Thursday, 24 March 2016

Technical - cuts

‘Cuts are injuries in which the outer skin barrier has been penetrated. Symptoms range from narrow tears in the skin (cuts) to superficial abrasions (scrapes) to deep holes (punctures). Usually bleeding occurs, though some puncture wounds may bleed only slightly. Because any such injury leaves you prone to infection, the damage needs to be dealt with immediately.

Cuts - typically caused by a sharp implement with an edge that may be smooth (a knife or a razor blade, for example) or jagged (a piece of broken glass). If the cut is deep, it will bleed profusely, and there may be damage to underlying muscle, tendons, and nerves.

Scrapes - results from skin being rubbed against a rough surface like pavement. The outer skin layer may not be completely broken, but because small blood vessels are ruptured, the skin may ooze blood.

A puncture wound - caused by a nail, pin, or other sharp object with a penetrating point.’

Common injuries (2014) Available at:

How do cuts and scratches heal?

‘After getting a cut, scratch, or abrasion, your skin may start bleeding. This happens because the injury breaks or tears the tiny blood vessels, which are right under the skin's surface. Your body wants to stop the bleeding so the platelets in your blood come to the rescue.

At the site of a wound, platelets stick together, like glue. This is called clotting, which works like a plug to keep blood and other fluids from leaking out. Ascab, a hardened and dried clot, forms a crust over the wound. This protects the area so the skin cells underneath can have time to heal.

Underneath the scab, new skin cells multiply to repair the wound. Damaged blood vessels are repaired, and infection-fighting white blood cells attack any germs that may have gotten into the wound. You can't see it under the scab, but a new layer of skin is forming. And when the new skin is ready, the scab falls off. A scab usually falls off within a week or two. If you pick at a scab, the new skin underneath can be ripped and the wound will take longer to heal and may leave a scar. So try not to pick at scabs.

What should I do if I get a cut/scratch?

Stop any bleeding by pressing a clean, soft cloth against the wound. If the wound isn't very bad, the bleeding should stop in a few minutes. Then you'll want to clean the wound, using warm water and a gentle soap.

Most small cuts, scrapes, or abrasions will heal well without any special care. For extra protection, your parent you might use an antibacterial ointment or a bandage. The ointment will kill germs and a bandage will keep your wound from getting irritated and prevent germs from getting inside. If you use a bandage, it should be changed daily and when it gets wet or dirty.

What if a cut won't stop bleeding?

If a wound is very long or deep or if its edges are far apart, then you may need stitches. The doctor will use some type of anesthetic on your skin to numb it. Numbing medicine might be applied directly or through a shot. Then the doctor will suture or sew the edges of the cut together with a small needle and special thread.

For more minor cuts, the doctor might use a special kind of glue to close your cut instead of stitches. This glue holds the sides of the cut together so the skin can begin to heal. The glue will dissolve over time.

If you do get stitches, after the wound heals (in about a week) you will need to go back to the doctor to get those stitches taken out. The doctor will just snip the thread with scissors and gently pull out the threads. Sometimes the doctor may use stitches that dissolve on their own over time and don't need to be removed. Also, sometimes a small scar forms after stitches are removed. If you don't get the proper care for a serious cut, a more noticeable scar may form.’

document (2015) Checking out cuts, scratches, and Abrasions. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/cuts.html# (Accessed: 24 March 2016).

An example of a cut

Cuts, general info (no date) Available at:
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/cuts.htm (Accessed: 24 March 2016).

We didn’t actually have a lesson on cuts; however I decided to try some out myself at home with SFX products I had purchased beforehand from Kryolan. I discovered different methods in order to create cuts/scars:

Model name: Fatemeh (myself)
Skin type: combination
Skin tone: olive skin with yellow undertones
Natural eyes/contacts: natural eyes
Allergies: none
Medication: none
Any open wounds/scars, cuts etc.: none

Required products/materials: Kryolan Pro shield barrier foam, rigid collodion, a hairdryer, Kryolan supra colour palette and cheap makeup brushes.

Rigid collodion:


This clear solution is widely used in special effects makeup to stimulate shapes of wounds and scars and works by wrinkling the skin as it dries after application. The more coats applied, the deeper/larger the scar. Colours can also be used to stimulate a fresh wound. It’s often applied with a brush in multiple coatings. Rigid collodion should peel off easily after one day, taking off any layers of dead skin however collodion remover is also available on the market if required. Repeated used in the same area can cause irritation to the skin. This product was originally created during the Second World War, used to restrict open wounds and stop bleeding.

