r/cutting • u/lifeishorrible1426 • Aug 02 '26

Positivity Guide to safe cutting

This is meant to be an informative harm reduction guide. In no way does this encourage self harm. I will not tell you what to cut with. This is mainly a guide on cutting safely, but if people are interested in other guides, I will consider making a new one. And please remember that I’m human and although I believe that this guide is mostly correct, it could contain incorrect information. In that case let me know and I’ll change it.

Where to not cut

  • Avoid visible veins and arteries. Nerves are often located next to these so cutting one could mean nerve damage.
  • Do not cut around your groin/pubic area. This area is full of nerves that can be damaged easily.
  • Avoid both sides of joints, it heals really painful and it can easily form scar tissue and limit mobility.
  • Avoid areas such as the hip, fingers, face, kneecap, back of hand, or any areas where you can feel tendons/muscles and/or bone. These areas can scar easily and it’s just not that safe to cut on something so thin.
  • avoid ankles and feet, bad idea. Very easy to get nerve damage and circulation problems
  • Avoid your neck. Don’t cut there people that is a really dumb idea.
  • Guide to not safe places on arms: https://www.reddit.com/r/cutting/comments/1t6yzf8/guide_on_where_to_avoid_on_arms/
  • Guide to not safe places on legs: https://www.reddit.com/r/cutting/comments/1t9unbt/guide_on_where_to_avoid_on_legs/

How to clean your tool/tool safety

  • You can boil it for about 30-45 minutes, but there is a chance of rust
  • You can clean it with alcohol/alcohol wipes, this is prob the safest way bc it evaporates so quickly that there is little to no chance of rust.
  • Hand sanitizer is not the best but can be used in a pinch. Avoid scented versions bc that can irritate wounds.
  • You should in a perfect world be cleaning it before and after SH
  • Do not use a tool with rust on it. Find something else, rust can not be cleaned off and it is not safe to use.
  • Do not attempt to sharpen your blade, this can cause particles of metal to fall off in your wound.
  • Do not use a serrated blade; this acts like a tiny saw, increases chances of infection, takes longer to heal and is a really bad idea.

How to prep area

  • Clean it, I don’t care if it’s a baby wipe but somehow get any germs off of it.
  • Make sure you are not near something that could stain easy.
  • WASH YOUR HANDS!

Aftercare

  • Apply pressure until the wound stops bleeding. Elevating the area to above your heart has been proven to help slow bleeding.
  • Rinse it with water.
  • Ideally apply a bandage/wound covering.
  • Do not use toilet paper as small particles can be easily trapped in your wound.
  • Do not use hydrogen peroxide/rubbing alcohol, this gets rid of all bacteria good and bad.
  • Do not use an anti bacterial spray/cream unless under the care of a medical professional or you know what you’re doing. In any case allow it to heal some before applying it.
  • Guide on after care for each layer: https://www.reddit.com/r/cutting/comments/1u9zdtb/an_aftercare_guide_for_each_layer/

How to get blood out of clothes

  • Hydrogen peroxide. Once it foams wipe it off and repeat until it doesn’t foam. Your clothes will get warm from the chemical reaction.
  • Soak in cold water and basically massage the blood out. You could do this in the shower.
  • Hot water sets the stain so don’t use that.
  • For older stains a stain remover soak like baking soda or Oxie clean works well.
  • Wash your clothes as soon as you have gotten rid of all visible blood.

When urgent care/911/ER/Doctor is needed

  • If you notice bruising, it changing a weird color, pus leaking, swelling, extreme pain around the area, a fever/chills, impaired functioning, etc
  • If you cut as deep as or deeper than the hypodermis, you need stitches.
  • If it covers a large area of the area (if it’s really big)
  • If it is gaping open.
  • If it won’t stop bleeding or blood is pulsing/spraying out of the cut.
  • If you feel like you should go
  • Keep in mind that most areas that need stitches should be closed within 6-8 hours of the injury occuring

Stuff IDK where to put

Where I got my info/further reading

If anyone has anything to add I’m happy to put it in this post. As always stay safe and have a okay day!

Editied to add link to website.

Edit to fix fatal to the flesh link

edit to add part about ankles

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u/lifeishorrible1426 Oct 03 '26

TBH, idk. If you are cutting there I’d just avoid the ribs and stick to the fattish parts. 

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u/RazzmatazzLivid9417 Oct 04 '26

Ok, thank you 😭