AIBU to practice medicine with self-harm scars?

[OmarComin]

I am a medical student. I suffered from recurrent depression as a child (12 onwards) and have forearms covered in white self-harm scars. I haven't cut myself since I was 19 and am now 27.

NHS policy is "bare below the elbows". My scars are like a network that covers every inch of skin. All flat and faded as much as they ever will be.

They are instantly recognisable as what they are, to anyone who has any familiarity with DSH.

I have tried camouflage make-up, but it rubs off, and is apparently an infection control risk.

There's nothing I can really do about them, but I want to help people. So, Mumsnet, please tell me how you feel: would you want me as your doctor if you saw my arms? Would you see me as less capable of taking care of you?

Thank you.

I think you could be an inspiration to your patients. Living proof that they can get better and they can go on to really meaningful careers.

Obviously it is entirely up to you what you say if anyone asks, and maintaining the doctor-patient relationship boundaries is important, but you could paraphrase Kurt Vonnegut "I used to be ill, but now I am well..."

I dunno. Similar to a pp, I once worked with a teenager and didnt notice they were missing a limb until they mentioned it.

It wouldn't bother me. I get white coat syndrome so would probably be sitting there wishing I were a million miles away rather than scanning the medic's arms.

As an aside, I had though (no doubt incorrectly) that you couldn't nurse/practise medicine with a disclosed history of eating disorders. Did I dream that up or was that ever the case?

Omar I'm a mental health nurse and have quite a few self harm scars. Some are pretty big. They're all on the insides of my arms so I can't wear short sleeves but I can wear 3/4 length ones and keep my arms at a kind of certain angle and mostly get away with it. I also have scars on my wrists which I cover with bangles/wristbands. I've been a CPN for 18 years and seem to have got away with it.
I don't know if it's different for doctors but, with mental health nursing, there are several trusts in London that positively discriminate for applicants that have a history of mental health problems themselves. Also, I think the whole forearms uncovered doesn't really apply in psychiatry where you're very rarely doing anything medical/surgical.
My own experience has been that having had fairly severe MH problems myself has made me much better at my job. I'm sure that lots of my colleagues trot out the line that 'Mental health problems can happen to anyone' whilst secretly being pretty sure that it would never happen to them. I know if can happen to anyone because if happened to me. Having been on the receiving end of mental health care, I know what was helpful and what wasn't.
If you recover from an addiction or most mental health problems, nobody will ever know. With self harm, the scars are always there even if, like me, you haven't done it for over 20 years. I wish you luck

I'd be grateful if you were my doctor because you would understand vulnerability.

It wouldn't bother me. I am a previous Sharmer...I have just come back off holiday and a young girl asked me where I got my scars... I didn't know really how to answer as she was far to young to be honest with and understand..I think you need to consider how you would deal with that too but good luck

I'd absolutely want you to be treating me, especially in psych, as long as the scars were old.

And I only say old because that would mean you had survived and recovered and were strong. Newer ones would worry me - medicine is demanding. However either way I would never for a minute think I didn't want you as my doctor.

wouldn't worry me. You sound like you'll be a great doctor.

I have met several HCPs with scars. I've assumed their experiences might have influenced their choice of career, and thought 'good for them'. Sounds a good idea to have an answer ready if you're put on the spot though.

I'd be relieved if anything because I'd assume you had a greater understanding of an empathy for SH than most people and that I could be open with you without fear of judgement.

I work and have worked with several nurses with self harm scars.

Omar - that's really useful and reassuring to know, thank you.

I had been intending to apply this year and sit my UKCAT this summer but I decided to put if off for a year after being unwell for the first half of this year. Got new meds and feeling stable now, thankfully :)

It wouldn't bother me. I'd feel for you.

I have a collection of scars myself. I was also a RMN/CPN with those scars.

No one notices. Or cares.

For your own peace of mind, just keep an eye on yourself. Working in a medical field is very stressful and it would be such a shame for you to go back to that place where you made the scars. Enjoy your training!

I have a colleague (we work in mental health research) who has extensive self-harm scars and is very honest about living with BPD. She holds down a stressful job, has a great marriage and two lovely kids and I can only admire her for overcoming what must have been very difficult times. I would feel no different about you. I think you could bring something extra to your role in psychiatry, because you have walked the walk.

I would clock it immediately but have no issue.

I doubt I'd be looking too closely. If I noticed I might stare or quickly look away, just because it is something different, I have seen many self harm scars and would know I shouldn't stare. I don't think I'd be bothered at all once we got going.

I would prefer a doctor who had personal experience of MH problems. It would be more of a positive IMO.
Sometimes I wonder if my GP has any feelings at all... he is very abrupt and matter of fact.

Another one coming on to say that depending on your speciality 'bare below the elbows' will be variably enforced. I usually wear 3/4 length sleeves which is fine as I can push them up when I wash my hands.

Not that you should have to cover your arms though. Good luck.

I would love to have you caring for me. I get very, very anxious at medical appointments (GAD) which I can rarely express because it sounds so odd to people without GAD. I would assume you would understand and wouldn't judge me for mental illness.

I hope that you are through your depression now OP
I'd be happy to be treated by you. Please, please don't worry. We all have scars from our past - some visible and some less so

Wouldn't go with hedgehogs, they don't scar - they rarely break skin with quills; it's a histamine response. They can make you bleed but any scarring would be circular, not in a line.

Lion taming sounds much cooler anyway!

(Sitting with a hedgehog on my lap, so I thought I'd say!)

I would notice, be concerned for you during that period but I wouldn't consider that it would affect your professional capabilities.

I went to medical school with someone who had self harm scars, we did our psych rotation together and no patients mentioned them. I read an article recently in either the BMJ or BMA news by an A&E doc who had chosen to show her scars to a patient who had self harmed as a way of showing her that things can get better, I tried to have a look for it for you but I can't find it!

It wouldn't bother me. It shouldn't bother others but it will bother some. (I'm reminded of a thread on MN where someone was advised to sack her lovely competent nanny because she noticed old SH scars on the nanny's arms. )

I think you need a stronger answer than the hedgehog rescue, for the pushier concerned busybodies who may question your competence. What about the response that you are living proof that psychiatry works and there can be a full and healthy highly successful life lived after MH issues?