Ms. Mai's arms are covered with scars, deep circular wounds, oozing fluid, red inflammation..., the result of scratching her skin every time she feels stressed or anxious.
After a week of treatment at the Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics 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 pharmacy 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
Earlier, 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 before she realized someone was calling her. For more than 10 minutes, she kept her eyes on the floor, unconsciously using her hand to grab her wound. Noticing the abnormality in the patient's psychology, Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Bich reassured her.
A moment later, Ms. Mai shared that for the past year she has felt depressed, irritable, and sometimes desperate because no one sympathizes and listens. Every time she feels uncomfortable, she uses her hands to pinch her skin, sometimes until it bleeds. She said that she feels more comfortable mentally when she hurts 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 lesions in many areas on both arms, the wounds were deep into the fat layer, and had similar shapes. Many areas had healed, forming scars on the biceps and elbows. The arms had many old scars and new wounds, indicating that the patient had suffered repeated injuries over a long period of time. The wounds were red, swollen, and oozing due to infection. If not treated promptly, they would become abscesses (pus) causing 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 can jointly examine the wound and provide treatment.
The extensive wounds on the patient's elbow have healed significantly. Photo: Hospital provided
During the next follow-up visit, Ms. Mai took the initiative to talk to the doctor more. The wounds on her hands 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 prescribed 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 regretful after their actions. Some patients shared that they chose to injure themselves because they wanted to attract the attention of their loved ones.
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 signs of self-harm in yourself, your friends, or your relatives, you should advise them to see a psychologist for advice and treatment.
Dinh Tien
*Character names have been changed
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