How Bad Is It Really to Pick a Scab?

Should you pick a scab? We all know the answer is no. And yet keeping your hands off those crusty, scaly bits can be surprisingly difficult.

“Scabs are tempting to pick, as some people get satisfaction or gratification from picking. Some people may also do it as part of dealing with anxiety, stress, or boredom,” explains Marisa Garshick, MD, a dermatologist at MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City and Englewood, New Jersey, and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Center.

Plus, scabs tend to get dry, itchy, or tight, which can make picking even more tempting.

But picking your scabs may lead to issues. It could cause your wound to heal more slowly or form a more noticeable scar. And it could increase your risk of a nasty infection.

“In general, it’s bad,” Dr. Garshick says. “I always advise people that picking scabs can make them worse, so it’s always best to let them heal rather than to pick.”

Here’s more on why scabs are important for healing, what happens if you pick them, and how to avoid it.

What Exactly Is a Scab?

Scabs are the body’s DIY bandages. After skin sustains a wound, the body forms a hard, dry blood clot over the outside to stop the wound from bleeding and protect the area, according to Cleveland Clinic.

“They form a protective barrier to guard a wound from bacteria and dirt,” says Garshick.

Cleveland Clinic explains the scab itself is made up of:

• Platelets Parts of blood that help with clotting
• Red Blood Cells Deliver oxygen to the area
• White Blood Cells Help prevent infection
• Fibrin A protein that stops blood flow
• Plasma The liquid part of blood

Scabs are temporary. Once the skin underneath has finished repairing itself, the crust will fall off on its own, usually within a week or two, says Nemours KidsHealth.

A dry wound is more likely to result in a scab than one that’s kept moist and covered, according to Cleveland Clinic. Scabs usually appear dark brown but may sometimes look white, yellow, or green. A yellow or green scab may mean the wound has an infection.

If you notice a yellow or green scab along with redness, oozing, or pain, it’s best to check with a doctor.

The Effects of Picking a Scab

So what happens if you pull off a scab before it’s ready to fall off on its own? Here are three possible scenarios:

The Wound Will Take Longer to Heal

Picking a scab usually causes the wound to bleed again. That’s because when you pull the scab away, you’re also tearing off some of the newly reformed skin that has grown over the wound, according to Nemours KidsHealth.

When that happens, your body has to start the process all over again. As a result, it ends up taking longer for the wound to heal completely, Garshick says.

It Can Cause Scars

Some minor wounds might not develop a scar. But picking at a scab can lead to scarring, according to MedlinePlus.

“Picking causes more injury to the skin,” Garshick says.

The more your skin has to continually repair itself and form new scabs, the more likely it is that scar tissue will develop, according to Cleveland Clinic.

In fact, one of the best ways to avoid a scar is to keep the wound covered and avoid picking at the scab, according to Nemours KidsHealth.

You Could Get an Infection

Open wounds may let in harmful bacteria. This can up the odds that a no-big-deal wound ends up becoming infected, says Garshick.

And infected wounds may take longer to heal, according to Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms of an infected wound include:

• An increase in size
• Redness or skin discoloration around the wound
• Pain
• Yellow or green pus
• Excessive warmth in the area of the wound

Infection can also lead to complications. Cellulitis, for example, is a bacterial infection that requires treatment with antibiotics. In rare cases, it can spread to your blood, joints, bones, or heart, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What to Do Instead

Keeping a scab moist and protected with a bandage is the best way to help it heal, according to Cleveland Clinic. You can change the wound’s covering once per day or whenever it gets wet or dirty, says Mayo Clinic.

If your scab is itchy or uncomfortable, you can try applying a light coat of petroleum jelly, says Garshick.

“Carry a pocket-sized tube or jar and apply the ointment each time you’re tempted to pick at the area,” she says. “It’ll prevent you from picking while also providing a protective barrier to help with wound healing.”

Your best bet for healing is to do everything you can to avoid picking at a scab, no matter how tempting it might be.

If you repeatedly pick at scabs and can’t stop yourself, you may have dermatillomania, a compulsive disorder characterized by automatic or compulsive skin-picking.

While some people with dermatillomania will pick at healthy skin, others tend to focus on scabs, pimples, or dry patches, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Dermatillomania is considered a mental health condition, not a dermatological one, so a mental health professional should treat it, Garshick says. You can typically manage the condition with a combination of medication and therapy.