Doctor Warns Against Picking Scabs

A familiar situation: as soon as a thin dry film appears on a scrape, hands itch to pick it off. However, doctors are raising the alarm and urging people to abandon this harmful habit for good. What we mistake for «dried dirt,» as surgeon and Doctor of Medical Sciences Sergei Tetyushkin explained to TOLYATTY.ru, is actually an intricate biological structure that the body builds in emergency mode.

«The scab (crust) is not dried pus but a natural protective bandage. Under this fragile-looking film, titanic work is underway: fibroblast cells pull the wound edges together, new capillaries grow, and epithelium creates new skin. It is a temporary »roof« over the wound,» the doctor explained.

The expert warns: if you tear off the scab prematurely, you are guaranteed a host of problems:

a deep scar. The body, under stress, begins to chaotically produce collagen. Instead of a thin scar line, a rough, bumpy keloid forms;

longer healing time. The wound becomes deeper, and the healing process starts over;

a gateway for bacteria. An open surface is a direct path for staphylococcus and streptococcus.

The medic hastened to reassure anxious patients: if a yellowish clear fluid (ichor) appears under the scab, it is not a sign of infection but a signal that the wound is successfully self-cleaning. Wiping it «until it squeaks» is strictly forbidden.

To avoid ending up with an unsightly scar, the doctor recommends:

Do not wet the scab unnecessarily (water softens it and provokes premature detachment);

If the edges dry out and crack, it is acceptable to apply Levomekol or dexpanthenol only to the skin around the wound, but do not touch the wound itself;

If it itches, do not scratch; gently stroke the surrounding skin.

«A healthy scab will fall off on its own after 7–14 days, once new pink epithelium has fully formed underneath. Do not play hero—let your body handle it calmly,» summarized Sergei Tetyushkin.

The only exception to the rule is if the bandage has become soaked and mushy, with throbbing pain underneath, pus, or severe redness. In that case, as the doctor noted, urgent consultation with a surgeon is necessary.

Earlier, Sergei Tetyushkin addressed those who spend 6–8 hours at a desk and explained the dangers of «dead butt syndrome» and how to properly combat it. Details are in our article.