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Harm Reduction Track Marks MEGA Thread v 1:Human Pin Cushion

i have IVe din my forearms for an 8 month period when i first started doing heroin, which was 9 years ago, and i can still see visible scars, very small, but still the damage is permanent
 
Honestly, you're very fortunate if that's all the scarring you have. Unless you're dealing with an extremely observant employer, i doubt that they're going to notice anything at all. And if they do, you would definitely be able to pass it off as a scar from some sort of injury. However, I understand that you would probably be more comfortable if you were able to make the marks less visible even if its just for yourself. With me, I use an antibiotic ointment, like neosporin, a couple times a week. And recently I started using the lotion my boyfriend uses (he doesn't shoot up, but he uses it regularly and ALWAYS recommends it to people with fresh tattoos and it works REALLY well for them) and it seems to be working really well for my scars too. It's St. Ives Skin Renewing body lotion Collagen Elastin. It's 100% natural, fast absorbing, non greasy and it smells AMAZING!!! And like someone said earlier, ALWAYS use new needles, I know when I use new needles I won't even be able to see the marks the next day but when I use a dull one I'll have a mark with a scab and everything for like 2 weeks. Plus, I know when I use a dull needle it'll take me several tries before I find a vein, whereas I usually get it first or second try with a new one.
 
I was wondering.......
So in multiple places where I have shot up, mostly the inside of my elbow, I have these almost blueish dots. They're darker than any of the scarring around them, like it looks like someone tattooed a period on me. I don't have that many, maybe 8 or so, but I was just curious if anyone else had these? Does anyone know what causes them, what they're from???


***And as for the tattoo idea to cover them up, I think a tattoo will just draw more attention to the area and like someone said earlier, an employer will have more of a problem with a tattoo, than a scar that they may or may not notice.
 
ΔΔΔΔhere here. I think shooting Ms contin scarred mine up pretty good-I already have plenty of tattoos on my arms among other places.

I'm basically just sick of other cooks working under me asking me about how I got them....or why. It is none of their business and if it were it would be part of orientation.

Im finally now getting over the guilt and shame of a lifetime of use....I don't need to be brought back to those feelings by a trainee cook.
 
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Give it time and it will get better. I quit about ten years ago and mine are hard to notice. Someone in the know could spot it if they were really close but others wouldn't even know. If anything it could be a burn scar for all they knew. I used to use lotion that healed skin but I forget the name of it. Glad to know you kicked the habit. It was definitely the best thing I ever did. Long sleeves don't cut it in the south :)
 
I work in a position where I handle hiring new employees. Wear a long sleeve shirt, and conduct your self in a positive professional manner. Most people would have no idea about your past, and do not feel the need to share those details. Once you are hired try to keep your history to yourself. You don't want to give an employer reason to random drug test you. Best of luck and congratulations on kicking your habit.
 
I've got the job but I get one of four types of people
1. The girl that thinks she can fix me
2. The person that wants to hear stories or or up me with outlandish tales of use
3. The person that does not care or is understanding
4. The person that wants nothing to do with me
 
I guess I live a relatively sheltered life, because I would not have even known that was a track mark! If someone asks you about it, it is 100% ok to LIE! My therapist calls those kinds of lies "privacy lies". It is no ones business. Also, I am very good at redirecting questions I do not want to answer. I come up with a non answer like "it's a long story", then immediately change the subject by asking that person an unrelated question. I don't know if any of that is helpful. I totally understand your desire to put your past behind you.
 
they have creams and gels for scars and other marks, from what I hear the ones that pregnant women use for their stretch marks work the best, theres a kind called bio oil which I have used on a scar on my face which worked pretty well
 
Yeah I use Bio oil. This one isn't going away. If I can make a suggestion to any new iv users. If an injection site starts to look a little beat up, find another one. I haven't shot up in over a year and this track mark is causing me problems.

Let that site heal and use neosporin or bacitracin on it so it doesn't end up causing you problems down the road.
 
