Triggering (Suicide): Cutting infections

[Lauren5115]

I cut myself in a new spot on my arm recently and it did not bleed, only a clear water like liquid came out and now the cuts are not red like my others but they're yellow. I read in a few places this just means they're deeper cuts. But I'm also worried they're infected? Anyone know?

[danh19]

it would be a good idea to go to your doctors to make sure everything is all right

I think seeing a doctor would be the best. There are ways to check for infection such as:

Is it hot to the touch?
Is there pus?
Is there an extreme amount of pain? More pain than you've felt with similar wounds?

All in all getting in with a doctor to be positive that there is no infection would be best. It can be scary to go to the doctor for self harm but a lot of the times doctors can be really empathetic about this kind of thing.

[Thinking]

Hi Lauren! (if this is your real name)

So sorry to hear that you self harmed. From what you said that its yellow, it might be pus and thus infection.

While I cant really help you with dealing with the infections besides advising you to seek medical help, I really hope that you can tell us what are your problems that caused you to self harm. Remember that by saying out your problems itself will make you feel better. I can understand its hard to start saying it, but we will listen and try to help you, and no one will judge you for that.

So I hope you can tell us what's going on, hopefully we will able to help you feel better.

[Palmolive]

Hey Lauren!

Thank you for coming to us here at Teenhelp. I am glad you are reaching out for help. I just wanted to remind you that we are not trained professionals so we can only speak of experience and our own knowledge.

I have had this many times but for me it never was a sign of infection, I believe. Signs of infection include:

• Redness spreading around the area and the wound looking "angry".
• The wound feeling hot
• High temperature
• Hot and cold flushes
• Puss leaking out (green or yellow) and it can be quite gungy
• An off putting smell

These are the beginning symptoms of infection and can get worse and more symptoms can be found if it were to get worse and develop into something more serious such as Sepsis (however I doubt this is the case! Don't panic!) but if you are worried it might be worth getting in with your nurse at your doctor's surgery soon. You can also get sprays etc for infection but if the infection gets worse, you may need a course of anti-biotics to help clear the infection up. However if you become to feel seriously unwell at any point, seek medical attention.

I realise you haven't asked for help about the self harming so I won't go in to it too much but I do want you to know that if you want to or feel you need to talk about it then we are always here and are more than happy to try our best to help and support you through it. You are never alone in this and I just want to say that you are worth so much more than self harm and you don't deserve it at all.

I know it's probably hard right now but keep on fighting and never suffer in silence. You are not alone.

Hope and wishes,
Jessie

[Lauren5115]

Thank you all for helping me out, no I don't need help as for why I'm self harming, I just needed some advice on infections, no I can't go see a medical professional. But thanks anyway. Guess I'll just see when they "heal."

[hocus pocus]

Originally Posted by Lauren5115

Thank you all for helping me out, no I don't need help as for why I'm self harming, I just needed some advice on infections, no I can't go see a medical professional. But thanks anyway. Guess I'll just see when they "heal."

I didn't read fully through all of the replies you got, but I wanted to add something to what has been said.

How long did it take for you to see the yellow? The reason I ask is because you said you cut a new spot on your arm recently and if you see yellow when you cut or shortly afterwards, it is probably fat tissue. Fat tissue tends to be yellow or white in color whereas muscle, from what I understand, is a dark red color.

It could be that the new spot on your arm had thinner skin, or is constructed slightly differently inside due to its location or just because that's how your body is.

Others have listed signs of infection so do keep watch for those. In the meantime, try to keep your cuts clean. A professional once told me that one of the best ways of doing it is using a gentle bar soap and water in the shower.

Take care.

[Lauren5115]

Originally Posted by Cassado

I didn't read fully through all of the replies you got, but I wanted to add something to what has been said.

How long did it take for you to see the yellow? The reason I ask is because you said you cut a new spot on your arm recently and if you see yellow when you cut or shortly afterwards, it is probably fat tissue. Fat tissue tends to be yellow or white in color whereas muscle, from what I understand, is a dark red color.

It could be that the new spot on your arm had thinner skin, or is constructed slightly differently inside due to its location or just because that's how your body is.

Others have listed signs of infection so do keep watch for those. In the meantime, try to keep your cuts clean. A professional once told me that one of the best ways of doing it is using a gentle bar soap and water in the shower.

Take care.

Thank you for your help, I saw yellow right after they like scabbed or closed i don't know what word to use but yeah I think that's what it is, it doesn't really hurt so I don't think it's an infection ... Do u know if fat tissue will leave a different scar like worse? Or better or even none at all?

[hocus pocus]

Originally Posted by Lauren5115

Thank you for your help, I saw yellow right after they like scabbed or closed i don't know what word to use but yeah I think that's what it is, it doesn't really hurt so I don't think it's an infection ... Do u know if fat tissue will leave a different scar like worse? Or better or even none at all?

Cuts with exposed fat tissue are generally a little bit deeper and sometimes a little larger in width, so the yellow you saw after they scabbed may have just been the fat scabbing over. Most of the time, cuts with visible fat tissue take longer to scab over and heal. Depending on the depth and area of the cut, the scars they leave are usually darker but they do fade with time.