Healing Scabs on Face

Their presence can be downright irksome and unsightly, so healing scabs on the face is likely to be a major priority, especially if they are very visible. Though scabs do heal over time on their own, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce the wait and clear the skin up just a little bit faster.

Scabs may develop from injuries or acne.

If you've ever tripped, fallen and landed hard, chances are you know all about scabs. They may not look or feel great, but they're a necessary evil – a natural defense mechanism as the body springs into action to protect you from further trauma.

Scabs occur when the skin has been scraped or broken in any way. As platelets come together, they form a clot over the area that has been injured. This clot acts as a bandage of sorts, keeping bacteria out and preventing further blood from seeping out. Eventually, the clot dries, hardens and develops into a scab. The scab may appear crusty and is usually a dark brown or red color.

Despite their rather ugly appearance, scabs serve an important purpose. They allow the skin to heal by keeping the wound covered. After a period of several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the nature of the cut, the scab will fall off completely. The new skin underneath is fresh and fully healed.

Ask anyone who's had a scab that seems to linger for just a bit too long: the temptation to scrape it away is great. However, it's best to leave it alone. The scab is there for a reason, after all, and tearing it away may cause further damage to the skin, and may even cause a fresh injury. This will obviously prolong the healing process.

A scab that appears on the face can cause much more grief than an easily covered one on the legs or elbows. Though it's certainly possible to trip, fall and injure the face, thereby causing a cut and eventual scab, picking at acne is much more likely to cause a facial scab.

Unfortunately, picking at blemishes can be irresistible for some. Whether a small, malleable whitehead that's just begging to be nicked off or a large, cyst-like blemish causing serious discomfort, blemishes can cause all sorts of trauma to the skin. Picking at them will undoubtedly make things worse! Usually a scab is left behind, and this is usually more difficult to cover up than even the angriest looking blemish.

If you find yourself with a scab on your face, there are a few simple remedies you can try in order to heal it. Of course, your mileage may vary. Some treatments may do the trick for you, while others may not do a thing. The severity of your injury and the size of the scab must also be considered. The following are some tips for healing scabs on the face:

• Apply a warm (not hot!) compress to the scab. The moisture will help soften and loosen the scab. Do this several times a day for best results. You may need to moisten the compress several times as it cools down. It's important not to use water that is too hot – you don't want to scald your skin or cause any unnecessary redness.

• Keep it clean. Avoid the temptation to use harsh exfoliating scrubs; this will only increase your discomfort. Use a mild cleanser, such as Cetaphil, and finish by drying the area thoroughly.

• To prevent a scar from forming after you've picked at a blemish, cleanse the skin thoroughly and apply an antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin. Leave it alone after that – you don't want to aggravate the area further.

Gentle, soothing products are best to use on facial skin. Some of these products may help heal the scab and discourage redness and irritation.

• Bio-Oil: Massage this potent treatment into the skin twice a day for a minimum of three months. Newer scars will benefit most, though regular use may also help older marks diminish with time. Remember not to use the oil on broken skin.

• A&D Ointment: Commonly used on scabs that form on freshly tattooed skin, A&D is soothing and may help prevent itching.

Irritation, redness and other types of discomfort can all be prevented by simply leaving the skin alone. Avoid picking at any type of facial blemish. In an ideal situation, scabs should be allowed to develop and fall off on their own. Treat the skin with extremely mild products and keep it clean. When in doubt, do not touch the area!

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