Is this bad?

[Blood_Thorn]

Unfortunately over the festive period I relapsed again and cut again on quite a few occassions... Though I haven't been cutting too deeply, which I guess is good. But when I do cut, I have started a habit of pulling the skin apart on either side of the cut... so it bleeds more and faster, and it widens the cut a little... and so I was wondering, is this a bad thing to do when cutting?

[Alone_here]

It probably is a bad thing to do, but I get it. I do it sometimes too when I cut because I don't really like cutting deep, I just like bleeding.

[EmmaJane]

I'd also say it is a very bad thing. If when bleeding you don't clean the cut afterwards it could get infected and that wouldn't be very pleasant.

[Blood_Thorn]

It probably is a bad thing to do, but I get it. I do it sometimes too when I cut because I don't really like cutting deep, I just like bleeding.

The thing is I do want to go deeper though... I just don't know how deep I can go...

I'd also say it is a very bad thing. If when bleeding you don't clean the cut afterwards it could get infected and that wouldn't be very pleasant.

Yeah, I don't want them to get infected, I tend to put alcohol on them after I cut as a disinfectant, and it causes more pain which is good... but then I switch to other things to put on whilst they heal.

[SheriK]

Well cutting is bad already, anything else you do is only making things worse. What you're doing is making it a lot easier for germs and bacteria to get in the cut. Also it will affect the severity of the scars. So please be safe, and be sure everything is cleaned and bandaged.

[ksdnfkfr]

The thing is I do want to go deeper though... I just don't know how deep I can go...



Yeah, I don't want them to get infected, I tend to put alcohol on them after I cut as a disinfectant, and it causes more pain which is good... but then I switch to other things to put on whilst they heal.

yeah alcohol on the cut to cleanse and increase the pain - been there.
When I cut I used to do what you are describing i think.
I can't say pulling cuts apart is a good thing, but i doubt it is uncommon.
Just keep up with the antibiotic ointment.
Ironically i accidentally cut/stabbed my finger recently and did not treat it and it got infected.

[Blood_Thorn]

yeah alcohol on the cut to cleanse and increase the pain - been there.
When I cut I used to do what you are describing i think.
I can't say pulling cuts apart is a good thing, but i doubt it is uncommon.
Just keep up with the antibiotic ointment.
Ironically i accidentally cut/stabbed my finger recently and did not treat it and it got infected.
I tend only to use alcohol once before swapping to antibiotic ointments these days.
That sucked about it getting infected... :/ for me atleast I find that I tend to take better care of the injuries I inflict myself, rather than those which are accidental..

[Alone_here]

The thing is I do want to go deeper though... I just don't know how deep I can go...



Yeah, I don't want them to get infected, I tend to put alcohol on them after I cut as a disinfectant, and it causes more pain which is good... but then I switch to other things to put on whilst they heal.

I get that too... If you can resist cutting deeper and only pull the skin apart, it would be better than going deeper. I suggest putting it under running water (hot is better but cold works too) just to clean it a bit to lower the risk of it getting infected because that is never fun.

[Blood_Thorn]

Well cutting is bad already, anything else you do is only making things worse. What you're doing is making it a lot easier for germs and bacteria to get in the cut. Also it will affect the severity of the scars. So please be safe, and be sure everything is cleaned and bandaged.

I do make sure to clean it all properlh, but I don't normally bandage them... should I be trying to bandage them...?

I get that too... If you can resist cutting deeper and only pull the skin apart, it would be better than going deeper. I suggest putt it under running water (hot is better but cold works too) just to clean it a bit to lower the risk of it getting infected because that is never fun.


Okay, I might give that a try, if I need to cut again...
But then, what if you cut in the shower...? Because then you'd have hottish water...

[Alone_here]

Hot water is better than cold water when you want it clean, it just hurts more than cold water would.

[Blood_Thorn]

Hot water is better than cold water when you want it clean, it just hurts more than cold water would.
Thank you for the recommendation, I will be sure to properly clean my cuts better next time :)
I do find though, that if the water is warm enough it can have a sort of numbing effect on the skin, which mightn't be bad if you did want to cut deep..

[KoolKid96]

Unfortunately over the festive period I relapsed again and cut again on quite a few occassions... Though I haven't been cutting too deeply, which I guess is good. But when I do cut, I have started a habit of pulling the skin apart on either side of the cut... so it bleeds more and faster, and it widens the cut a little... and so I was wondering, is this a bad thing to do when cutting?

Don't bro. I'd rather whenever u feel like cuttin urself u go talk to someone (u can PM me if u wan) instead of hurting urself. What's worse if u make
Urself bleed faster by pulling the skin, it's a very bad thing to do =(

[NeuroTiger]

That may cause an infection and it will not be nice.
Remember, SAFETY first.

[Alone_here]

Thank you for the recommendation, I will be sure to properly clean my cuts better next time :)
I do find though, that if the water is warm enough it can have a sort of numbing effect on the skin, which mightn't be bad if you did want to cut deep..

I think both hot and cold water would have a numbing effect the longer you left the cut in it. Just like if you stay in the shower and the water hits one point for a while, it starts to get tingly wand numb. Just try not to cut deep so you don't have to use water as a numbing device.

[Katiya]

Wash with soap and water. Swab with alcohol and put antibiotic on it and cover or tape it shut.

Never just use water as water in some places can have bacterium that will infect it. So always follow with alcohol and anti biotic.