Self-scratching due to stress

Ms. Mai's arms are covered with scars, deep, round, oozing, red, inflamed wounds..., the result of scratching her skin every time she feels stressed or anxious.

After a week of treatment at the Dermatology - Cosmetic Dermatology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, the wounds on Ms. Pham Thi Mai's (37 years old, Tan Phu district) hands began to heal. The doctor asked about her mental health and encouraged her to continue treatment to fade the scars. After the follow-up visit, Ms. Mai was taken by the customer service staff to the medicine counter and taken to the bus stop in front of the hospital gate to go home.

Doctor Dang Thi Ngoc Bich, Department of Dermatology - Cosmetic Dermatology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, examines a patient. Photo: Provided by the hospital

Before that, at the clinic, Ms. Pham Thi Mai chose a seat at the end of the row, close to the wall to sit. The customer service staff called her name for the third time, then she realized that someone was calling her. For more than 10 minutes, she kept her eyes on the floor, unconsciously using her hand to pinch her wound. Noticing the abnormality in the patient's psychology, Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Bich reassured her.

A while later, Ms. Mai shared that for the past year she felt depressed, angry, and sometimes desperate because no one sympathized and listened. Every time she felt uncomfortable, she would pinch her skin, sometimes until it bled. She said that she felt more mentally comfortable when she hurt herself.

When the old wounds had not yet healed, she created new ones. For nearly a year, her arms were covered with dark scars and open wounds. For a week now, she has felt a lot of pain in her arms, swelling and redness, and the wounds were oozing fluid. She went alone to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for a check-up.

Doctor Dang Thi Ngoc Bich said that the patient had skin damage in many areas on both arms, the wounds were deep to the fat layer, and had similar shapes. Many areas had healed, forming scars on the biceps and elbows. The hands had many old scars and new wounds, showing that the patient had been repeatedly injured for a long time. The wounds were red, swollen, and oozing due to infection. If not treated promptly, they would abscess (fester) and cause deeper damage.

Ms. Mai was prescribed topical medication to help heal the wound, prevent infection, and oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Dr. Bich advised her to return for a check-up so that a Dermatologist - Aesthetic Dermatologist and a Psychologist could coordinate to examine the wound and provide treatment.

The extensive wounds on the patient's elbow have healed significantly. Photo: Provided by the hospital

During the next visit, Ms. Mai took the initiative to talk to the doctor more. The wounds on her hand had healed, and she also asked the doctor about scar treatment methods. She was prescribed scar-fading ointment, and continued to use the ointment so that the small wounds healed completely. Dr. Bich encouraged her to take the initiative to take care of her skin and apply the medication as directed to quickly fade the scars.

Dr. Bich said that she had received many patients who came to have their scars removed after repeatedly injuring their skin with razor blades, sharp objects, lighting cigarettes, or scratching themselves with their fingernails. Most of the patients felt remorseful after their actions. Some patients shared that because they wanted to attract the attention of their loved ones, they chose to injure themselves.

Doctors warn that using razor blades or sharp objects to injure the skin can cause dangerous infectious diseases, even life-threatening if there is a lot of blood loss. Using cigarettes or hot objects to prick the hand and cause burns can leave keloid scars. Skin wounds, if not treated properly, can become infected, ulcerated, festering, and cause deep damage that affects the patient's health. If you notice yourself, your friends, or your relatives showing signs of self-harm, you should advise them to go to a psychologist for advice and treatment.

Dinh Tien

*Character names have been changed

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