All scarification in adolescents should be evaluated by a doctor. They can reveal a psychiatric pathology but most often they reveal a deep discomfort. 

Scarifications are superficial skin incisions accompanied by a discharge of blood or serum made by a person on himself. They are self-mutilations without suicidal intent. They can be made with cutters, razor blades, compass points, shards of glass… They are most often made in parallel lines, on the wrists, arms or thighs. Scarifications on the chest, face or genitals are rarer. 

There may be a single episode of scarification but most often the scarification is repeated. 

These self-mutilations carry a number of risks. The scarifications will leave fine scars. If the scarifications are deep, they may require stitches and lead to more extensive scarring. Finally, there is a risk of wound infection.

This behavior appears in adolescence and then usually disappears. It persists in a few adult women. It has been increasing for ten years. Most of them are teenagers who scarify themselves. Young people followed in psychiatry are more concerned by scarifications. 

Scarification is a risky behavior in the same way as other uses or behaviors more widespread among adolescents.

The fact of scarifying oneself allows to relieve a very great psychic suffering. In particular, this can reveal a history of trauma (such as sexual abuse). The young person hurts himself to suffer less paradoxically.

For some adolescents, it is an alternative to suicide. Scarifications can be warning signs of a real suicidal act.

Scarifications can also indicate psychiatric illness.

Adolescents who scarify themselves generally hide this behavior but may also have an ambivalent desire for these self-mutilations to be seen. 

The treatments to reduce or eliminate the rituals of scarification are pharmacological (neuroleptics, antidepressants, thymo-regulators, anxiolytics) and psychotherapeutic (psychotherapeutic of analytical inspiration, psychodrama, family therapies, group psychotherapies, behavioral and cognitive therapies).

Psychotherapy allows suffering to be expressed, no longer through the body but through words. 

If you find that your teenager is scarifying, take Him to your doctor. This one can advise a follow-up by a psychiatrist or a psychologist. 

You must avoid blaming him or making him feel guilty, these two attitudes may reinforce the negative image he has of himself, make him lose confidence in you and cause him to avoid you. On the contrary, it is advisable to adopt a non-critical attitude, to tell him that you love him, that he can talk to you about his stress, about his self-injurious behavior without you judging him. Ask him what can help or support him.