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Road Rash Tattooing?

Old 09-30-19, 11:20 AM
  #1  
TinaPags
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Road Rash Tattooing?

Hi all!

Two years ago I had an accident that left me with a hyperpigmented scar right under my eye.

I've seen this is a common event, but the wound was not cleaned properly (the nurse believed it was dried blood/ bits of skin) and actually tiny bits of asphalt healed underneath the skin. A few sources online say it's a phenomenon called road rash tattooing.

I tried some heavy chemical peels as that's what a doctor recommended, but not much success (at all really - the hyperpigmantation lightened up a bit but did nothing as to help eliminate those asphalt bits).

Now I am in a place where I can afford laser - but I don't know if it's going to waste my income as the chemical peels did.

I really want to get rid of it as it's right on my face, I would like your advice.

Has anyone been through this "roadrash tattooing" ?

Thank you!
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Old 09-30-19, 12:09 PM
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I don't have it on the face, however, I can relate.

IMO, seeing a dermatologist/osteopathic doctor for their recommendation might be best in finding a possible treatment.

I've tried some topical creams recommended by a general doctor without success. After visiting a specialist, it was determined that if time/diet change was not beneficial, then the damage would be likely permanent.
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Old 09-30-19, 12:59 PM
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Tattoo the scar. Maybe a spider web and teardrop.

Has the doc injected steroids into it yet? Seems to work well for keloids. As for the remaining grit, talk to a plastic surgeon but the scarring for removal might be greater than what you're dealing with.
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Old 09-30-19, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by TinaPags
Hi all!

Two years ago I had an accident that left me with a hyperpigmented scar right under my eye.

I've seen this is a common event, but the wound was not cleaned properly (the nurse believed it was dried blood/ bits of skin) and actually tiny bits of asphalt healed underneath the skin. A few sources online say it's a phenomenon called road rash tattooing.

I tried some heavy chemical peels as that's what a doctor recommended, but not much success (at all really - the hyperpigmantation lightened up a bit but did nothing as to help eliminate those asphalt bits).

Now I am in a place where I can afford laser - but I don't know if it's going to waste my income as the chemical peels did.

I really want to get rid of it as it's right on my face, I would like your advice.

Has anyone been through this "roadrash tattooing" ?

Thank you!
Look into PRP. It's not a cheap procedure, and painful to extract, but its healing properties are extraordinary.
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Old 09-30-19, 09:02 PM
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Did it get infected before it closed up?
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Old 10-01-19, 01:42 AM
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The PRP suggested above could very possibly aide is scar healing. But I'm not so sure that it would remove the hyperpigmentation if it is caused dy asphalt chunks, or dried blood. I had PRP for a torn meniscus. The blood withdraw isn't so bad...they took it from my arm. I was concerned about the big needle the doc had to use to re-introduce the PRP into my knee. But, he used a local anesthesia that work really well. I couldn't even feel it. So...if they can use this process in your case...I can't say how the re-introduction on your face would be.

Dan

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Old 10-01-19, 04:29 AM
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This exact same thing happened to me just under my right eye. It’s about the size of a quarter, but mine is grey. I immediately saw a plastic surgeon, who explained that it was a tattoo. He told me to come back in three months to see how it developed. We didn’t discuss what he would do at that time. Three months would have been January. As it turns out, I plan to see him this coming January/ February.

As to the PRP suggestion, the last I heard about PRP was that a number of doctors that were using PRP have stopped using it. It doesn’t seem to work consistently enough to keep using it. I know that many doctors continue to use it. I guess the jury is still out on that.
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Old 10-01-19, 01:17 PM
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I used to do this sort of lasering for a living. I recommend you find the name of the most respected laser person within striking distance of where you live and go talk to them. It's possible they might do a small test area to see how you respond. There's a bunch that goes into this, so you want the best person you can locate. Good luck!
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Old 10-01-19, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bpcyclist
I used to do this sort of lasering for a living. I recommend you find the name of the most respected laser person within striking distance of where you live and go talk to them. It's possible they might do a small test area to see how you respond. There's a bunch that goes into this, so you want the best person you can locate. Good luck!
What switched to no longer make a living out of it?
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Old 10-02-19, 10:34 AM
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I did a faceplant on pavement several years ago, concussion, facial lacerations, one, a 1/4" from my eye socket, requiring several stitches. chipped a tooth veneer, broken arm and compound wrist fracture. I now have a souvenir plate and screws in my arm, and a cool road tattoo, a black line about an inch long, high on my cheek bone. Depending on lighting, sometimes it doesn't even show, at other times, I kind if enjoy the street cred. The arm is fixed, fixed the dental problem, but I'm leaving the road tattoo alone.

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Old 10-02-19, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Troul
What switched to no longer make a living out of it?
Oh, no. I always made a terrific living. I just had some unfortunate health issues and had to hang it up.
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Old 10-04-19, 09:17 PM
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Sound like the initial wound cleanup was deficient
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