Swimming with scars

[furryelephant]

What does everyone do about swimming with what are noticeably self harm scars when swimming? I have some pretty awful scarring on the top of my outside thigh/hip. Don't know whether to find shorts I could swim in (are these even allowed in pools?), just brave it and have them on show or not go swimming at all

I have pretty prominent scarring at top of one arm, top of one leg. (Im also not very thin) I wear womens swin shorts (they cover the scars and dont make me look like im trying to be a man!) and a nice rash vest, with normal swimming costume undernath. No one really batters an eye lid-especially at bigger family pools!

I swim a lot and seriously never notice other people. I am too preoccupied with my own stuff. But a lot of people wear swim shorts or a leg suits.

Begging what type of swim shorts do you wear? I'm not the thinnest after having a baby either but I really want her to get used to water it's only a small pool with 6 in a class too

I got a tattoo to cover the scars on my arm, I didn't really want a tattoo on my arm but it was so liberating to not have to hide the scars anymore. I now have a beautiful tattoo, one of the best decisions I've ever made!

Maybe this?
direct.asda.com/george/womens/swimwear/printed-bust-swim-dress/G005672482,default,pd.html?cmpid=ppc--george--ggle-pla--OD34WOMENS_CLOTHING---_-dskwid-s92700013688825476_dc&gclid=CKi72KSY0tMCFUK4Gwod1NcBfg
Or these?
www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-boyleg-swimsuit-ladies-354743?colcode=35474322

I wish I could afford a tattoo I hadn't thought of a swim dress! Would be good to hide the belly too do you think it would look like I was making too much of an effort for a baby swim class in a dress? Definitely not over thinking or panicking about bloody baby swimming

I reckon you should just brave it. Decent people won't care. Kids might stare but adults will know what they are and just know you've been through a tough time. Enjoy swimming whatever you decide.

Look up boy short swim suits. Mine is a tenner from sport direct.

I too had a tattoo on my arm. And for swimming I just wear baggy men's board shorts and a swim top. But that's more due to being weight conscious. However, I second the PP who said that they never notice other people. Even at a baby class, everyone will be so preoccupied with how they look, they won't spare your body a second glance.

I go swimming and i am covered head to toe in old self harm scars.
It was awful at first, i felt like everyone was staring at me! But you get used to it quickly and i dont even think of them now days.
I made a concerted effort not to cover myself up anymore because it was getting ridiculous having to wear long sleeves everywhere.
Im really glad i did because i feel so much happier. The reaction you imagine is nothing like the one you actually get. Hardly anybody ever comments on them to me. Even people i know well.
Only one person was ever weird about it to me and this is over a ten year period now.
Covering up makes you feel ashamed it reinforces in your mind that there is something wrong with you and that is sad. I would really recommend just going for it and wearing a swim suit. Although it will be scary at first you will end up feeling proud of yourself and like a weight has been lifted. You dont need to be ashamed.

My friend has very substantial SH scars on legs/arms/abdomen - so proud of her for swimming from last year - normal costume. I few children have asked, she tells them she got bitten by a shark. Apparently that's very cool

Thankyou all for the reassurance, it really helps hearing from others who have been there too! Think I'll have to lug the baby around and try on some costumes this week the only thing I'd thought of was a wet suit so the suggestions have been really helpful!

I belive there addidas or the like, try and find a link and im really not thin, i have 5 kids though! and i actually feel slightly confident in the water, im sure you can to

I was thinking of something like this www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-boyleg-swimsuit-ladies-354743?colcode=35474322&src=google&gclid=Cj0KEQjwxbDIBRCL99Wls-nLicoBEiQAWroh6uWTf19vNgBaFRUFJ4hmnfUvME2vbJrz4PToOAeajBoaAmoE8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you look at somewhere like Wiggle they have free returns so no lugging the baby around shopping ;-)

A lot of ladies at our pool wear swim shorts or boyleg costumes. There's also a lot who wear leggings and long sleeved t-shirts under their costumes if they need to cover up for relgious reasons, no one bats an eyelid.

I've got really awful scars on arms and some on legs too. I just go in a normal swimsuit. The swimming pool is the one place where I have never, ever had a comment TBH. I think due to the lack of clothing people don't tend to gaze at anyone else for long. Plus most of the people that require glasses don't have them on, and most of your body ends up underwater anyway. I wouldn't worry.

I have really bad scars on my thigh but for some reason I'm not as bothered about people seeing those as I am the ones on my arm. I'm not sure why because if anything the ones on my leg are worse. I brave it :)

Thanks everyone! I found a tankini that has shorts and a floaty ish top on Amazon of all places! The shorts aren't quite long enough but it'll do