Scarification and Psoriasis

Saturday October 17th, 2009 @ 5:13 PM

Filed under: Scarification

good day to all of you in AskBME-land,

I have a question concerning the viability of getting a cutting or branding. I’m going to provide a (little) bit of background information. Here goes:

I was diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 19. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition which affects both skin and joints. It causes red, scaly patches on the skin, which are characterized by inflammation and excess skin production. It is triggered by stress (emotional, mental, and physical - eg., injury or wounds), illness, as well as other sources like drinking and smoking. It is absolutely NON-CONTAGIOUS.

I have had my psoriasis under relative control for the past few years, with the exception of a few flare-ups due to several bouts of tonsilitis and strep throat that i’ve dealt with, as well as a quite a bit of emotional duress that i’ve been dealing with for the past few months due to a family tragegy.

At the moment, after five years, other than an isolated area on my elbow, my psoriasis is in check.

Does anyone know if i could ever successfully heal a cutting, skin removal scarification, or a branding with psoriasis? I have wanted scarification work done for years and years and years, and have only been held back by the psoriasis.

A year and a half ago, after much agonized debate and not much medical guidance, I got a rather large tattoo done on my upper arm and it healed with relatively no problems, other than a little bit of lengthy healing time.

I also have several facial and body piercings, 48mm lobes (that i have continued to stretch after diagnosis), and several other (pre-psoriasis) tattoos.

Does anyone have any advice/experience/information they could pass along? Does anyone know of any scarification artists that have any experience with chronic skin conditions? I live in Calgary, AB, Canada, but i’d be willing to travel within North America if I could be connected with someone who could possibly help me.

Thanks for listening to this long-winded question.

I hope som

Well this is right up my alley!

Earlier this year, after a bout of severe strep throat, I was diagnosed with Guttate Psoriasis.
I’m still learning more about this condition (Which really is just a gnarly asthetic issue more than anything, isn’t it!)

Coincidentally, I had a large tattoo outlined on my thigh a couple weeks before my initial flareup and diagnosis. Most of the linework flared into psoriasis spots and continues to do so during any flareup, unfortunately. I’m prepared for any future body modifications to be subject to flare ups as well.

I’d say that if you’ve been tattooed and haven’t experienced a lot of site-specific flares, you’d likely be good to get some scarification as well. *I don’t think psoriasis discriminates against the types of wounds that trigger flare ups.

If you’re in Calgary and you’re looking for someone with experience with Psoriasis and scarification, I would certainly contact Wayde Dunn. He’s a scarification artist who lives and works in Edmonton, AB. He’s also my partner and we live together so he sees the ups and downs of psoriasis flare ups regularly.
I won’t speak for him, but I would guess he’d suggest you have any flare ups under control and to prepare your body with some appropriate rest, hydration and vitamins before hand to reduce the risk of a flare up after a cosmetic invasive procedure such as scarification.

*Of course the only person who can give you accurate information about your skin and psoriasis is your doctor. I can only offer personal information about my specific experience.

Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | Comments

Stretching?

Tuesday August 11th, 2009 @ 9:25 AM

Filed under: Scarification

I’ve been considering having a scarification piece done just below my hips, but am wondering if there’s a possibility of the design warping, not unlike a tattoo. The design I’m interested in getting is fairly thin (vines with leaves). Would you say that, with time, there is a definite possibility that the petite vines could stretch into oblong tree trunks?

In short- yes.
Scarification changes more than any other modification. A good scarification artist should give you a fairy realistic idea of the reality of cutting/branding and the effects of time. My scarwars blog featured a “Phases of Healing” entry a few weeks ago: http://scarwars.net/wordpress/?p=193.

You can see the client has stayed the same size, but the branding has gone through a decent growth.

Scars are NOT tattoos- so be forewarned that it will not remain as crisp and “perfect” as the fresh photos you’ve seen. If the finished product is your main motivation, it’s possible that tattooing is more appropriate.

Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments

Tattoo and Sex

Monday August 10th, 2009 @ 2:37 PM

Filed under: Other

I am getting my first tattoo in about two weeks and have been reading some aftercare instructions online. One website said not to have sex for up to six months (I don’t believe that). But my friend who has experience with tattoos said that you shouldn’t have sex for a few days, if the tattoo is in a place where it can be rubbed.