Rotating sites frequently is the best way to avoid harsh scars like that. Those come from pounding the same spot over and over again. I understand the temptation when you have an easy spot to hit to just keep going, but try to resist and hit elsewhere. It'll make all your veins last longer.
 
Scar tissue- Does it ever go away?

I used to inject (mainly meth, occasionally heroin) frequently in my arms without rotating sights. Now, I have a large lump of scar tissue on one arm, and 2 tiny lumps on another. Do these ever go away, or will they stay there forever? And is there anything I can do to reduce their size or get rid of them or anything?

*Yes, when I inject now, I rotate sights.
*Yes, I quit injecting in my arms altogether.
*I think the large lump may have gotten slightly smaller, but I can't be positive.
*Yes, I know injecting is bad. I haven't done it lately. I'm trying to quit altogether.
 
to prevent new scars from forming:

-use a new needle EVERY SINGLE TIME you inject something. not only is this much safer and sanitary, it drastically decreases the chances of scarring because even after a needle is used once, it gets dull very quickly.

-make sure you're swabbing the injection site with alcohol wipes before contact. dirt and germs cause infection, and infections = scars.

-carry with you either a small tube of neosporin or aloe vera to place directly on the site after injection.

-rotate injection sites every time. (you already know this, though.)


to decrease the appearance of old scars:

-vitamin E caps - break one open and rub the goo from inside the pill directly on the scars

-minimize exposure of new or semi-new scars to the sunlight

-baby oil, olive oil, vaseline (petroleum jelly), aloe vera (best straight from a plant!) - all good things to put on scars to soften the skin and minimize appearance. mind you, especially for older scars or raised scars, even after 'treatment,' some scars will never go away. treatment with the things I listed (or anything, even the ridiculously expensive stuff they sell in the stores) takes about 6 weeks, and should be applied to the site at least 3 times a day. For older scars, put a dot of olive oil (or vitamin E, or baby oil, or rotate between 2 or all of these oils, if you wish) on your fingertips and massage it into the scar. It is best to massage (no pushing, just rubbing gently) in small circles, and I find that if you are able to massage with some speed this is more effective - It warms the skin and stimulates the cells on the surface of your skin which encourages the generation of new cells, which will slowly but surely help to diminish the appearance of the scar. But, be aware - this is not an overnight process. This can be a bit cumbersome and discouraging when you won't see results right away - but if you're diligent and keep at the treatment, no matter how small it may be, you'll definitely see a difference.
 
littlepenguin said:
to prevent new scars from forming:

-use a new needle EVERY SINGLE TIME you inject something. not only is this much safer and sanitary, it drastically decreases the chances of scarring because even after a needle is used once, it gets dull very quickly.

-make sure you're swabbing the injection site with alcohol wipes before contact. dirt and germs cause infection, and infections = scars.

-carry with you either a small tube of neosporin or aloe vera to place directly on the site after injection.

-rotate injection sites every time. (you already know this, though.)


to decrease the appearance of old scars:

-vitamin E caps - break one open and rub the goo from inside the pill directly on the scars

-minimize exposure of new or semi-new scars to the sunlight

-baby oil, olive oil, vaseline (petroleum jelly), aloe vera (best straight from a plant!) - all good things to put on scars to soften the skin and minimize appearance. mind you, especially for older scars or raised scars, even after 'treatment,' some scars will never go away. treatment with the things I listed (or anything, even the ridiculously expensive stuff they sell in the stores) takes about 6 weeks, and should be applied to the site at least 3 times a day. For older scars, put a dot of olive oil (or vitamin E, or baby oil, or rotate between 2 or all of these oils, if you wish) on your fingertips and massage it into the scar. It is best to massage (no pushing, just rubbing gently) in small circles, and I find that if you are able to massage with some speed this is more effective - It warms the skin and stimulates the cells on the surface of your skin which encourages the generation of new cells, which will slowly but surely help to diminish the appearance of the scar. But, be aware - this is not an overnight process. This can be a bit cumbersome and discouraging when you won't see results right away - but if you're diligent and keep at the treatment, no matter how small it may be, you'll definitely see a difference.
Click to expand...

Thank you sooo much!!
 
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