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When you get a cut, your body instantly kicks into gear to speed up the healing process. Over time, a brownish scab forms on top of the wound. But what exactly is a scab, and why does it eventually fall off?
Within 10 seconds of a cut, the body does two important things: It sends sticky blood cells, called platelets, to prevent excessive blood loss, and dispatches white blood cells to fight off any foreign invaders—like bacteria—that might have entered before the clot could fully form.
To secure the clot, a thread-like protein known as fibrin starts to weave a network throughout the clot. As the fibrin and platelets dry out and the bleeding stops, a protective shield in the form of a scab forms, guarding the wound against infection while new skin is generated. It's like an organic bandage made by your own body.
Beneath the scab, new skin cells gradually develop from the outer edges of the wound to repair the damaged tissue. Once the wound is fully covered by the new skin, the scab is no longer necessary, and it naturally falls off.
People sometimes pick at scabs because they itch, a common side effect of the healing process. It’s more tempting to pick at the edges, where new skin cells first seal the wound as the healing moves inward. But as frustrating as the itching may be, it’s important not to pick at scabs. Removing a scab too early can lead to scar tissue forming, which might not have happened with such a shallow cut, and it can restart the healing process.
