Scabs that form on wounds are a sign of healing, but they can cause discomfort or even pain, especially if they are on the face. You may not know how to go about ensuring a quick and discomfort-free healing, but fear not! You can heal scabs on the face by keeping the skin clean and promoting healing with home methods.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Keeping Them Clean
Step 1. Wash your face with a mild soap
Make light circular movements and wash the scabs with warm, clean water, using a mild detergent; when finished, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Washing your face allows you to maintain skin moisture and promote healing, as well as get rid of any bacteria and dirt that could cause infections.
- Do not use astringent products or facial scrubs, as they can irritate the scabs and surrounding skin, slowing the healing process.
- Avoid washing skin that has turned white, as this means that it has become excessively macerated; this complication could lead to skin tears, induce the development of infections and lengthen recovery times.
Step 2. Pat your skin dry
Use a soft, clean cloth and gently pat your face, applying light even pressure to the scabs. A gentle touch of the towel keeps the skin dry and the scabs slightly damp; proceed with caution in this step, to favor the healing of the scabs and not risk tearing them.
Step 3. Cover them with a band-aid
Put sterile, non-stick gauze or non-adhesive bandage over the areas to be treated. Covering them keeps them moist, thus stimulating healing; also, the patch reduces the risk of them becoming infected.
Change the bandage every day or when it's dirty, wet, or damaged
Part 2 of 2: Promote Healing
Step 1. Leave the scabs alone
Resist the temptation to tease or scratch them; If you touch, pinch or scratch your face in any way, you can peel them off and compromise their healing, as well as causing scarring, especially if they come off.
Step 2. Apply a protective cream or ointment
Smear a thin layer of an over-the-counter antibiotic product, such as Neosporin or Gentalyn Beta, on the scabs. repeat the treatment every time you wash your face or change the bandage. This type of ointment kills persistent bacteria and keeps scabs moist, as well as preventing further itching, irritation, or even infection.
- Use a cotton swab or a clean finger and smear your chosen ointment or cream.
- Talk to your doctor before applying any product to scabs.
Step 3. Moisturize your skin carefully
Apply a light layer of cream; keeping the epidermis and crusts well hydrated avoids the risk of cracks, tears, itching or that the scabs come off; moreover, the humidity promotes healing and can soothe any skin irritation. If you have scabs on your face, you can either choose any of the following moisturizing products:
- Vaseline;
- Vitamin E;
- Moisturizing product without oils or perfumes;
- Aloe vera;
- Tea tree oil.
Step 4. Leave the skin natural
Give your face a break from makeup when you have scabs; offer them the chance to breathe to reduce irritation and not damage the scabs so they don't itch; in this way you also accelerate the healing process.
If you really can't avoid using cosmetics, opt for those that are free of oils and fragrances
Step 5. Look for signs of infection
Check your face and scabs every day to see if they heal well; Look for symptoms of a possible infection of the scabs or surrounding skin and seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Persistent redness and sore swelling;
- Red streaks starting from the crusts;
- Bad smell;
- Fever of 37.7 ° C or higher lasting more than 4 hours
- Pus or thick greenish-yellow secretions;
- Bleeding that doesn't stop.
Step 6. Talk to your dermatologist or family doctor
If the scabs don't heal, make an appointment with a health professional; tell him about the home treatments you have tried and the results obtained, so that he can assess why the scabs have not healed properly. At this point, she can give you tips on how to treat them and heal them along with the surrounding skin.
