Glow Scar Advice/Tips

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Hi everybody,

I’ve finally got the medical stuff I need to do my glow scar on the way, super excited. I’m still tossing up some different designs and placements so I wanted to ask if anyone has any tips or do’s and don’ts regarding designs/placements.

At first I was thinking of doing a sort of wrist band, though I got worried the aqua powder I’ve got would be bright enough to keep me awake at night. Is it just wishful thinking to imagine the powder would take so well or has anyone else actually had this issue?

Next I thought I’ll get a line down the knife edge of my hand as I usually sleep with this bit facing down. My only worry here is the regular movement and bending of the hand interfering with healing. Thoughts on this placement?

Also, I saw someone get a ring around one of their fingers. Surely the palm side scarring would fall out like tattoos do? Palm side finger lines could be cool if not, though healing would be nasty I think.

Any other tips, tricks, warnings, etc are welcome. I’m reading all I can about it but there’s always something more to learn.

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I haven’t personally had a successful glow scar (yet, I will try again soon), but the basics apply:

Joints, or anywhere where skin stretches or folds a lot will be harder to take well, avoid or plan on it taking multiple attempts.

Use a surgical pen to pre-draw the design. Don’t freehand it. Skin stretches and bends as you cut.

Don’t expect it to be perfect the first time. It might be, it might not be. Touch-ups are done on tattoos for a reason.

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If you don’t mind me asking, how were your last scars unsuccessful and why do you think they failed to take?

Surgical pens are something I’ll need to look into, I was planning to draw a guideline a few mm’s off to the side with a regular pen anyway.

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No need to dive too deep.

Basically,

You dont NEED one, but they are cheap and use biocompatible, non-toxic ink, so why not use the BETTER option

I carry one in my install kit.

“It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”

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I like the look of that kit, though it kind of reminds me of a first aid kit. Giving emergency chip and magnet implants on the fly is an odd image

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Funny you should say that

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Context: Same scar, two tries, first ~9mo ago, second ~1mo ago.

Suspected reasons for failure:

1- The Blue powder I have is an older style, and potentially has some flaws that new stuff from DT does not have. It is a possibility that this powder I have is not chemically inert in acid (flesh) and can dissolve, from my understanding. The powder is not from DT and is also super dim my comparison.

2- I’ve been using hydrocolloid bandages after both installs per older documentation. There are newer options available that are less likely to mechanically pull the powder out (sticky adhesive) while changing bandages.

3- Maybe I’m not going deep enough, I dunno.

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Hi,

I also use hydrocolloids and have the same problem. I try to avoid ripping the glow powder out by pushing the bits that stick to the hydrocolloid pack onto my skin with a scalpel.

It’s not the best but I though I’d share

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Hmm, the guide I found said to use tegaderm for the first day or two and then hydrocolloid but I might avoid than if this is out of date. What are the alternatives to hydrocolloid?

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I am absolutely not an expert, have no experience, etc, but calcium alginate.

Tegaderm for a day or two, alginate (dampened by saline a bit) for a week, alginate dampened again for a second week.

Calcium Alginate under a tegaderm ofc.

This is not advice. This is me repeating the words of others by memory alone.

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If you have access to the Biohackers Digital discord, they have lots of info.

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Well that’s new to me, exactly the kind of thing I made this thread for. I’m not in the discord but I’ll find a link somewhere around here, thank you

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The blue (not aqua) pretty much always breaks down - that’s probably your issue! I had a couple of glow scars that I tried several different methods of getting blue into to no avail, but they’ve been just fine with aqua. Hydrocolloids can work, the calcium alginate is just much less fussy.

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I recently purchased some green, and have alginate on hand.

Just waiting for this one to be “done” “healing” before starting again :slight_smile:

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