hiya,i've just seen this and i'm so glad i'm not the only one who feels this way my friends tell me not to care and they aren't that bad anymore they have faded but you can still see them the problem is in the past i used to go out clubbing and stuff and not worry bout them but i got so many comments from random strangers and questions and it was mostly negative and also i worked in a nursing centre and i have a few on my forearm,mostly they are on my upper arms though but one of my patients saw one day and from that moment he just made my life so difficult it was awful he just kept questioning me all the time as he knew exactly what they were so after a while i just started to cover up i couldn't take anyone else noticing and it would hinder everything i wanted to do,i had to choose t-shirts a certain length,no sleeveless clothes etc etc but i'm now 29 and i'm sick of doing that so after much support and encouragement from my close friends i came along to my dance group with my arms uncovered and within 5 minutes someone asks me what those marks are on my arms!
i was actually devastated i had to leave the room and everything i just cried i can't stand that my past is written all over me i don't want people to know that side of me unless i want to share it with them.however i am making small progress now and i've been going to my other dance class in a leotard (where their is only 3 of us) and i know the girls there are clued up enough that they won't ask or stare and i can now wear vest tops around my friends its getting better but i'll never be 100% comfortable but its progress.so i would suggest really really small steps like keeping your arms uncovered in front of your close friends at first and then building up to the general public.also theirs a company in america that do tattoo cover up sleeves,basically covers up tattoos,scars etc,they do skin colour or whatever colour you want and that looks fine with tunics for work etc,just a thought? hope that helps.