I plan on getting my tattoo on my hip bone, which would be rub during sex. Do I need to worry or just proceed as I normally would, so to speak?

Having sex with a new tattoo isn’t going to cause it any harm.
Any rubbing or trauma to the freshly tattooed area can cause it some pretty good irritation.
It should take about 2-3 weeks for a tattoo to be healed enough that any rubbbing on the tissue shouldn’t cause it any bother. Be mindful of scabs or flakes that haven’t come off yet - if they’re torn off prematurely, that can affect the tattoo.

Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | Comments

Scarification Question

Thursday July 2nd, 2009 @ 7:58 PM

Filed under: Cutting

I’m getting a tree cut on my right above my hip. I am thinking of doing an ink rubbing with UV ink. How well would this work?

UV Pigment is notoriously difficult to get in solidly as far as tattooing is concerned; so with an ink rubbing I’d expect that it wouldn’t look spectacular. Also, keep in mind that despite the promises made by people trying to sell UV pigment, there is no conclusive proof that it’s safe for human use, so please be careful. Potential health side effects vs. a gimmick modification. Think about it.

Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments

Shaft skin removal

Thursday June 18th, 2009 @ 9:51 AM

Filed under: Skin Removal

I am planning to go forward with skin stripping, meaning that all skin from my cock shaft will be removed/skinned.

I have seen some articles about that, and noticed that in some cases guys have lost even 50% of the lenght from their cock.

Is there something that could be done during the healing process to avoid this? A small reduce on lenght is not bad, but for example 50% of it feels too much.

Loosing 50% of thickness would still be ok

In most cases this procedure is done as a re-circumcision procedure which, in effect, shortens the penis by packing the inner penis “meat” into less outer skin. Often this is done to make erections painful and/or impossible. If you removed the skin without suturing the remaining skin back to itself, you would prevent most of this shortening. Keep in mind though that healing such a flesh removal could generate a good deal of scar tissue, which could tighten up and cause the same side effects as the re-circ. Also, removing this much flesh from your penis without any form of wound closure would put you at a high risk for infection.

PS: If I knew your reasoning for wanting this specific procedure I would be better suited to help point you in the right direction.

Sean

Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 5 Comments

Large cutting & peeling job, advice?

Friday February 6th, 2009 @ 10:15 AM

Filed under: Skin Removal

Let’s start off with one thing: I adore BMEzine. Wonderful stuff! You guys are an inspiration to many.

I’ve been thinking for more than 2 years now, and I know I want to get some cutting/peeling work done. I intend it to be a gear design over my heart, about 3″ in diameter. The design I’ve presented to my local shop is what I’d like to use (http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1557798/ - the file upload failed) and I’d like that design to be cut away completely, with all the black area peeled away and left skinless, down to the tissue underneath.

My goal is to create a deep, recessed ‘cookie cutter’ scar with as little keloiding as possible. However, the shops I have gone to in the area either won’t do scarification or refuse to cut so deeply. I’ve prepared for infection and have quite a bit of medical antibiotics (Dicloxacillin) stockpiled. I can understand a liability on their part, but I find it difficult to believe that this is really such a dangerous job.

Further, the only person I’ve found who was willing to do the job for me is asking to do it in stages, first cutting the outline and then taking the skin away in two visits. I suspect this is because he’s asking me for $200 a visit. Am I being scalped? (Pun intended)

Thanks much.

It’s not a case of how deep you go but what aftercare you choose to undertake. As for a deep, recessed end product - there is little chance of that happening with removal, particularly in the area you have suggested. The chest is a high motion area and is by nature prone to raising. The nature of scarification is somewhat organic and very unique to the individual, which for most is its appeal. As practitioners, we can take into account what the client wants with regards to the end product and tailor the aftercare in such a way as to encourage this but ultimately you have to be aware that it may not turn out as you expect. Going deep in the chest area will most likely produce raised and possible keloid scarring and with that you may lose some of the sharp edges. The risk with keloid formation is that it can be painful and in some cases debilitating (as the scar contracts and pulls taught surrounding tissue).

As for technique, I personally see no reason why the outline should be done first and the removal later - this, for me, would make the job more difficult.

