Buzz
You’re probably aware that picking a scab is a no-no, right? But the real trick is to avoid scabs altogether. If you’re already sitting on your hands, resisting the urge to pick a new scab, you’ve likely missed the boat.
“The best scab is no scab,” says Dr. Thomas Rohrer, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and member of the American Academy of Dermatology at SkinCare Physicians in Massachusetts. “Try to stop them from forming in the first place.”
What Causes Scabs?
Imagine you trip while jogging in the park and scrape your knee badly. Along with the blood, the wound will release other substances like growth factors, fibroblasts, and a fresh skin matrix—all part of the body's natural healing process, according to Dr. Rohrer.
“If you just leave it alone, the wound dries up and seals itself off, which is helpful because it keeps the environment out,” says Rohrer. “However, this actually slows down the healing process.” When a wound dries out and forms a scab, the new skin has to grow underneath, increasing the likelihood of a depressed scar forming.
Scabs form to stop bleeding and provide a protective shield while new skin is created, explains Dr. Marc Glashofer, a board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology based in northern New Jersey with The Dermatology Group.
How to Avoid Scabs
Rather than allowing a wound to scab over, clean the cut and apply a simple ointment to keep it moist, then cover it with a bandage. Rohrer recommends using Vaseline or Aquaphor—both are neutral barriers with no medication.
“The key is to keep it moist, but not overly so,” Rohrer advises. “You don’t want it to become too soggy.”
Ugh.
Glashofer also advises keeping the wound moist, no matter what you were told about letting it air out. “That old saying is incorrect, and it actually hinders the healing process, potentially leading to a more noticeable scar,” he warns.
Despite what’s likely sitting in your medicine cabinet, don’t apply a triple antibiotic like Neosporin. Rohrer points out that these popular remedies are often to blame for skin allergies or irritation.
According to Glashofer, wounds heal more slowly in smokers and diabetics, and the healing process generally takes longer as we age. Also, wounds on the lower body heal more slowly than those on the face or neck.
Why We Pick Them
And what about that irresistible urge, the revolting habit that seems to be everywhere? Why do we pick?
“The simple answer is probably because it’s right there,” says Rohrer. “We’re accustomed to having smooth skin. You want to get it back to its normal state.”
Glashofer explains that as a wound heals, inflammatory cells appear to fight off potential microorganisms and foreign material. These, combined with the drying scab, create that annoying itch.
“Picking or removing the scab only prolongs the healing time,” he says, “and it can increase the chances of a more noticeable scar.”
