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Original poster

Would you assume this was self harm (possible TW)

27 replies

wouldyouassume · 10/02/2022 10:00

Over Christmas I had two genuine accidents with ovens and have now quite noticeable scars, one on each forearm. (never had a serious burn in my life and now 2 in the space of a week) I'm quite self conscious of them and worried they look like old self-harm scars, and keep my arms covered even though I usually wouldn't.

Would you assume they were self harm?
And any tips to help with scar healing?

Would you assume this was self harm (possible TW)
Would you assume this was self harm (possible TW)
OP posts:
Thecurtainsofdestiny · 10/02/2022 10:02

I wouldn't. Looks like burn mark.

Berta81 · 10/02/2022 10:04

They look like burns from the oven shelf! Maybe try some bio-oil on them if you're worried

Hydrate · 10/02/2022 10:04

No, I would not think that.

LlamaLucy · 10/02/2022 10:05

I looked at the pics before I read and knew instantly they’re oven shelf burns.

Gribbie · 10/02/2022 10:22

Someone I know who was a cook regularly looked like that so I wouldn't bat an eye.

MusicByTheLake · 10/02/2022 10:32

I wouldn’t assume they were from self harm, I’ve had too many burns from the oven so would presume they were from that, if they even registered with me.
Just looked at my forearms and I have 4 hardly visible white scars that once looked exactly like the ones in your photos. I just let them heal, didn’t do anything to try to speed up healing.

Try not to worry what others would think anyway. Even if they were from self harm, anyone worth knowing wouldn’t be judging, just hoping that you were ok.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 10/02/2022 10:35

I've seen a lot of people's self-harm scars, and the usual amount of oven shelf burns, and I'd assume they were oven shelf burns — they don't look anything like the usual pattern of injuries for self-harm, and exactly like the usual pattern for oven shelf burns.

SleepyTraveller · 10/02/2022 10:36

I would have guessed oven burns, if I thought about it at all.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 10/02/2022 10:45

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Original poster
wouldyouassume · 10/02/2022 10:45

Thank you all.

OP posts:
FairyLightAddict · 10/02/2022 10:48

I have the exact oven burns. Mine have gone white now.

MusicByTheLake · 10/02/2022 10:50

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ClumpingBambooIsALie · 10/02/2022 10:56

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AnnaSW1 · 10/02/2022 10:59

No

blyn72 · 10/02/2022 11:00

I've often done that, they do fade.

MusicByTheLake · 10/02/2022 11:03

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ClumpingBambooIsALie · 10/02/2022 11:07

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MerryMarigold · 10/02/2022 11:09

I think if they were being covered and I caught a glimpse, I'd be more likely to think something was being hidden. If you were open about them (difficult in this weather) much more likely to not even notice them!

MusicByTheLake · 10/02/2022 11:10

ClumpingBambooIsALie

What are you talking about? You’ve clearly got some issues going on. Again, please leave me alone.

negomi90 · 10/02/2022 11:10

I've done that with cooking. It absolutely looked like self harm, and it was rather awkward as I was seeing lots of vulnerable teenagers in hospital for mental health reasons. (NHS clinical work, so I couldn't wear long sleeves). I know that teens and their parents were looking though no one said anything.
I was very glad when it healed.

Inspectorslack · 10/02/2022 11:11

I have the same scars for the same reason.

ittakes2 · 10/02/2022 11:32

Paw paw ointment on Amazon

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 10/02/2022 11:54

I too have the same scars from oven burns, they fade eventually..

aquietlifeplease · 10/02/2022 12:16

I have those burn marks from my oven and self harm scars on my arms and they look completely different (I have several from different types of self harming) so I honestly wouldn't be worried that people would think that's what they are.

Forestdweller11 · 10/02/2022 12:23

Yup, oven shelf burn marks totally recognisable. I have some. What I do have on my right forearm are scars from puppy claw scratches, which don't look too bad now they've faded to white, but did look like scars from self harming for about 18 months.