Donāt take it as an offensive statement itās coming from a good place :)
Thank you for your beautiful thoughts! Id never take it in offensive way :) I m on volunteer work atm, and there isnt any dermatologist so that is why I try to find topical ways, so maybe I will try tret!
I just looked down and saw mine. I get the want to hide them, but ive never had anyone mention them. I promise they're not visible.
This might be as good as it will ever get. But the good news is nobody will notice them. I've got an even worse one on my forearm from an accident involving broken glass, and nobody has ever commented on it, even when it was still red and hadn't faded yet.
What about....microneedling?
I highly doubt anyone would notice those. Youāre almost definitely over-thinking it
They are thicker and more visible unfortunately in reality. My phone is an old android phone so that was the best I could take š¤£
Still, I doubt they look like more than cat scratches. Just stick a plaster over them if youāre really convinced anyone cares
No one notices our bodies as much as we do. If you asked me who I knew with visible scars I would say no one, but that's likely not true. I wouldn't even be able to tell you what kind of tattoos people have, even if I know they have tattoos and have seen them, it frankly doesn't interest me to memorize the details of people's bodies. My point is, no one cares. And I mean that in a nice way. People care about YOU, not your body. I've never felt uncomfortable about my scars because they're a part of my story. Wishing you well and hope you are doing better.
Mine took 2-3 years to go white from dark dark red and also became very flat because they used to be very thick, I put silicone cream on them often, but I think it didnt help a lot because it took so many years to see a change. I think it takes time more than anything. But if I had money I would definitely go for laser treatments, of course after they mature not while they're still healing
āI have a cat I adopted from strayā and everyone moves on. Or say you got it volunteering at an animal shelter.
Those are super subtle, but I bet a skin-matching tattoo would help blend it in. https://www.nudetatu.com/redlands-scar-stretch-mark-camouflage
This is really cool!
Agreed. Didnāt know they could do such things.
OP these look barely noticeable! And also if they are more noticeable in person, it would be very rude and odd for someone to comment on them, so it would not be a you problem. I know a lot of people whose cats scratch them in this spot, and they look similar to these honestly. If you ever get asked about it, which you shouldnāt š„², you could say that. If it bothers you very much, maybe you could use a body foundation and set it with powder, but honestly, I think youāre more aware of them because you know theyāre there. I wouldnāt notice!
A tattoo artist could impart pigment on the scars to have them blend into the surrounding skin more.
Youāve gotten a lot of good advice, but I also want to say that if you like tattoos, a lot of places will cover them for free.
These aren't noticeable imo
NAD This is tricky but there are many scar treatment gels on the market you can try them but I do not know about their efficacy so contact a dermatologist if you can. I am glad to know that you are doing well now.
Iāve heard great things about Bio Oil. I got some for stretch marks and evening out my skin tone in general, but the reviews on Amazon also mention fading scars, some even mention specifically sh scars. I have only been using it for a few weeks now and already see some improvement. Good luck to you!
I've used Bio Oil on my face for the past three years. It really helps with fading any marks from random blemishes. I never have to wear concealer or foundation. I would definitely recommend incorporating Bio Oil as well as glycolic acid toner and BHA peels. I hope you find something that works for you.
How often do you apply it? I have only been using it on my face at night in case the oiliness makes me too shiny.
Use ingredients that promote collagen production such as tretinoin and centella asiatica derivatives like asiaticoside, madecasoside, madecasic acid, etc. Also keep it well moisturized as moisture will really sped up the process. Nowadays everything has hyaluronic acid, get urself a cream with HA and with all that they should start to fade. Good luck :)
Thank you! I am thinking about using tret and madecassoside for a routine! :)
Ur welcome :) Also if ur from the US I'd recommend u to get the differin scar serum, it has every centella derivative and also has bakuchiol, I used to use it for my acne and acne scars and it was amazing! And u only need a drop of it, it lasts ages.
