Self-Injury Support Group

Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.

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deleted_user 04/10/2007

I have some cuts that are starting to show signs of infection... I keep my cuts bandgaged up and I use hydrogen peroxide and cream right before I cover them and they are almost always covered unless I'm changing the bandage (which is after I cut again) Now when I first started to cut I didnt cover them and they started to get infected when they did I decided that I would cover them and I have been ever since... Now Im doing everything that I can changing the bandages at least once a day and always cleaning with the peroxide and putting cream on it before I re-bandage... I dont understand why the smaller cuts that I make are the ones that seem to be getting infected ( I make large gashes with a hunting knife and small cuts with a razor blade) I would think that it would be the other way around that the deep cuts would be more at risk... However it seems to always be the small ones that are getting infected. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts as to why the small ones do seem to get infected and the large ones dont It doesnt make any sense to me...

deleted_user 04/10/2007

Well are u using clean blades EVERY time that could be why and if you are then idk

Thriver 04/10/2007

Your blades could be dirty as Sammy said. Also, peroxide is really harsh and kind of kills the skin along with the germs. Maybe try something milder?

deleted_user 04/10/2007

i was thiking the same thing about the blades. i mostly only make shallow cuts now, but used to make pretty deep ones and have never once had an infection. i always clean my blades with alcohol before use, and once finished, only clean my arm off with water. i never even bandage them unless they just won't stop bleeding, or are in danger of breaking back open.

i guess i would probably stay away from the peroxide as well. cleaning them with water...or soap and water, and then putting on the antibiotic ointment should be enough. ever tried the new skin stuff...kinda like glueing the cuts back together. that might help more than just bandaging. that way, absolutely nothing can get in the cuts. it's pretty neat stuff. i thought i needed stitches once and went to the ER, but they ended up putting that stuff on and it worked very well. i liked it. give it a try!

deleted_user 04/11/2007

try just using the hydrogen peroxide and not the cream as well, because if you think about it, you are cleaning them with liquid and then putting cream on them so it could be clogging them back up.. x

deleted_user 04/11/2007

oh or get some germolene, its an antisceptic cream so you get the best of both worlds=] x

deleted_user 04/11/2007

I agree with the clean blades nest time. a new blade each time, cleaned before use works best for me. I don't take care of them at all afterwards. They get slightly red after, but they scar better.

deleted_user 04/11/2007

i generally dont clean mine either or keep them bandaged.i mean sometimes when they are bad i do.but recently ive been kinda worrried cuz im not using clean blades.which i know is really bad.but even using the same ol' blade my cuts get really red and take forever to stop bleeding but havent been infected yet.knock on wood!so maybe just give them air would be my suggestion.is it bad to not bandage them?i only do if i have to cover them up.

deleted_user 04/11/2007

I agree with others here ...
either way clean the blades or use new ones when u cut ...
and the other thing like others said here ... don't mess around with the wounds after cutting by putting cream and bandages on ..
after cutting (usually the bleeding stops after a while) just rinse it off with water a bit and then leave it.

Mandy

deleted_user 04/11/2007

I do keep the blades clean... I cant imagine that not covering them would help wouldnt that just have more oppurtunity to get infected? It makes sense with the cream clogging them and what not Ill try all that has been suggested thanks all...

deleted_user 04/12/2007

i think the air of leaving them uncovered actually helps. i've heard people say before...take the bandage off so it can get air. try that, or try the new skin stuff so that nothing can get into the cuts. i think that would help out a lot.

deleted_user 04/12/2007

I would let them air out and scab over... wait a day and if they look worse, pull the scab off (it'll hurt a lot - sorry) ... and then scrub them with soapy,warm water... pat dry, then peroxide, and then let them air dry... don't cover with anything for as long as you can help...

Don't let anything touch them, them bandage when you have to (go to sleep, have to put clothes over them, etc.)

this works best for me.

sunshine

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