Help How to do sh aftercare?

[Pleasehurryleaveme]

what do i do after im done cutting? I usually just throw on a sweater and call it a day but should i wash it and use bandaids or can i just wash it with water and leave it alone

 

[lifewasawillowtv]

what do i do after im done cutting? I usually just throw on a sweater and call it a day but should i wash it and use bandaids or can i just wash it with water and leave it alone

I normally just wash with water and pat dry with a towel (pat not rub cus u don't wanna make it more sore) just in case to prevent it getting super gross and infected :)

 

[psp3000]

soap and water, rubbing alcohol (optional: hydrogen peroxide), then ointment or if you do not have that available petroleum jelly

when it starts to itch during the healing stage I use anti itch lotion / eczema relief lotion or more ointment/petroleum jelly

edit: also to be even more sanitary and prevent infection and things such as Tetanus, MRSA, or a Staph infection

always make sure to use brand new tools that have been sterilized before use or keep up with how long you've been using your tools and make sure to thoroughly sanitize them

 

[EvisceratedJester]

soap and water, rubbing alcohol (optional: hydrogen peroxide), then ointment or if you do not have that available petroleum jelly

when it starts to itch during the healing stage I use anti itch lotion / eczema relief lotion or more ointment/petroleum jelly

edit: also to be even more sanitary and prevent infection and things such as Tetanus, MRSA, or a Staph infection

always make sure to use brand new tools that have been sterilized before use or keep up with how long you've been using your tools and make sure to thoroughly sanitize them

From my knowledge, you shouldn't use rubbing alcohol to disinfect a wound. It kills off the healthy tissue which causes the healing process to be prolonged, thus increasing the risk of infection. Non-scented soaps and water work just fine alone. If you want to do more to make sure your cuts are clean then you could use an iodine spray (it doesn't kill off healthy tissue, from my knowledge) and also cleanse your cuts using distilled water or saline (0.9% NaCl).

Rubbing alcohol can be used to disinfect tools but shouldn't be used on your cuts.

 

[Ash’Girl]

I'm too lazy to type it all but here is a good resource: https://www.combined.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/attachments/self-harm-limiting-the-damage-camhs.pdf

It's been a while since cutting was my default release or coping mechanism but for years it was a daily occurrence so as one who understands, empathy and hugs to you.

 

[hermestrimegistus]

When I was big into self harm (almost a decade ago now) i'd pour some hydrogen peroxide on it. It stings but that just added to the whole addiction to pain and everything. I don't recommend hurting yourself but if you're doing it anyways you shouldn't allow yourself to get infected or worse. Slap on a couple of bandaids afterwards

 

[ADeadBunny]

Warm water and soap. Keep covered as best as you can for the first 3 days. Optionally you can use aloe when changing dressing and while you heal. This will help fade the scars faster because you're keeping the skin moisturised. This will also reduce itching. Do not use aloe gel from a supermarket for this though, you need pure aloe. Depending on depth you can also use something like neosporin. Anything deeper than an 1/8th of an inch neosporin is useless.

Stay safe friend. I hope you heal well.