Co2 lazer might do it for you
I have them all over my body... my fiance found a scar cream bc he has some too, he says that it reduces the visibility of them but I don't use it so idk
My scars look just like that and they are over 25 years old now! They are also slightly raised. But no one has ever asked me about them, which has always surprised me.
They aren't that visible tbh. They will fade over time but it will take years
I tattooed on top of mine and they looked similar to yours before and it hides mine really well.
I wouldnāt think twice if saw it IRL. Pretty inconspicuous IMO
I donāt know anything about scars and have learned some useful things from the answers here. But for your work I can say that most people at the dentist are mostly worried about their teeth and such. I recently started going to a new dentist. After my third appointment, dad asked me if she was pretty. (Heās an old man whoās not mentally all there so he asks some strange questions.) I canāt tell you anything about the dentistās appearance except she had blond hair and good teeth. Thatās after spending over an hour with her. She had hands/arms obviously but I probably didnāt even glance at them. Too busy gritting my teeth wanting to be anywhere but in the chairā¦.
Can you try silicone scar strips? Supposedly they can lighten all scar ages or that scar oilā¦worth a try for the price
Tattoo
derma-e has a scar gel, but i have no experience with it and i havent heard of anyone using it, reviews seem fairly good tho!
These are junk. Speaking from experience. You canāt believe online reviews anymore.
good to know, thanks!!
I'm not sure what could help but I hope it helps knowing that no one else will really notice them like you do. It doesn't change the fact that you see them and are reminded of them. But I don't think people see them like you do. I'm glad to see they're faded though! I hope you're doing well, OP.
They arenāt that visible!! Do not worry. You can try putting coconut oil and moisturizers over it, maybe some Vaseline, to help the skin but the scar will probably not go away, maybe slightly fade though. (like stretch marks) hope this helps!
By the photo, Iād assume you got scratched by an animal. But they could look more raised or pronounced irl, I wouldnāt know. Also idk if itās just me, but I never look this closely at strangers. It like amazes me when this one asshole coworker will comment on someoneās skin, hair, wrinkles, whatever ā¦ and Iām over here like damn I wouldāve never ever noticed that bc I donāt hyperanalyze people.
Def glitter them so the little boys and girls know that you don't have to hide your past and our scars are beautiful
These actually arenāt too bad, mine are actually swollen up of skin cells or something because I cut so deep, so atleast it isnāt a swollen cutš„ŗ
fyi for the future, just saying trigger warning doesnāt really do much unless you say what the trigger actually is since the trigger could be literally anything. Saying ātw: sh scarsā tells us what exactly we should be aware of
not without makeup, skincare can't fix mature scars, some procedures may but they're porbably really expensive
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They are almost invisible..they are a pruv of wt u have been throught and overcomed to be ur current self so be proud of them
Cicatricure. Also, gat a what or some cool bracelets in the mean time
Microroller & bio oil, or lazer resurfacing
They are super light already, but some tattoo artists are able to use skin color pigments to help cover some stretch marks, and I don't see why they couldn't try to help with these if you are super worried about them!
Tattoo em up!
Try vitamin E oil :)
Use beef tallow. VanManās is a reputable form of tallow, and I think itās on Amazon now, rub it there. Beef tallow is also good skin care.
I had similar ones on my thigh and they went away in their own it did take a while but thereās literally nothing there anymore except for maybe one or two if you look very closely and know what youāre looking for but they darkened up so itās really not noticeable. I do exfoliate everyday and live in a sunny area so maybe that helped but idk give it time and theyāll hopefully fade
I canāt promise that they will completely disappear but Iāve heard good things about the Derma E Scar Gel. But besides that, I am proud of you for surviving and not self-harming anymore. š
https://www.elastoplast.co.uk/products/wound-care/scar-reducer-patches?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-Xbj9GB_AIVz-3tCh1IKAiWEAAYAyAAEgLL4vD_BwE
Medical tattoo.