With regards to what you are ultimately aiming for, think long and hard and maybe do a little more research before commiting yourself to this.

Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 3 Comments

Scarification with a tattoo gun?

Thursday November 20th, 2008 @ 12:57 AM

Filed under: Cutting

Hi…I am wanting to get a scarification of a simple vine and leaves from the top of my shoulder, across my back, and over my hip. I have never had any other body mods done, and the reason I want to do this one is because I have other scars and stretch marks on my body that I don’t like, and I want a scar that I can think of as beautiful, so I can work on accepting my other ones. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I wanted a tattoo at first, but I realized I don’t want ink, I just want my own skin. My question is this: I have heard of scars being done with a tattoo gun, but I can’t seem to find any other information about it. What would I need to do to ensure that it would actually scar, since you usually treat a tat so it -won’t- scar? Is the whole idea even worth it, or would I have better results with just regular cutting? I had thought about skin removal, but I don’t think I could handle that just yet.

Any other information on this would be great. I don’t want keliods, I just want a visible scar. Thanks in advance!

A cutting will give you far better results. Tattoo machine scarification can be attained by several means; dulling or kinging the needles, using an irritant as ink, adjusting the needle depth and machine tunings as well as others but with the quality of cutting being done today, it seems like a crude method of obtaining the results I imagine you desire.

Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 1 Comment

scarification over scars

Tuesday October 21st, 2008 @ 10:10 AM

Filed under: Scarification

I have two fairly large scars from my mastectomy. I am wondering for a placement of scarification if it would be okay/safe to cut-out those scars (they aren’t constant and wobbly in width)? If not is it safe to cut near or around the scars to try to incorporate them into the image?

Thank you.

I would advise against cutting them out - all you will do is replace one scar with another. You didn’t state how old your scars are? This is an important factor. Scar tissue takes an average of around two years - sometimes longer - to fully mature. If your aim is for the scars to be less noticeable, first take into account what I have mentioned about maturity. Maybe have a chat with your specialist as there are medical treatments available to reduce the prominence of scars. If you are wanting a scarification piece and were wondering if they can be incorporated into the design, then that is totally doable. Like with everything - research your artist. It’s definately worth travelling.

Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 1 Comment

Splotches in Cautery Brand

Tuesday August 12th, 2008 @ 4:19 PM

Filed under: Branding

I have a 7 month old cautery brand on my forearm, down by my wrist. It has healed to the point where it has all turned white.

Except for a few random purple splotches. Sometimes they’re really evident, sometimes they’re almost gone. They are also not open wounds, or raised up - they’re flush with the rest of the scar.

My best guess is that blood pooled underneath the scar?

I’m going to see my artist ASAP, in two weeks, to see what he thinks, but I just wanted to get another opinion.

I have a five-year-old cautery brand on MY forearm, funnily enough, and it looked exactly the same for awhile during the healing! By the time it was a 12-18 months old, it had pretty much all settled down into the same colour of white scarring. I’m really not sure why it healed so unevenly - like you, there was no rhyme or reason to it, just the odd splotch of high-coloured scar tissue amidst the rest of the white scar tissue - but if I had to guess, I’d say yours will probably settle down over time, too. Seven months is really not long enough to assume that your scar will look like that forever, it’s pretty early days yet!

Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 1 Comment

Differences in Results

Thursday July 31st, 2008 @ 10:34 PM

Filed under: Scarification

I’ve looked around and haven’t been able to really find any info on this but are there differences in the appearance of scars from different methods of scarification?

I’d like to get 3 bars (1/8th inch wide, each) scarred across the bridge of my nose and I’d like to know if different methods produce (or can potentially produce) different scars.

For example: Could/would flesh removal leave indented scarring as opposed to flat or raised scarring?

The face tends to be very resilient to heavy scarring, depending on your skin type and the method of scarification used. All of the facial skin removals that I have done have healed indented rather than raised. If you are looking for an indented scar, removal is likely a good route to take to achieve your desired result.

Keep in mind that the healed result of a scarification piece can be difficult to guarantee under any circumstances. Your practitioner may use an experienced method with a high-chance result expectation, but the method that the client uses for aftercare and healing variables will also affect the finished and healed result.

Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | 1 Comment