Supply, F.B. (2016) Kryolan rigid Collodion .85oz Frends beauty supply. Available at: http://www.frendsbeauty.com/kryolan-rigid-collodion-85oz.html (Accessed: 24 March 2016).

Step-by-Step guide (rigid collodion):

Firstly I ensured the area I was working on was clean (the arm). I had no product on my arm therefore I applied a small amount of the Kryolan Pro shield barrier foam on the area I wanted to work on. Next, I mixed red (079) and white (070) together from my Kryolan supra colour palette together to achieve a pinky red. Using a thin paint brush, I applied a thin line on my arm. Normally light colours are used to give the impression of a fresh scar and darker colours are used for older scars.

After, I applied rigid collodion on the same line I applied my supra colour on. I did this how I would normally apply nail polish. Next I squeezed this area of my arm and dried it using a hairdryer. I made sure the air blowing is cool in order to not irritate my arm. It’s important to remember the first coat of collodion you’ve applied is completely dry before applying the next. The more coats you apply, the deeper the scar. Don’t apply more than 7 coats.

It’s completely optional to apply foundation around the scar or you may just go in with your supra colours again, with colours such as red to achieve a realistic effect. Do NOT apply translucent powder over this.

Note: do not apply rigid collodion anywhere near the eye area. Also don’t use scarring liquids on areas with hair as it may result in a painful removal.

You can remove this product by just peeling it off however if you have applied a bit too many coats you can use solvents such as acetone or almond oil (both completely safe to use on the skin) with a cotton pad to remove the collodion.

My first attempt at a cut with rigid collodion

Reflection:

I preferred making wounds with cine wax than doing it with rigid collodion as the effect didn't really stand out to me. It's not something that interests me, also was a pain to take off. It irritated my arm and left it red for a while. It's good if you were looking to do a light SFX look, however I didn't think it was that great.

Model name: Fatemeh (myself)
Skin type: combination
Skin tone: olive skin with yellow undertones
Natural eyes/contacts: natural eyes
Allergies: none
Medication: none
Any open wounds/scars, cuts etc.: none

Required products/materials: Kryolan Pro shield barrier foam, rigid collodion, spatula, a hairdryer, Kryolan supra colour palette, Kryolan translucent powder and cheap makeup brushes.

I also tried another cut using Tuplast. This is a thick substance in a tube used to stimulate blisters and create waterproof injuries. For masks, Tuplast is stretched into threads which are then mounted in the mouth to create slime/spit in the mouth. This product is also used for creating realistic scars, cuts and wounds on the skin with the use of tools and cotton buds. To do this, press the skin together around the Tuplast and blow-dry it with cold air. Tuplast is based on the synthetic material used in dental practices. It is available in both tinted and transparent. It can also be applied on easily using a spatula. It must not however be used near the eye area as it contains a strong component of acetone. Makeup can be applied onto Tuplast as soon as it has dried. Before application however, used barrier cream or Pros-Aide to make the removal easier. Removal can be done with Tuplast remover.

Kryolan Tuplast (no date) Available at:
https://www.vanitytrove.com/gb/p/kryolan-tuplast (Accessed: 24 March 2016).

Step-by-Step guide (Tuplast):

Firstly I ensured the area I was working on was clean (the arm). I had no product on my arm therefore I applied a small amount of the Kryolan Pro shield barrier foam on the area I wanted to work on. Next, I mixed red (079) and white (070) together from my Kryolan supra colour palette together to achieve a pinky red. Using a thin paint brush, I applied a thin line on my arm.

After, I applied Tuplast on the same line I applied my supra colour on. I shaped this using a spatula. In one of our practical lessons with Sue, she said we can pick at Tuplast with a hair pin or leave it to dry completely and powder it. I followed this step and used a hairdryer to dry it. I then powdered it using a big fluffy brush.

It’s completely optional to apply foundation around the scar or you may just go in with your supra colours again, with colours such as red to achieve a realistic effect.

Note: do not apply Tuplast anywhere near the eye area. Also don’t use scarring liquids on areas with hair as it may result in a painful removal.

You can remove this product by just peeling it off however if you have applied a bit too many coats you may use acetone or just water.

A scar with Tuplast

Reflection:

I liked working with this product more than I did with rigid collodion. I felt like it had more of a dramatic effect and stood out to me. It was also easy to remove. I'd definitely incorporate a scar similar to this for one of my special effects shoots. If I was to do this again, I'd apply more product around the scar to give it a realistic effect. I sort of left it plain on the arm and this doesn't look natural at all. It'd look a lot better with some liquid blood. 

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