To ask for your advice on what to use to help the scars on her wrists heal - in a teenager?

[namechangeforthisjjjjjj]

Just that really .. she's coming home for Easter and recently confided how upset she was that the scars on her wrists weren't healing.

Yes, sadly is self-harming which we hadn't realised although we know about her other mental health issues.

I'd love to give her a cream or something which might help them fade? Don't mind how expensive - this is important.

Is there anything that's really good?

Bio oil?

Bio oil is really good

Also vitamin e - people buy the capsules, break them open and rub directly on

Nothing much to be honest but time and individual propensity to scar. Try bio oil but also keep them out of the sun and apply sun cream.

Vitamin E is amazing for scars.

Mine are still very visible 50 years after doing them, I've heard laser can help though, I plan to try it sometime.

I can't give any advice on scar healing - but if you google lots of different things come up so worth researching. It might be worth looking at covering make up though if they are visible and she isn't comfortable with that x

I’d go for arnica cream while the wounds are still quite raw or open. If they’re deep and not pulling together then a clean and butterfly strips.

When well healed, I’d go for something with a chemical exfoliater in like this www.facetheory.com/products/retinol-oil. I’ve found products like this good for acne scars.

A friend of mine had her harming scars lasered. ££ and takes a few sessions but they completely vanished.

Rosehip oil. I’ve used it for a scar after minor surgery and it’s really helped to soften the scar.

Silicone gel or silicone sheets.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/scars/treatment/

You can buy something I've heard referred to as scar tape which people sometimes use for post op wounds.

Micro-needling is very effective at reducing scars but it's quite painful and expensive and although I have seen it used on various body areas I haven't seen it used on wrists so you would need expert advice.

I've had good results applying a good quality moisturiser to scars and then covering with an occlusive dressing and changing it every few days. Her skin will renew quickly as she is young so they will heal but it just takes time.

www.amazon.co.uk/365-Transparent-Film-Dressing?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Lots of things help the appearance (basically any good moisturisers including vit e, bio oil, cocoa butter etc.) but really with scarring it's how badly you scar, how deep the scar is and time. If they are not surface marks and have not gone over a few weeks then they never will, they will just become fainter over time and if the skin is well moisturised

Not quite the same but I think GP's are able to prescribe make up specifically for scars as a result of self injury. I think you can buy it if you're not able to get it on prescription. I know it doesn't get rid or lessen the scar but might be useful if there are times she wants it completely hidden xx

You can buy vitamin E in tiny bottles from the chemist too - may be more economical? It;s a very thick viscous oil.

I had a deep cut, then scar on my ankle recently - I used a scrub to loosen & slough off dead skin every few days, and alternated with almond oil, castor oil and coconut oil a few times a day. (I'd forgotten about the vitamin e oil in the cupboard).
Looked at it just now - the skin has a faint red colour, but is smooth.

Sun cream in the summer/cover ups

I’ve had this Dermatix gel recommended by a dermatologist for a scar I have - I’ve only just started using it so can’t give my own experience yet.
www.boots.com/dermatix-silicone-gel-15g-1-tube-10088181

Really great advice - thank you! Going to find out which of these she fancies and support her through it.

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream

Pretty much anything will help - I read somewhere that it's the rubbing in that helps more than what you actually use.

Having said that, a vitamin E cream worked well for me.

If necessary later, there are special camouflage makeups that can be used.

But there is hope. I had a very nasty accident when younger, which left a deep wound. Thirty years on, you can't even see the scar unless you know exactly where to look. Time can be an amazing healer.

Bio oil and / or vitamin E.

You can also buy airbrush body make up if she wants to cover them up.

I have had significant scars have to heal due to burns.
Honestly, time will help, along with vitamin E oil and boi oil.
Red Cross use to do camoflague make up as well which I would recommend.

Are you on Instagram or Facebook? There is a lady called Zoe, she makes amazing creams & shares loads of the before & after photos from customers. Her company is called Zoe Bee Beauty & I highly recommend you check her out & try either the green cream or charcoal & oat cream. She’s also great offering advice so if you’re unsure just send her a message. Only problem I will say is that she sells out really quickly (think 20 minutes after sale goes live) & because she makes them all herself, she only restocks her website once or twice a week so you have to be on the ball.

Hope your teenager is ok. Big hugs.

zoebeebeauty.co.uk/

Scar serum or easier to use Scar Away tape which she'll have to cover with plasters ... these are expensive over the counter silicone treatments and my personal experience is they REALLY work

Dermatix from Amazon. My DDs plastic surgeon recommended it for her face scars.

I self harmed a lot as a teenager things like bio oil and creams actually made it easier to slide a blade across my skin so maybe watch out for that. Mine eventually faded but was self conscious of my arms for years.