Five Quick and Natural Ways to Get Rid of Scabs

A scab is a protective tissue covering forming after your skin has been damaged. The process starts when you scrape your skin, and then a blood clot forms. This clot eventually hardens into a protective crust, allowing your tissue to regenerate, and pushing the scab to make room for new skin to grow.

These scabs are unsightly at times. However, they are often a positive indicator of healthy healing. But let’s be honest, nobody wants to see the scabs on their skin, no matter where located. And because healing can take days or weeks to complete, we often want a quick and easy way out. With that in mind, let’s talk about how you can get rid of scabs naturally and quickly.

Causes of scabs

We mentioned that scabs form as a defense against infection, but they are also a defense system against blood loss and debris. The process, as mentioned, stars when you get a scrape or cut, and the blood clots try to stop the bleeding. This will prevent excess fluid from flowing out. And while scrapes and cuts are usually the most common cause of scabs, they can appear because of other causes as well. Here are some of the common causes:

– Acne

– Bug bites

– Dry and cracking skin

– Bacterial infection

– Fungal infection

– Eczema

– Psoriasis

– Chickenpox

– Herpes

How to treat scabs?

In most cases, scabs will heal on their own. However, the healing process can take days or weeks, depending on the severity of the cause. Not all of us are ready and patient enough to wait for the scabs to heal on their own.

Before you start the treatment, it is important to understand the source and root of the problem. If needed, talk with a doctor. In some cases, topical ointments can even cause more inflammation and irritation.

With that in mind, let’s see the five best and quickest ways to get rid of scabs.

Clean the area

The most important thing to do when you get scabs on skin is to keep the area clean. That also applies to any other injury. Debris and germs can appear and grow on the infected area, and you risk even bigger risk of infection. Germs will also slow down the healing process.

To clean the area, gently wash the scab with mild soap and water. Do not scrub, as scratching can irritate the scab. The result is new bleeding and reform, and increased potential for scars on your skin.

Keep the wound area moist

You might think that moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria. But that doesn’t applies always. In this case, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, keeping the wound moist will help.

When the wound area is moist, your skin heals easily, and you sped up the recovery process. Dry wound will quickly form a scab, and slow the ability of your body and skin to heal. Keep the area moist to prevent it from getting bigger and itchier.

One way to keep your wound area moist is to apply petroleum jelly on a daily basis.

Do not pick your scab

Do not, under any circumstances, pick or scratch your scabs. Yes, it might be tempting, especially when the scabs begin to itch. However, it is mandatory that you resist it. Picking and scratching will cause new trauma, slow down the recovery process, and increase the risk of infection. Itching the area will cause swelling and pain, and you definitely do not want that.

Try the hot and cold therapy

This is one of the most popular methods for getting rid of scabs quick and naturally. Using warm compress will encourage blood flow to the wound. Warm compress will also trigger skin regeneration, and prevent the scabs from drying out.

Cold compress, on the other hand, can reduce swelling and provide relief from itching. Cold therapy solves the root of the problem as well, as it reduces inflammation in the area.

You can try both warm and cold compress individually, or simultaneously.

Take preventive measures

Sometimes, the best way to treat scabs is to prevent them from happening. For example, if the scabs are still fresh, and you are physically active, cover it with a bandage. This will prevent further irritation and reduce the risk of scraping. Any excess trauma to the scab will slow down the healing and recovery process.

In the end, you need to understand that scabs are just a normal part of the healing process. Yes, they can be unsightly if the affected area is too big. But it is something you just have to life with. It is up to you to decide whether you want to wait the scabs to disappear on their own, or do something about it. If you want to speed up the healing process, follow the previously mentioned instructions.