While the scabs need to run their course for a wound to heal, scabs on face might seem quite unsightly. In the sections that follow, let’s have a look at what might cause scabs on your face and how to help it heal effectively.
Injury
If you happen to get a cut or bruise on your face by some accident, scabs tend to form to help heal these faster (2). Also, burns and blisters may lead to scabs in the natural healing process.
Infections
Some bacterial or fungal infections might make your facial skin breakout and scab over in reaction. Viral infections like cold sores and chickenpox also lead to blisters and scabs as they run their course.
Bug Bites
Certain bug bites, even if not dangerous, can cause a wound on your face. These then scab over to protect the same.
Allergic Reactions
Sometimes with a change of place and weather, your skin might break into an episode of rash or acne reacting to the heat and humidity (3). Often, dry and cold places might aggravate conditions like eczema and skin allergies and might lead to itching, scratching, and scabs later on. While you might have the urge to get rid of a scab as soon as you find one, you must be careful about not picking on or touching one repeatedly as that might slow down the healing process and lead to infections and scarring instead. Further in this article, let’s see how you can get rid of scabs on face in a better way.
How To Heal Scabs On Face
Home Remedies For Scabs On Face
Let The Scab Remain Untouched
The best way to get rid of a scab is to just let it run its course. While a scab heals, it tends to get itchy and uncomfortable (4). Still, you should try and avoid touching it as it would otherwise hamper the healing process. Repeated picking on the scab might aggravate the wound and lead to unnecessary infections and potentially even worsen the scab. Just airing the scab and giving it some time to fall off on its own would help get rid of it easier.
Moisturize Well
A scab on the face, just like anywhere else, tends to dry up and become itchy. Keeping it well moisturized would reduce any discomfort and help it blend back into the skin faster. While you can use some natural oils with antibacterial properties or any non-comedogenic moisturizer, petroleum jelly is very effective for the same (5).
Sunscreen
Sun, heat, and humidity can irritate and worsen your facial scabs and delay the healing process. Applying sunscreen regularly gives an added layer of protection against the same and will prevent hyperpigmentation after the scab heals.
Avoid Makeup
When your face is breaking out into acne and pimples, with all the scabs and scars, applying makeup can irritate your skin. You should especially avoid any contact at the spot of the scab and the skin around it. You should also be careful not to scrub or scratch the scabs while removing any makeup.
Hot And Cold Compress
While a hot compress improves blood circulation and accelerates the healing process, a cold compress helps reduce the pain, swelling, and itching of the wound (6). You can alternate between the two to help ease the discomfort as and when required. Usually, you would not have to worry about any adverse effects when it comes to facial scabs. But if you find any other symptoms like fever and chills, worsening redness and swelling, or pus formation accompanying the facial scabs, it could be a sign of possible infection. You might then require medical consultation and the following treatments might be prescribed.
Medical Treatment
Your health practitioner, after investigating the scabs can recommend the appropriate line of treatment to help the wound heal better.
Topical Ointments (7) Chemical Peels (8) Oral Antibiotics (9) Light Therapy (10)
Though the above remedies can help you deal with a scab effectively, it is always better to prevent a scab in the first place.
Preventive Measures
If your wound is still fresh or the scab is just beginning to form, you need to be careful about your movements. While you need to keep your hands and hair away from your face, you might also want to keep it lightly covered to avoid scraping it off accidentally. If you are involved in any active sports or recreational activities, try to keep the wound away from sweat and dust. Keeping the site of the wound clean and hygienic helps accelerate the healing process.
How do you get rid of a scab on your face overnight? It may not be possible to get rid of a scab on the face overnight. However, applying warm compress may soften it and make it fall off within hours, according to anecdotal evidence. Do scabs heal faster dry or moist? Wounds heal faster when they are kept moist. Similarly, scabs may heal quicker and fall of sooner when the area is kept moisturized. Keeping the scab dry may also cause discomfort and itchiness. Can I put Neosporin on a scab? Yes, neosporin may be applied on a scab. Being an antibacterial ointment, it may facilitate the healing process and speed-up recovery. Is aloe vera good for scabs? Yes, it is good to put aloe vera on scabs. It may help speed up the healing process and keep the scab moisturised.
