We’ve all had scabs on our face at one point or another. Perhaps you’ve fallen and cut your face or suffered a bout of acne or eczema. Depending on the reason behind it, you may even see scabbing over a large portion of the face. But is there a way to prevent these scabs?
In this article, we’re going to take a look at scabs on face issues. We’ll discuss what causes scabbing on your face, how to get rid of scabs on face scarring, and how to prevent the scabs from occurring in the first place.
Hopefully, by the time we are done, you will know everything you need to know about scabs on your face.
What Causes Scabs on Face?
So, what causes scabs on your face? Not surprisingly, there are actually quite a few reasons why you may find scabs on your face.
1. Injury
Simply put, you sustained an injury that the body sent platelets and white blood cells to fix. This could be something relatively minor like a scrape or a more serious injury like a deep cut. The platelets help clot the wound, and the body starts to produce a protein called fibrin that begins to form the scab as a way to protect the wound.
2. Acne
Acne breakouts can also cause scabs. Lumps, pimples, cysts, or blemishes will often produce wounds that the body attempts to protect by forming scabs over them during the healing stage.
3. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition that causes that body’s immune system to attack perfectly normal skin cells. This can lead to the skin creating itchy, scabby, lesions all over the body including on the head and face areas.
4. Bacterial Infections
There are several infections caused by bacteria that can lead to itchy skin patches that may bleed and scab over. These can include folliculitis, toxic shock syndrome, scarlet fever, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, cellulitis, impetigo, and erysipelas.
5. Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases, similar to psoriasis, can cause the body to fight healthy skin cells, which can lead to lesions that are itchy and can scab over.
6. Eczema
Eczema is another skin condition that causes dry, red itchy skin that can become cracked and weeping that can scab over.
7. Chronic Scratching
People who suffer from this tend to consistently scratch in one or a few areas. This scratching can lead to wounds and scabbing.
8. Dry Skin
It sounds so simple, but dry skin can turn into scabs quickly. Dry skin may become so dry that it starts to crack and bleed. It also grows itchy, and with enough scratching, it will bleed and scab over.
And these are just the most common issues that can cause scabs on your face. Other conditions that can cause scabs on your face include HIV, stress, Lupus disease, anxiety, and certain cancers. Now that you know what causes the scabs, we can move on treatment options.
How to Get Rid of Scabs on Face
After reading the above causes, you may be wondering how to get rid of a scab on your face or how to heal scabs on face scars. The main theme you will see with these treatments is targeting the initial cause of the scab. Once the initial cause is treated, the wounds and scabs can begin to heal. Beyond that, there are a number of ways that you can treat these scabs to reduce the damage they may leave behind.
1. General First Aid
If you suspect that scabbing will follow an injury, you can take some preventative measures to reduce the appearance. After the injury, make sure you clean the affected area properly to reduce the chances of infection and damage to the skin. Once that is done, it’s best to apply an ointment with antibiotic or antiseptic properties to further reduce the chances of infections and scarring. For bigger wounds, make sure to bandage it. You may still get some scabbing, but it should be fairly reduced.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has various healing properties that may be useful when the scabs are caused by injury or acne. Fresh aloe vera is best for ideal potency. Take an aloe vera leaf or two and place them in the fridge. After a few hours, take the leaves out of the fridge and cut off the ends. Squeeze out the gel and apply it to the wound or area of the face affected by the acne. For the best results, leave the gel overnight on your face before washing it off.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has a number of healing and antibacterial properties that could help clean and clear up scabbing. Take a cotton ball and dip it into some tea tree oil. Wipe the cotton ball on the affected area and leave it. This treatment works best if done twice a day.
4. Honey Onion Paste
Both honey and onions contain active compounds that could make them useful for keeping scabbing to a minimum as well as healing scabs on the face. What you can do is take an onion and chop it finely. Grind it in a pestle and mortar. Take that onion and mix it with some honey until you get a paste. Apply the paste to the areas that are scabbing, or are affected by an above noted cause of scabbing, and leave it for 10 minutes. Repeat this at least four times a day.
5. Water
Interestingly, using distilled water (to make sure there are no bacteria present) can help reduce scarring from scabs and promote healing. Dip a cotton ball in distilled water and rub it over the scab gently. The water will help keep the scab and the skin around the scab soft, reducing the hardness of the scab and leaving less of a scar.
6. Acne Cream
Acne cream medication can not only help clear up acne, but it can also help clean and heal scabs so they leave a less of a scar.
7. Vitamin E
Vitamin E can be used to help with scabs and scaring. It is a major component of the skin’s natural healing process, but you can boost its effects by taking a vitamin E supplement, cracking it open, and spreading the powder onto the affected area.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has numerous purported healing properties, but it may also have the secondary ability to exfoliate skin, which makes it a great cleaning agent of for a scabbed area.
These are just a few of the techniques you could possibly use to help to heal the scab and the skin around it. But there are a couple of things to pay attention to when dealing with scabs and trying to heal them.
Precautions to Take When Dealing with Face Scabs
There are a few things that you should keep in mind when dealing with scabs on your face.
• Picking, scratching, or peeling off scabs should be avoided as this can lead to scarring. If you do have to scratch an itch, be very careful and gentle.
• You should avoid using makeup during this time. While it may be able to cover up the scab, it can also clog the pores and make it harder to heal.
• Always pat dry. When washing your face, whether as part of a normal cleaning or when cleaning off a treatment, do not wipe your face dry or scrub it dry. Instead, pat the face dry as it can get rid of the moisture while still being gentle on the rest of the skin. And, it won’t rip the scab off.
Don’t Pick, Just Heal
We’ve shown you what causes scabs and how to get rid of them, but probably the best thing to remember is patience. Don’t pick or scratch the scab; be gentle and follow the treatments that we mentioned above. They could help keep any scarring to a minimum and encourage proper healing.
Sources:
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