Tattoo(s) for self harm scars?

[namasteohyey]

Not sure if this belongs in this topic, but here goes.

I have a few raised silver scars on my left forearm, and the scars are not on the inside of my arm, they're on the outside so not easy to hide.

I'm not in to tattoos myself and I'm quite sensitive to pain. I was thinking of getting a feminine or classy tattoo to cover the scars.

Has anyone got a tattoo to cover scars? Were they less noticeable or did they draw more attention to the scars?

As before, I'm not in to tattoos, but I think it might be worth getting one to cover/forget the scars.

I've had scars tattooed over and it's worked very well indeed. It's something that needs a skilled and experienced tattooist. Someone who hasn't done it often is likely to do a suboptimal job.

I don't personally but know a couple of people who do.

They draw attention to the area but not the scar if that makes sense. It works better if the scars aren't raised but are flat. They can become basically invisible if they're flat you really have to look for them.

I'd be 50/50 personally if I didn't like tattoos, but I also know people who are very very sensitive to pain but have loads of tattoos. The outside of your forearm is one of the least painful places.

Go to a few studios and talk to the artists. They will have dealt with this sort of cover up before and will probably have some good ideas. Look through their work and find someone with a style you really like

Thank you both for the quick replies.

talk to the artists

This I'm worried about. I'm so ashamed of the scars, I even contemplated asking a makeup artist if they could help me find a concealer shade to hide the scars. I couldn't go through with it, through fear of judgement.

I live in London, so if anyone has any recommendations?

it's hard but manageable. You don't have to mention what caused the scarring and tattooists see all sorts. Rather like doctors actually. As a group tattooists are famously non-judgemental of bodily differences, it's their job to be.

If you can give a vauge idea of where you are (or would be willing to travel to), I might be able to recommend a couple of people to check out.

It's 7 years since I had mine done and I still find it amazing and pretty unbelievable that I'm now able to show my skin without anxiety.

Try Seven doors sevendoorstattoo.com/

Seriously good artists, I’m sure they could help x

X post

Try Modern Classic Tattoo - Valerie Vargas is a ledgend instagram.com/valeriemodernclassic Anyone working at her shop is top notch

If you don't like that style there are plenty of other options about.

Yy also vv good people at sevendoors

I do, it really helped as I don't need to feel self-conscious and ashamed about them now.

Not a bad idea. I think tattoos in themselves are a form of self harm but if you had a pale one done over the scar, nobody would be asking you what you'd done to your arm which would be a result.

Ooh. Just remembered that the guy who did my tattoos is at Modern Classic for a couple of days at the end of august. 29th and 30th iirc. He's very talented and a lovely person.

@Rachelover40 really? To my mind tattooing has more in common with cosmetic surgery than self harm.

I did this to cover self harm scars. I was fed up with noticing people eyeing the scars suspiciously and whilst I know a lot of people hate tattoos, I feel more comfortable knowing that people can't see the self harm scars any more. It covered them up very effectively, I can't even see them in bright daylight or if I hold my arm up into the light I can't really see a difference in skin texture. I would say think very carefully first because I did it without enough consideration about the designs and I think I could have chosen better. I'm happy knowing that no one can tell the scars are there though

I've been thinking about this, too. As I get older, I'm starting to feel more self conscious about my scars because it's very obvious what they are, and it's been a quarter of a century since I got the scars, so it's not something I particularly want people to think about the first time they meet me. And I refuse to live my life in long sleeves because an illness I had decades ago.

But then I read the threads on here about tattoos, and see how many people are very, very judgemental about those, too, so I worry that I'd just be swapping one load of judgment for another.

Thats something it's only right to take into consideration, Broom. I decided I'd rather be judged for something I'd chosen whilst in my right mind than for an ancient accident of circumstance. TBH people who are openly judgey about stuff are generally quite unpleasant people who are best avoided.

I’m not a fan of tattoos generally but there is a style called water colour tattoos that can look very soft and pretty but would probably still camouflage the sort of scarring you are talking about.

I agree that you should talk to a few tattoo artists and get a variety of expert opinions before making a decision. Don’t be self conscious, they are generally passionate about what they do and will want you to be comfortable with them and your decisions.

And maybe buy a couple of tattoo magazines to familiarise yourself with the whole genre.

To be honest, anyone who would judge me for tattoos would already judge me for my blue hair, but I'm a bit more wary of permanent marks than hair styles I can change.

I just Googled ‘tattoos to hide scars’ & there quite a few images of what appear to be the sort of self harm scars you describe that have been very successfully disguised so it’s obviously a thing.

You also have the option of scar camouflage. Which will tone them to match your skin rather than having tattoos.

Look up a cosmetic tattooist called Jo Bregazzi, she is based in Shrewsbury, not sure how far that would be for you travel wise, but she is well worth it.

Try a temporary henna tattoo first. They last several weeks depending on cleanser and water types.

Watercolour tattoos can look very pretty indeed when new but they don't age at all gracefully. I'd strongly advise anyone to avoid them.

Scar camouflage tattoos are great in theory but not actually very useful IRL. Skin tones changes over the seasons even with proper application of sunscreen - a proper match is thus impossible.

A black outline is an absolute must for anyone who wants their tattoos to age optimally

I had a tattoo to cover raised self harm scars on my thigh, and its covered them up well

Don't ever be ashamed of them. I have had some tattooed over and infact my lovely tattooist is covered with tattoos over the top of his self harm scars.

I have a couple of Valerie Vargas tattoos. She's amazing but her wait list is huge normally. I also recommend frith street tattoos in soho. She worked there previously and all the artists are great.

Ooh lucky you @sylbunny 😍 Well worth the wait, no?

Frith Street is indeed also fab, I'm not in the uk so they've kind of fallen off my radar since Valerie and Stewart left. Bloody instagram algorithm