Keeping a cut covered can promote healing or simply help hide it so that no one sees it. Cuts should be treated immediately by cleaning them, applying an antibiotic ointment and protecting them with a bandage or gauze. Healed wounds can be hidden using a concealer, long-sleeved shirts, temporary (or permanent) tattoos, or decorative plasters. If the cuts are self-damaging in nature, it is good to ask for help from trusted and competent people.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Medicate a Cut
Step 1. Assess the severity of the cut
Observe it to see if it is deep enough to require stitches or if it is possible to treat it at home. If the wound is swollen or jagged, or reveals underlying muscle or fat, go to the emergency room. To avoid the risk of infection or scarring, it should be sutured within a few hours.
Step 2. Wash your hands
Before touching the cut or scratch, it is important to remember to wash your hands to avoid infecting the area. Moisten and lather with antibacterial soap, then massage it for 20 seconds and rinse. If you don't have the option to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Step 3. Apply pressure to stop bleeding
Superficial cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. If the bleeding is persistent, apply good pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. If possible, lift the affected area to stop bleeding.
Step 4. Clean the cut
Gently rinse the wound with drinking tap water. Wash the surrounding area with water and a mild soap, avoiding the actual wound. Then, pat dry with a clean cloth or gauze. Sterilize a forceps with alcohol and use it to remove dirt or other debris stuck in the wound.
- If any dirt remains in the wound, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Avoid medicating yourself using hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can further damage surrounding tissue and hinder healing.
Step 5. Apply antibiotic ointment
Superficial cuts and scrapes heal on their own, but using an antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin, can speed up the process. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Apply a thin layer to the cut after washing and drying it carefully.
Step 6. Cover the wound
Once dry, put on a patch or piece of gauze, securing it with medical tape. The patch should be changed every time it gets wet, dirty or if blood seeps.
You can remove the patch or gauze after a few days, when the wound has healed
Method 2 of 3: Apply Concealer to a Healed Wound
Step 1. To hide any cuts, scrapes or other wounds, buy a concealer and an angled eyeliner brush (available at perfumery and makeup stores)
Apply it to the cut, trying to draw as thin a line as possible. Apply a thin layer of translucent face powder to set the makeup in place and keep it from going away.
Always use a clean brush. Also, the concealer can only be applied to healed wounds
Step 2. Use clothing in your favor
This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to cover a wound. Long-sleeved shirts, trousers and maxi skirts allow you to hide cuts or scratches during healing. When it is hot, harmonize the combination by wearing lighter garments on the parts of the body that do not have any imperfections.
- For example, if you wear long-sleeved shirts to hide cuts or scrapes on your arms, put on a pair of shorts to create a good balance.
- Make sure your clothes are loose enough to allow cuts to breathe and heal.
Step 3. Apply a temporary tattoo, a fun way to cover up healed wounds
You can buy this product at a shop that sells beauty items or get a temporary tattoo with an eyeliner. Make sure you remove it after a few days as gently as possible with water and a mild soap.
Step 4. Use decorative patches
To hide visible cuts, make colored patches with decorative masking tape (which you can find at home improvement stores and online). Attach a strip of colored tape to the non-adhesive side of the patch and trim the excess around the edges. Apply it to the cut like a regular plaster.
Method 3 of 3: Addressing Self-Hurting Cuts
Step 1. If you have self-harming tendencies, ask for help
Although it has been some time since you last hurt yourself, consulting an expert can facilitate healing and the process associated with the adaptation strategy. Consider various treatment options, including counseling sessions or cognitive-behavioral therapy, and assess whether self-harming tendencies are due to triggers such as an eating disorder or sexual abuse. Coming to terms with this bias and understanding it can change your view on it and help you determine how to cover scars.
Step 2. Use corrective makeup
During the healing process, it is normal to have the desire to hide the scars left by self-harm. You can do this by using products with a thick consistency, typical of corrective makeup. Choose a green concealer, which allows you to effectively cover the redness of scars. Dab the product on the scar until you get a satisfactory result, then apply a powder foundation.
To improve the result, choose a concealer suitable for your complexion and avoid products with illuminating properties, which will draw attention to the scars
Step 3. Get a tattoo
Book an appointment at a reputable studio to discuss getting a tattoo to cover the scar (s) left by the self-harm. Show the design you have in mind or try to get a clear idea of the final result before meeting the tattoo artist. Make sure you really want it and consider whether you will continue to like it in the future - remember that a tattoo is definitive.
