When you groom your skin using pressure grooming techniques; it's impossible not to leave any nail marks.
Nail marks are a sign that your grooming is effective.
But, they have to disappear as fast as possible.

In my videos, I've always said that nail marks should fade away in less than ten minutes; otherwise, you're applying too much pressure.
This is a simplified way of explaining the issue.
In fact, the time it takes for nail marks to disappear depends on:
• The region of your body you're working on,
• How folded the skin in that area is.

So, if the nail marks fade within a few hours, you don't need to worry.
However, if they are still visible the next day, or worse, if the skin has a scar, then you're definitely putting too much pressure on your nail.

The skin on some parts of your head and body, like your scalp, may have become so hardened, because of the folds, that your nail hardly puts a dent in it.
While in other areas, like under your eyes, the skin may be very sensitive, and require special care.
Make sure you adjust your techniques, and when in doubt; do some tests.

● IRRITATION
Skin gets irritated if you scrape it while pressure grooming it.
Once you apply pressure, hold the position, or you might chafe or tear the skin.
Don't move your finger while applying pressure.
Keep it in the same place.
Apply pressure to only one specific point at a time.
Superficial grooming techniques let you move your nail and scrape the skin, but with very little pressure applied.

● REDNESS
If redness is a problem for you; it's probably for social reasons.
You don't want your grooming work to be obvious, and for everyone to notice.
But redness is a dead giveaway that you've been tormenting your skin.

That may be true for you and your close friends and family, but strangers see you differently.
You'll find that redness is appreciated by most people, as it demonstrates a person's health and vitality.
If redness bothers you too much, try grooming these reddening areas in the evening, or when you know you won't be meeting friends.

● BRUISING
Unfortunately, there is no way to unfold your deepest folds, and their crossings, without bruising your skin somewhat.
For each lesion you create, try to determine if:
● It's normal; and you can just keep-on working, or
● You went too far; and you need to adjust your technique so it doesn't happen again.

If the bruise doesn't disappear completely within 4 hours, you have to let it rest.
Don't groom the area until it has healed.

When grooming your aches and pains, you dive straight into your pain.
Of course, as you would expect, pressing your nail forcibly into your painful spots will only increase the pain.
Temporarily!
The pain should return to where it was before you touched it within a few minutes.
But, if:
● You exert too much pressure,
● You maintain pressure for too long,
● You work too hard in the same spot,
● You exaggerate your efforts to go faster.
Then, the pain can become very intense, and it can last for a few days.
This is normal, don't stop grooming for this, but moderate your efforts.

However, on rare occasions, your forceful grooming efforts can disrupt the balance between fundamental folds, and the pain may remain for weeks and months.

You're hurting badly, and you know that your actions are responsible for increasing the pain.
I'm very sorry about that. I can relate to the anxiety you're feeling.
This is a situation I had to go through myself many times during the years I've been grooming.
If you're stuck with acute pain, these are my recommendations:
● At first, stop grooming the location, and bear the pain,
● If, after 24 hours, the pain hasn't subsided, you'll have to realize that only grooming can get you out of this predicament.
● With your nail, identify the most problematic spots.
● Apply pressure on those spots several times daily, but without the exaggeration that created the extra pain.
The pain should gradually decrease, but it may take quite some time.
You can take as many painkillers as you need.

Most often, the swelling is caused by factors that are unrelated to your grooming activities, such as:
● Normal, occasional swelling,
● The flu, Covid, ...
● You bumped yourself, ...
Swelling can significantly impact the pain coming from the fold crossings in the affected area.
It increases the tension each fold crossing exerts on its neighbors, and the pain may intensify.
Still, since the swelling is temporary; so is the pain.

On the other hand, if the swelling is caused by your own grooming actions; the pain may not go away.
You've possibly increased the tension of some fold crossings.
So, let the area rest for some time.
But, you may need to reduce the tension inside those tense fold crossings yourself, using pressure strokes.

Grooming is external medicine.
Grooming concerns only the outside of you.
Your skin is the frontier between what is in, and what is out of you.
You only groom the uppermost layers of your epidermis.
Hitting blood is an unmistakable sign that you've transgressed this boundary.

As soon as you strike blood, stop grooming that place until it heals.

Skin that has never been groomed is very brittle and hardened.
It has lost its elasticity, so it resists the movement of your nails.
It can tear if you apply too much pressure on it.
So, moderate your efforts, and reduce the speed of your grooming.

The majority of bloody episodes during grooming are due to human error.
Incompetence, hurriedness, exuberance, impatience, ..., can often explain why the bleeding occurs.
Much of this trauma is avoidable.
Of course, grooming your skin without looking is quite a challenge, and a few misses here and there, are quite normal.

Yet, when the same place bleeds frequently, take the time to visually inspect it.
Check in a mirror if necessary.
Try to determine why the wound is reoccurring.
Often, your lack of sight makes you groom at the wrong place.
Most often; you're simply applying too much pressure.
But, you may also be inadvertently hitting your skin while performing your strokes.
So, carefully check the path your finger is taking.

When I first started grooming, my skin was in such bad condition that it bled very easily.
My technique was awful, and I hurt myself daily.
Some places on my face would bleed after only a few grooming strokes, every time I worked there.
In one particular spot, in the mustache area, my skin was so folded that it bled anytime I groomed it, for over three years.
But gradually, the bleeding lessened, then stopped.
My skin became more and more flexible, and I was able to apply more and more pressure with my nails.
Now, I rarely bleed anymore.
I can put all the strength I want, and groom for long periods at the same place, but my skin seems to appreciate it.

As you see, it's impossible to groom your skin without having it bleed slightly and periodically.
Each time it bleeds, you should stop grooming nearby, and let the skin heal overnight.
But, it will probably bleed again the next time you groom it, and it may do so for months, sometimes years.
There's no way out.
Gradually though, the skin will resist longer, and bleed less.
Then, it won't bleed anymore, and the flesh will be all supple, healthy, beautiful, and soft again.

Since you groom blindly, you may not notice that your nails have slashed the flesh.
Watch out, because your fingers cannot sense wetness.
You can only detect blood because it is warmer than the skin.
Furthermore, it gives your grooming moves a slide.

Still, it's so bad to groom in an open wound that you have to be extra careful to react as soon as bleeding occurs.
The only way to be sure is to check your nails.
I look at mine anytime I'm in doubt.

At first, I cleaned each wound with alcohol.
I stopped doing so after some time.
Disinfecting was painful.
I haven't had any problems since, simply letting the blood dry, and washing it off in the bath or shower.
Obviously, I keep my nails as clean as possible by washing them often.
But sometimes, after only five minutes of grooming, I wouldn't say they're clean anymore.

Grooming is a natural behavior.
Other primates living in the wild probably frequently draw blood while grooming.
Use your brain, and wisdom.