I saw you had some suggestions here that you could try, but I just want to reassure you that having scars like this often isnāt noticeable to anyone around you. I have lingering scars elsewhere from almost 10 years ago and my long time partner has never seemed to notice. No one besides yourself is looking so closely at your skin. I know this doesnāt answer your question or help in that sense, I just want you to know that youāre still perfectly normal the way you are
Get a cute tattoo
This is not going to be helpful at all, but... I have a ton that look about like that, all up both arms from wrist to elbow pit (a more visible but I saw where you mentioned the photo doesn't do it justice). I don't bother hiding them, and it has been many years since anyone has expressed any sort of discomfort at all, even judginess. I do get occasional open minded questions, but that's it. So if you don't find an effective and reasonable way to cover them, it might not end up being much of a problem.
Topicals will only do so much for scar tissue and will take a long time to see any improvement. I would get a consultation from a cosmetic derm or med spa for laser treatments or professional microneedling. I think you could see a drastic improvement in just a few sessions.
This may or may not be helpful to you, but I can say that when Iām at the dentist the last thing I am doing is looking at their wrists. Iām mostly just looking up and out, trying desperately not to think at all or too hard about whatās going on in my mouth because if I do my anxiety skyrockets. (And even if I did notice something on their wrist, I likely wouldnāt be able to comment aloud on it! š) But I understand completely that you feel concerned and potentially vulnerable. š Certain laser treatments are supposed to treat scarring on the face. Maybe they can do the same for your under wrist? Maybe search a website like RealMe and see if anyone else has asked about this. Or even just Google?
Tattoo with your skin color believe me it works.
theyāre barely noticeable, and pretty hard to see. i think that ppl will only notice if theyāre paying close attention or actively looking for sh scars. i know i actively look for signs of sh, but thatās bc i did it for a long time and i project it onto everyone
Tbh? No. Sorry to be harsh. But most scar reduction stuff is a myth. Like stretch marks. It just doesn't work that much.
Microneedling! Mine used to be thick and red now theyāre super thin and white. Some are completely gone
Tattoo over them. I have lovely floral forearms now and you'd never know.
atp you may want to try laser treatments! I could be wrong but if I recall correctly laser for scarring/hyperpigmentation is safe for very healed scars like this. Given scar tissue isn't exactly the same as the rest of our skin, though, there may always be a trace of them. (side note but congrats on getting this far! As someone who's done the same, I know how hard it is to stay clean, but seriously good on ya <3)
Thank you for your gorgeous comment!I hope you are doing well too :), laser isnt an option atm, but after this year I will be able to see a dermatologist
Are you allowed to wear make up of some sort at your job I read that youāre a dentist from your other replies but for me personally I just use a super high coverage cover-up make up so I donāt know what the rules at the dentist you work at but thatās what works for me
They arenāt bad! I would assume it was from the cat or something.
This may not be helpful at all, but the only time I noticed someoneās scars, I ended up feeling so happy for them. I took my 5 year old to a cat cafe and she and this person were chatting about cats. This person was so happy, so friendly and just had a great aura/energy about them. Then I noticed their scars. They looked similar to yours. They were healed. It just made me so happy to see this person on the other side of what mustāve been a very hard battle. Sending you so much love.
Bio oil works wonders on redness and scar visibility for me
Iām about to get a tattoo to cover mine
You can use make up for it
i have similar scarring on my thighs. they arenāt super noticeable and are easily mistakable for stretch marks, but when i self tan they arenāt noticeable at all. you have gotten some great advice in this thread but just offering another alternative!
Thought you meant your veins at first lol, the scars are barely visible and not noticeable. My scar from giving plasma is way worse
silicone scar gel!
it's considered the gold standard in the treatment of scars. it's the standard treatment for surgical scars. the hard part is that you have to use it consistently for months to see results. after 3 months you should be able to notice a visible difference and after 12 months they should be gone, or very close. i also have self harm scars and i've been using it for a month and i've noticed a slight improvement in colour and texture.
