When You Pick A Scab This Is What Happens To Your Body

We as a human race are not perfect. We lose our balance, trip, and get into fender benders every now and then. Oftentimes these errors are forgotten, but only when the scabs of our cuts and scrapes have healed and disappeared. Verywell Health describes a scab as being a dry and tough piece of skin that forms over a damaged area of the skin. We get why you might want to make your scab disappear more quickly by picking at it. It is an unsightly sore that is a reminder of a bumpy time.

And for some, the urge to pick at their scabs may be as natural as the urge to chew on their nails. According to Science Focus, picking our scabs is a natural part of human grooming, and can be done unconsciously when we are feeling bored, stressed, or anxious. But before you start to pick away at your scab, know that scab is there for a reason. As Healthline points out, scabs are one of the body's defense mechanisms, preventing debris and bacteria from entering the wound, and minimizing the risk of blood loss.

As stated by Medical News Today, people should avoid picking their scabs as it could cause a tear in the skin, and allow harmful bacteria to cause an infection known as cellulitis. In addition, Verywell Health shares that removing a dry scab before it has fallen off naturally can increase scarring and slow the skin's natural healing process.

Scabs on your skin can often be uncomfortably itchy. And even though we've learned that the urge to pick them is a natural part of grooming, the risks are not worth it. To get rid of your scab and heal your skin faster, Healthline recommends keeping your scab and the skin around it as clean as possible by gently rinsing it with mild soap and water. You may also want to consider a protective bandage and avoid any activities that increase your risk of tearing the wound. Accidents and scabs happen. Just remember that your skin is already doing it best to repair itself. So don't disrupt the process by picking at your scab.