exposed scars

Sock · 13-05-2018, 12:34 PM

wanted to know what comments/reactions other people have experienced (if any) when theyve left the scars on display?
i sometimes wear short sleeves but when i do i always worry about how others would react. I've not had anyone react to it but there can always be a first time. Im in the UK so mostly interested in how people here might react as i think it would vary across the world.

one_step_closer · 13-05-2018, 04:30 PM

I never wear short sleeves in public any more. I have occasionally worn short sleeves in hospital when I've been too hot. When I have worn short sleeves I think the most people did was have a quick look at my arms, the main problem for me was my own feelings of 'what do I look like?' 'what are people thinking?' and being very aware of myself rather than of the reactions of others.

not_so_insig · 13-05-2018, 08:18 PM

I wear short sleeves most of the time. I have only ever had 2 people comment. One person had asked how come I had scars. I was still actively SIING at the time so didn't feel very comfortable saying the truth so I made up an excuse. One person assumed that it was from working with animals (I was working for an animal charity at the time) and I didn't coerect them. Both were many years ago.

I regularly go swimming and I can't cover up so easily in the pool but nobody has ever commented.

Serendipity. · 13-05-2018, 11:22 PM

I wear short sleeves sometimes, if I'm feeling brave! I've only ever had a couple of people comment, both to ask why I did it (it's really obvious what they're from). It made me uncomfortable because I didn't know them well, but they weren't being unkind, just curious.

Greyscale · 14-05-2018, 12:57 AM

Most people don't comment to my face at least, but most people who do bring it up seem to assume I was in some sort of accident (esp if I'm wearing something where you can see my legs, too). Only one person actually called me out on it and was like 'You need to stop doing that to yourself.' and I was like 'hah..hah... yeeeaaaaaah' and changed the subject. Most people seem to have enough sense to not mention it.

MoNo · 14-05-2018, 04:14 PM

i stopped wearing longsleeves unnecessarily as soon as i got out of highschool. it's been about 11 years now, no one's said anything yet. might be different for women, but no one cares about your problems if you're a normal looking male which is gr8.

Sock · 14-05-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_step_closer

I never wear short sleeves in public any more. I have occasionally worn short sleeves in hospital when I've been too hot. When I have worn short sleeves I think the most people did was have a quick look at my arms, the main problem for me was my own feelings of 'what do I look like?' 'what are people thinking?' and being very aware of myself rather than of the reactions of others.

Thats exactly what i feel!

Dataunit · 14-05-2018, 08:37 PM

I posted a thread on this topic recently. A colleague of mine has SI scars all over her arms and on her leg but, AFAIK, no one has said anything to her (although at least one person commented behind her back). People know what they are and are reasonable enough not to bring them up, at least not in front of her, as they know it might cause her embarrassment. As an ex-SIer, it's been difficult for me not to say anything; I'm not sure she'd want me to so I pretend I haven't noticed.