Old Scars...

[.box]

Thanks for the advice everyone, quite some interesting information I never knew about before.
Plastic surgery would be going to far I think, but I'll take a look into concealer for the short term and have a further look into ReJuveness and laser treatment as well as talking to my GP.

I'm not bothered about the scars much when I'm with friends or people I know wont care. But out in public I'm far to self concious and find it much easier to hide them away. Which is ok here in Scotland where you can wear a long sleeve t shirt most of the time, but recently i was on holiday in a very hot country with my girlfriend. Needless to say the heat caused lots of problems. I went outside a few times with only a t-shirt (on my top half ) but I couldn't relax and get on as normal so we ended up arguing half the time (which happens here too if I don't cover up). And then there there's the issue of me not having told my parents, which would make things so difficult for me if I did. Not that they would be angry but upset and want to ask questions, I really can't deal with that right now. I think my dad would be ok about it but I wouldn't want him keeping a secret from my mother.
What Foxglove said about the differences between females and males is true, however I think men are expected to be stronger and able to deal with problems. The fact I have scars shows I'm not like this and some people make judgements far to easily.

[Foxglove]

It was a generalisation and as I didn't know if you were male or female it wasn't as easy to give advise. I am not going to say don't worry or anything trite like that. I hope that you can sort things out and regain the confidence you feel you lack at the moment.

[MarkMono]

You'd try try and make a gender issue out of male breastfeeding so ye would.

I'm not proud of the mass of scar tissue on my arms but I'm far too resolute to allow myself to feel embarrassed by them. They serve as a reminder not to do it again.

[Metalcherry]

if it is just a case of covering up for now, Scar Serum would be your cheapest and best bet, it is used for scars and acne to help cover up anything
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Scar-Serum-sur...QQcmdZViewItem

I bought something while in florida a few years back fro my leg and arm called Tru-Derm, this is the most effective scar agent you can find at the moment. im sure you can find it cheap on ebay or online. it helps heal and cover up large scars as well as small and other imperfections on the skin and helps even out the appearance of them.

good luck

[ladylabobo]

hi

boots have these gel pads that you wear over your scars for ages and it makes them less obvious. You can also buy this gel stuff that you rub on the scars.

In bodmod circles rubbing vitamin e into the scars helps make them less obvious. This isnt vitamin e cream tho, its the stuff that comes out of the capsules you're meant to swallow. You just break them apart and rub in the oil. Apparently this works really well.

What i did tho was get a tattoo over my scars. I'm not ashamed of them, they show me what i have managed to get thro and survive. The tattoo commemorates that in a way too.

[blackmood]

I have a very similar problem to yourself,......i have several hypertrophic and keloid scars on my forearms which are self inflicted, i asked my gp about it because they were causing me considerable distress and i was sick of having to explain what they are to people. He referred me to a plastic surgeon.....my appointment is tomorrow so i'll let you know how i get on.

Your best bet would be to talk to your GP and to ask him to refer you to a plastic surgeon.......waiting lists are quite high though.......i waited about six months for a consultation.......in the meantime you could try Bio-oil (available from most chemists and off the internet) which is excellent at reducing the appearance and redness in scars although it doesnt totally get rid of them.

[Jen-Y]

Theres some really expensive topical stuff called Creme de la mere (sorry if someones already mentioned this) and its used to help heal scarring(famously burns patients). Its extremely pricey tho at roughly £73 per 30 ml but it might be worth it.

[blackmood]

Just been to see the plastic surgeon ........he injected hormones into my keloid scars.......they wont perform surgery on them cos they can come back a lot worse than they were before.......the hormones should flatten the scars and reduce their appearance.........ive to go back in a months time for repeated treatment and to discuss the hypertrophic scars.........hope this helps you a bit ..

[stripey_kitten]

Dunno if it'll work for everyone, I use Palmer's stuff for stretch marks...it decreases the visibility of scars for me!