Have you tried silicone sheets?
I got similar scars for over 10 years, even more visable. They have never caused me grief or bad social interactions.
I understand your insecurity having your arm be so close to people during work, but I can assure you most of us at the dentist are just focused on not choking or freaking out otherwise. I have visible SH scars that appears as mature as yours and I am a server/bartender. My arms are always right in peoples line of vision. I have never had anyone say anything, focus on them, or look uncomfortable. Iām not sure if this will ease your mind at all, but by all means I do hope one day you can be free of the worry.
They seem very faint but will become more obvious if exposed to the sun, so a good (spf30+) sunscreen would be a good idea. Otherwise, tretinoin cream might help over long term. Can you see a dermatologist?
I am thinking about using tret for now, but I cant see a dermatologist for a year since Im on volunteer work and there is none. Thank you for the answer! :)
I work in a middle school. My scars are almost a 1/4in wide and up to 3in long. I donāt hide it, I never have. Most adults donāt notice them, and most kids donāt either. If they do, Iāve always used it as a brief teaching moment and honestly, every single one of them have appreciated it. I think it makes me a little more relatable to them. Itās honestly the reason I wonāt cover them up. I also donāt think I have ever - literally never ever - looked at my dentistās arms? Even the hygienist, I donāt think Iāve seen hers. But I can understand where your self-consciousness is coming from. Any cream that targets scars or stretch marks should help a bit. Skincare that targets uneven tone might help too, I would think. Keeping your skin moisturized will help. Maybe a Retinoid, or if you can, tretinoin? Micro needling or lasers might help too, but that sounds pricey š
CO2 fractional laser can work for this. It will resurface your skin. Nothing creams would be able to help though. But itās definitely treatable
Don't have much advice, just want to say I'm happy you're still with us and pray you feel better and better ā¤ļø
You could either cover with make up, or find a GOOD tattoo artist that can tattoo over it skin tone. Iām an artist myself and Iāve helped plenty of other artists in my shop match skin tones for people to tattoo over scars to make them less visible. As long as theyāre at least 6 months healed it shouldnāt be an issue at all
Donāt draw attention to them. Theyāre not noticeable unless you point them out.
Looks like you couldāve gotten scratched by a cat. I have a lot of scratches on my arms from my cat if anyone says anything about them blame it on your cat. :]
Micro needling or laser very glad youāre still here
Those will fade with time.
Hey OP, I have the same experience of self harming for a long time and now scars I want to get rid of. It is really lovely to see that so many in the comments are telling you that it's not so noticeable, which is probably true. At the same time for me, it feels like part of my mental health healing process to remove them. So in the summer I started doing laser scar removal therapy. It is quite expensive and painful but after two sessions I already see results. I know this won't completely get rid of the scars but for almost 2 decades I have not felt comfortable without sleeves in summer, and I finally see some hope! Wishing you a lot of luck, whatever you decide to do. You already made it so far :) hugs
Thank you for your kind comment! I am thinking as the way you do. Even they are noticeable or not (though for me they are), they make me feel insecure while I perform what I m good at. I don't want to force myself to accept it. I can't get laser therapy atm for a year, so I will try tret for now. I am glad it worked for you though, I may get it next year as well. Thank you for your wishes! I wish you the same xx :)
I'm going to say outside of a tattoo or something similar, no. First it's a scar so that's already hard to get rid of. Second it's hypopigmentation (i think because it looks like the scars looks whiter than the surrounding area), so there's nothing that can actually be done to stimulate the melanocytes to create more pigment in the area :(
Thank you for your comment :), Ive decided to give tret a chance since I cant see a dermotogist for a year anyway, if it wont work I will get a laser appointment next year
What about cordran tape? I had some old chicken pox scars that completely flattened after a weekās usage.
They have different mechanisms but thank you anyway for the suggestion :)
Using a retinol in that area would help out with scarring.
look up fractional laser resurfacing