Asphalt tattoo?

[Chile Pepper]

It's been ten months since I became intimately acquainted with the road. When I fell, I slid quite a way, mostly on my right leg. I still have several black streaks where the grit was ground in the deepest, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's permanent. It's no big deal, but I'm curious. How long do asphalt tattoos last?

[OakLeaf]

It depends on the site and your skin, but I have a scar on my shin that I got when I was nine years old. I'm 51 now.

I'm really hoping the scars on my lip and chin, at least, from last month's crash, will fade. But keeping it out of the sun is really difficult. I've been reading on dermatology/cosmetic surgery sites that you need to keep fresh scars out of the sun for a full year.

... walking around with a bandana and a bright white dollop of sunblock on all day long, trying to convince people I've either converted to Islam or I'm about to rob a bank ...



Of course when I was nine years old, neither I nor my parents made the slightest attempt to keep my leg out of the sun. Ditto for all the roadrash scars on my legs, elbows and shoulders from 20 years ago when I was racing. But then, the little scars on my hand and wrist from 15-18 years ago are nothing but little white puckers, hardly noticeable any more.

[Chile Pepper]

Facial scars can be tough. I do try to be diligent about using sunscreen or a hat to protect those (I have a couple, and my kids both have one each). Are yours still really red at this point?

No problem with sun on my leg, though--the scar is above my short-skirt line, and I rarely wear a swimsuit. So really, it's not a big deal. It's just odd to see these black streaks on my thigh.

[Biciclista]

Chile, those are true "battle scars" wear them with pride... You'll be able to tell your grandkids about them..

[OakLeaf]

Are yours still really red at this point?

The laceration scars are more the color of my lips. The scar from the deeper roadrash on my chin is bright red sometimes, other times not - maybe just the amount of blood in the capillaries there?

Then there's a little scar on one cheekbone from really superficial roadrash that I haven't been as diligent about keeping the sun off, and it's kind of brown, but it looks more like asymmetrical freckles than an actual scar.

Ah well, I wasn't going to win any beauty contests anyway. I'll have to find someone else's grandchildren to tell, though.


ETA: What I really need to do is come up with a good story. Like the time when I had small bandages all over my hands and arms from breaking up a dogfight, and I told people it was from an unsuccessful job interview at the Japanese steakhouse.

[channlluv]

<<ETA: What I really need to do is come up with a good story. Like the time when I had small bandages all over my hands and arms from breaking up a dogfight, and I told people it was from an unsuccessful job interview at the Japanese steakhouse. >>


<snort>


I was just remembering when I had a suspicious mole removed from my abdomen and the dermatologist, as she's getting ready to cut, says, "You know, this may leave a scar." My response: "Damn. There goes my bikini modeling career."



Roxy

[Chile Pepper]

Then there's a little scar on one cheekbone from really superficial roadrash that I haven't been as diligent about keeping the sun off, and it's kind of brown, but it looks more like asymmetrical freckles than an actual scar.

A couple of years ago I treated a brown scar (from a basal cell carcinoma) with a product called Phyto Spot--I just had to dab it on once or twice a day, I think, and the brown tint improved remarkably within a few weeks. Here, you can just buy it at the pharmacy without a prescription. Not sure about the US.

[Chile Pepper]

Chile, those are true "battle scars" wear them with pride... You'll be able to tell your grandkids about them..

Yes, indeed. I can just imagine my future grandkids running in fright when their old granny starts lifting her skirt again...

[JennK13]

I was stabbed in the palm of my hand with a pencil 30 years ago. The is STILL a black spot on my palm that looks like a tattoo. If you got grit under the skin and it healed over top, I doubt it's going away....

[Laguna]

I have a couple of road rash scars but they are just scars and seem to fade over the years. But if you have black marks, it does indeed sound like all the gravel or asphalt was not brushed out...not fun, that's for sure. Could that be?

[CycleFish]

I can comiserate with the other cyclists who have lovely asphalt tattoos and want to pass along info. I recently obtained, as I have a fair amount of it stuck in my face from a cycling accident in September 2010.

I was cut off by a minivan which flew past me on the road only to turn right in front of me, causing an unavoidable collision. I hit the van, flew over witht he bike and landed on the other side, which then broke my acromion (scapular side) and separated my A/C joint. I also has a lot of road rash, some of which required stitches.

At first, the road rash was the least of my concerns...until my ortho. told me that the lacerations looked abnormal and reccomended that I see someone about it. So I did. And yup, the reason why my face was and still is black is because I have asphalt lodged in there. It's along my chin, left cheek and cheekbone. The cheekbone is where I got stitches. It looks like an inch long black tear-drop. (Apparently, some gangs also create this same cut once they hurt someone- interesting)

Anyway, the plastic surgeon I saw told me that the asphalt would not come out on its own, unlike glass, and that it needs to be surgically removed. I'm having surgery on March 10th for it. It's very noticeable and I'm tired people thinking I have mascara all over my face, only to be told its asphalt and then feel bad for trying to rub it off. (haha) They'll be re-cutting my "tear drop", pulling out the asphalt, and removing the skin via dermabrasion where the road rash that didn't require stitches was until they can get to the layer where the asphalt is and get it out.

I'm not sure if anyone else has gone through this, but wanted to pass this along. I honestly thought the dark marks were dried blood under my skin, so it was all news to me. I also have lots of asphalt in my broken shoulder. But i have no plans to remove it from there. I'm proud of it. But my face, ehh- different story.

I'd be happy to tell anyone else who may be in this situation more about my surgery experience once its over. Yay for general anesthesia and bad drivers!

[Eden]

I think the teardrop gang tatoo means you've *killed* someone..... good reason to get the scar off

[Laguna]

Whew..good luck on the surgery. One word: Lortab.

[OakLeaf]

lol that's one meaning - other people get teardrops because they're mourning someone. Either way, not really where you want an involuntary tattoo! Hope the surgery goes well.

[kimikaw]

CycleFish: Good luck with the surgery!

Oak leaf: your story sounds exactly like mine! I have a couple of asphalt tattoos - one on my knee, one on my elbow - from a fall on my bike on a crushed asphalt road when I was 9. Like you, I am 51 (or will be on St Pat's Day.). Guess the wounds weren't cleaned out well, and the black rock just healed under the skin.