Fact Checked
Scabs are common symptoms of skin infection, injury and immune system skin disorders. A scab is the result of the healing process where new skin grows over damaged skin. Scabs form in conditions that affects one area of a skin with more generalized conditions such as chickenpox, shingles, or eczema.
Blisters, abrasions, lacerations and burns cause scabs as they heal. Impetigo which is a bacterial skin infection can also result to scabs. Scabs can happen immediately after an acute injury or due to recurrent breakouts from conditions such as psoriasis.
Skin symptoms along with scabs
- Burning feeling
- Bleeding or bruising
Scabs can happen immediately after an acute injury or due to recurrent breakouts from conditions such as psoriasis. - Crusting
- Itchy skin
- Tingling sensations
- Pus or discharge
- Pain and soreness of the area
- Thickened skin
- Tingling sensations
- Redness, warmth or swelling
- Fatigue
- Fever higher than 101 degrees F
- Malaise or lethargy
- Pus or redness around the scab
- Shortness of breath or fast breathing
Treatment
- If the scab is oozing pus or wet, cover with a paper towel and secure with a medical tape.
- When the scabs dry up, apply lotion on the area. Avoid rubbing the area. Cover the area with a plastic wrap. Make sure that no air enters inside the plastic wrap and leave overnight. Repeat the procedure until the scabs settle.
- Soak the scab under water for at least an hour. Another option is adding some Epsom salts in the bath. Epsom salts calms the skin and relieves tenderness due to injury and eliminates redness around the scab. After an hour, remove the affected area from the water and gently dry it off. The water has already moisturized the scab and Epsom salt tightened the scab. Repeat the procedure until they completely settle.
- Grind potassium alum which is a natural form of aluminum salt and used as a deodorant. Mix grounded potassium alum with a few drops of water until it becomes a paste. Apply the alum over the scab and let it dry. Alum will tighten the scab by constricting the tiny blood vessels and eventually loosen it from the skin.
- Mix sodium bicarbonate or baking soda with a few drops of water. Mix until it becomes a paste. Baking soda has mild antiseptic and fungicidal properties that tightens and loosens scab gently from the skin. Apply the mixture over the scab and the surrounding skin and leave it to dry. Repeat the procedure until the scab totally disappears.
Tips
- Avoid picking on the scab to prevent worsening of the condition.
- Avoid placing makeup on the scab to prevent clogging it.
- Scabs begin to itch while they are healing and the new skin over the wound continues to itch even after it has already fallen off.
FACT CHECK
https://www.healthline.com/health/yellow-scab