I feel for you. I've got cuts going back 10 years. Unfortunately they're still there.
Hiding scars
Sometimes it's possible to hide scars. Wrist scars can be covered by long sleeves, bracelets, or watches. In summer, wear long-sleeved shirts of light material (silk, gauzy cotton, and the like). Another summer idea is to wear a long-sleeved shirt open over a tank top or t-shirt. If anyone questions it, you can tell them you're worried about sun exposure. Some leg scars in women can be hidden by pantyhose or tights. Concealer makeup (like Dermablend) can be used to hide some scars. You can get more info at dermablend.com. People have reported getting very good results with Dermablend, which was formulated for covering port-wine birthmarks and skin conditions like vitiligo. It's waterproof and can be blended to match skin color very closely.
Healing scars
The first step in healing scars is probably good wound care. Wash with Betadine if appropriate, and use a good antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) on the wound daily. Johnson & Johnson make a new bandage, Band-Aid Advanced Healing, that seals the wound completely. Fluids from the wound are absorbed by special particles in the bandage that turn them into a gel to cushion the wound. This keeps the wound moist, which reduces itching and helps it heal faster. It also can reduce the urge to pick at the wound, because you are meant to keep the bandage on continuously until the wound has healed, or about a week.
For some types of scarring, special creams or bandages may help. Mederma is a cream designed to minimize scarring, but it must be used when the scar is very new. Reports on its efficacy are mixed.
There are several brands of silicone sheets and pads available:
Rejuveness
Syprex
Clinicel (a cushion)
Cicacare ReTouch ScarFX ScarEase
Mepiform
to name a few. Syprex also makes a cream, a topical gel, and a special cleansing wipe. A new product, ScarGuard, combines liquid silicone, mild cortisone, and vitamin E. You paint the liquid over the scars to form something similar to a silicone sheet, and use it in the same way you use the sheets. Silicone sheets are taped tightly (a few now are self-adhesive) over the scars for several hours each day. Treatment continues for varying lengths of time (days to weeks). The manufacturers claim that these sheet can soften and fade most raised or red scars, even keloids. Some burn centers do use them to help diminish scarring after grafts, and unlike Mederma, they are meant for old scars as well as new. None of these products will make scars disappear but they can help make them less obvious (and cut down on intrusive questions. I've seen Rejuveness and Cicacare at Walgreen's in the US.
Curad recently introduced ScarTherapy, a new product for reducing scar tissue. It uses polyurethane instead of silicone, which allows air to get through; instead of wearing the sheet a few hours every day, you wear it continually; each day you take off the old sheet and put on a new self-adhesive one. Like the silicone sheets, it claims to be able to flatten and lighten scars (in other words, none of these will do much for flat scars that are paler than surrounding skin). I'm interested in hearing reports on this product; if you try this, email me.
Plastic surgery might be effective for some sorts of scarring, but it is very expensive and leaves scars of its own. Dermabrasion might work for very light scarring, but I've heard from several people who found it useless, expensive, and painful. The same holds for laser resurfacing. I've not heard of either working well for SI scars -- if you know of someone it's helped (or it helped you), please email me.
Cortisone injections combined with laser therapy can flatten large keloids, but you'll still have a remnant of a scar. The treatment can be painful, and results aren't guaranteed.
Skin grafts can be done to reduce a network of scars to one big scar which can be more easily explained, but they still leave you with a big ugly scar. Someone reported having wedge surgery in which the scarred areas were cut out in a wedge and skin edges sewn back together, leaving one long scar. I've also heard about a procedure in which balloons are slipped under the skin and slowly inflated to stretch the skin out. The loose skin is then sewn over the scarred area. If you know anything about this, I'd love to hear details.
If you decide to have plastic surgery done, you will have to convince your surgeon that you are through self-injuring; most doctors will not help you cover scars if they think you're going to go out and get new ones right away. Some may require that you be SI-free for a set period of time before they'll consider doing the surgery.
Tattooing over scars may be an option for some people, but scarred skin is very difficult to work with and may not hold ink well. If you want to try this route, ask around and check references until you find a very good, very experienced tattoo artist and set up a meeting to discuss the possibilities. If the artist thinks tattoos wouldn't work well on your scar, it might be best to drop the idea. Again, this is something to do only if you're pretty sure you're not going to scar the area afterward.
A good source for information about scars and plastic surgery is http://funadvice.com/r/3k1dlkmioj. Remember that nothing can make the scar go away completely; treatments can only change the shape, appearance, or location of it.
http://funadvice.com/r/biqr37qer
You can use like this vitamin e creamy thing, that makes scars fade. And scars always fade in time so if you didn't cut too deep then they should practically disapear after a while. If you did cut really deep then all you can really do is buy creams that are made to get rid of scars (most of them say for scars and stretch marks). Or you can use regular cream but that doesn't work as well as the special cream. And if all else fails, when people ask you can just joke about it. I always tell people I fell off a train XD You can use my excuse if you want. Hope I helped a bit :)
There is a cream that does fade scars...I have seen it on television here but I cannot remember the brand name.....I think the cream is more successful for reducing and eliminating pigmentations then scars but I know people who used it on their legs to hid and get rid of horrible varicose veins use this product and had roaring success.
I've stopped giving excuses. I dont know, maybe it comes with time, but it doesnt bother me any more. My parents on the other hand, want to get rid of them. Shameful past and all :)
Hmm well are there any other creams thaat dont take as long? because my sister had some before (not for the same reason though) and i dont believe it took that long.
hahaha, thanks, and i dont give excuses because its no ones buisness in the first place, its just like once you stop something and it keeps lingering it gets old
yeah like i was about to buy mederma and it takes 6-12 months on old scars, and all of the scarring is on the outer left forearm, too high for bracelets
they should eventualy just fade away mine did. if they dont try any kind of scar reducer stuff like you see those commercials on tv. those usualy work.
There are scar creams, and oils that can be applyed to get rid of the scars. You can probably get them at your local pharmasist. Hope this helps :) ..
yeah, i have my days where it's just easier if they werent there. Like on job interviews when I have to cover up.
just to clarify i have stopped for 6 months now, but people always ask about the old scars and it stresses me out
moisturize and moisturize.. and time will tell, u can always get laser surgery to but thats expensive,
Whoa...pwned >> lol but this helped me too ^^ gracias! ( I still like my train excuse :3 )
They'll be almost unoticeable in about a year if you didn't cut too deep. :)
They will fade, but to get rid of them completely, lazer is the only way
My bestfriend cut herself and she now covers her scars with braclets.
That's epic!! (her bracelet idea, not the fact that she cut herself)
