How long does a scab take to heal?

Scabs are usually a sign of healing. They are your body’s first line of defense against harmful bacteria and debris. However, it can take days to weeks for them to fully heal on their own. Some may require antibiotics or home treatments to help them heal. If you start to experience worsening symptoms from your facial scab or have questions about the healing process, consult a doctor. They can help you find the right treatment.

What is a scab?

What causes facial scabs?

Scabs, especially on your face, are meant to guard the wound against germs and other harmful bacteria while also allowing the wound time to heal. Scabs can sometimes take more than a few weeks to heal completely. While cuts and scrapes are common causes of scabs on the body, they may also contribute to scabs on the face. Other possible causes include:

In some cases, they may result in scarring. Symptoms that are often paired with having scabs include:

Steps to quickly healing a scab

Have you ever noticed a dark, rough patch of skin on your face after popping a pimple or getting a cut? This is most likely a scab. It is a protective crust-like coating that forms over a wound during healing. When you scrape yourself or break your skin anywhere on your body, platelets begin to cling together to form a clot. This clot stops blood or other fluids from leaking out of your wound. Once the platelet clot dries out, it hardens forming a scab. Your underlying body tissue will then regenerate, pushing out the scab to make room for new skin to grow in its place.Although unsightly at times, a scab is often a good indicator of healthy healing. However, this healing can take days to weeks to completely form, depending on the severity of your wound.

How to get rid of a scab quickly?

Scabs usually heal on their own, but this healing process can sometimes take a lot of time if your wound is severe. Here are some of the ways to speed scab healing.

To get rid of a scab quickly, keep your scab clean

It’s vital to keep your scab and any other injury clean all the time. Debris and germs can raise your risk of infection which can slow your healing. Gently clean your scab with mild soap and water. Avoid scrubbing as you risk scratching or chafing your scab. This can cause bleeding, reformation, and potentially scarring to your skin.

To get rid of a scab quickly, keep your wound area moist

This helps your skin heal and promotes your recovery. A dry injury quickly develops a scab and delays your ability to heal and can often cause pain too. Moistening the scabs or wounds can also keep your wound from getting bigger and stop itchiness and scarring. Dermatologists recommend using petroleum jelly every day to keep your wound or scab moist.

Don’t pick at your scab to get rid of a scab quickly

Picking and scratching them can be tempting, especially when they start to itch. But, these actions can cause new damage thus slowing your recovery process. Picking your scabs increases your risk of developing an infection, causing swelling and pain.

Applying hot and cold therapy to get rid of a scab quickly

A warm compress promotes blood flow to your wound and jump starts skin regeneration. Applying a warm compress to your scabs can also prevent your wound from drying out. Similar to a warm compress, using a cold compress can lessen swelling and also provide itch relief. Cold therapy can also lessen inflammation in the wound. For an added boost, talk with your doctor about over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine in your wound treatment.

Take preventive measures to get rid of a scab quickly

If you are physically active or if your scab is still fresh, cover it with a bandage to limit further irritation and to reduce your risk of scraping it. Any excess trauma can slow your healing and trigger bleeding or swelling.

How to remove scabs on your face?

Ways to speed scab and wound healing on your visage

Maintain good facial hygiene – Keeping your scab clean is a vital preventive measure to help avoid further irritation or infection. If you must touch it, be sure to wash your hands before. Avoid scrubbing or scratching your wound area. These things can prolong your healing time and cause scarring.

Moisturize your face often – A dry wound delays the healing process. Keeping your scab moisturized helps to speed up your recovery and stop accompanying symptoms, like itching and tingling. Apply petroleum jelly daily to maintain moisture.

Don’t pick your facial scabs – Avoid picking or scratching your scabs as tempting as it may be. Scratching can interrupt the natural healing process and prolong recovery. This can also cause infection, swelling, and scarring. If your scab itches, use a damp or dry washcloth to dab the affected area. Be gentle, and don’t scrub. It could cause bleeding, inflammation, or other symptoms.

Apply antibiotic creams – Topical ointments or creams can relieve itchiness, painful symptoms, and speed your recovery. Common over-the-counter (OTC) ointments can be applied. Apply only a thin layer of the ointment to the scab. Ointments or creams with benzoyl peroxide also contain antibacterial qualities that can help in the healing process.

Use a warm compress – Proper healing includes skin regeneration. Using a warm compress on your wound may jump-start skin regeneration and blood flow. These features can speed your healing process while also relieving itchiness. A warm compress can help maintain healthy moisture on your wound.

Apply sunscreen – Scarring is a common concern with getting scabs, specifically on your face. However, shielding your scab in direct sunlight has been known to prevent scarring and speed healing. In addition to moisturizing, apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to stop scarring.

How to handle pimple scabs?

Do not continue picking at a pimple that caused the scab

First, you must allow the popped pimple time to heal. Do not squeeze it to see if any more will come out, even if it develops a white head again. Do not pick at the scab. Let your skin begin the healing process uninterrupted.

Gently clean the area surrounding the pimple

If you’ve just recently popped a pimple, go ahead and give it a good cleaning. You can use a facial cleanser for this. Be gentle, though, and try not to remove the scab that is trying to form. You can also use some witch hazel on a cotton ball or swab. Carefully dab a pimple with this solution a few times a day, until a good scab forms.Although many people suggest cleaning a popped pimple with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, those can sting and aren’t as effective as witch hazel at reducing inflammation.

Apply some ice if the pooped pimple is swollen

If you’ve really went to town popping a pimple, you probably have a big, swollen, red bump on your face. Ice is the ideal way to soothe it and decrease inflammation. Use an ice cube, either wrapped in a soft cloth or paper towel and press it over the swollen area for a few minutes at a time, various times a day. This helps reduce the swelling and make your popped pimple look and feel better.If your popped pimple is not swollen and has already formed a scab, icing the area won’t do anything so you can just skip this step.

Apply some antibiotic ointment

You should handle your popped pimple like an open wound because that’s what it is. An over-the-counter antibiotic ointment is your best option. Dot a tiny amount on the popped pimple or scab. This will help speed up healing. It also keeps the scab moist so that it won’t be dry and crackly. Keep it covered with a small amount of ointment until it’s fully healed. This can take up to a few days.Also, be sure only to cover the pimple, not the skin around it (particularly if it’s on your face). Antibiotic ointment can clog your pores, so you want to keep it just in the area where it’s needed.

Leave the scab alone

It can be tempting but do not mess with the scab. You need that scab to stay on your pimple for it to heal. Each time it is removed, the healing process has to start all over again.If you’re a bonafide pimple picker, do your best to keep your hands away from your face. Keeping the scab covered with an ointment makes it less tempting to pick at.

Continue using your regular acne treatments

If you’re applying any OTC acne products or prescription acne medications, you should continue. Most acne medicines have antibacterial properties which can be helpful in healing the pimple.

Remember, if you treat the popped pimple properly, it should heal within a couple of days. Try to be patient until this happens.