Hi
Thank you for your letter. This is something that a lot of young people who self-harm wonder about. Its always really important to keep yourself as safe as possible if you are self-harming, so well done for asking the question!
First, I have to let you know that we cant give you medical advice at ChildLine, because the counsellors and I are not medically trained, but I can give you some very general information.
Any injury you have can get infected by germs that live on the surface of your skin, or on the things you use to self-harm. Breaking the skin when you self-harm means that the bacteria has a chance to get into your body and grow there. That can cause infection, which can be really sore and lead to further skin damage and scarring, as well as possibly causing more serious health problems.
When the ChildLine counsellors ask people if they know how to take care of their wounds, they are really wondering if they are keeping them clean as possible (by making sure they dont use dirty tools) and by cleaning the wounds when they have stopped bleeding. Its also important to get urgent medical help if the bleeding doesnt stop.
If you need more information about taking care of injuries, then you can visit NHS Choices. If you wanted to talk more about self-harm, then the counsellors at ChildLine would always be really pleased to support you. They understand that self-harm often results from coping with some really difficult feelings. Talking about those difficult feelings can be a good way of starting to feel more in control. You can get in touch by calling 0800 1111, by logging in for a 1-2-1 chat or by sending an email.
I hope this helps,
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
