How to Heal Scabs on Your Face

Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 References

Scabs are a sign of healing, but they might make you feel uncomfortable or even cause pain, especially if they’re on your face. You might not be sure how to comfortably and quickly heal them. But never fear! You can heal scabs on your face by keeping your skin clean and promoting healing with home care.

1

Cleanse your face with mild soap.

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Wash the scabs on your face with clean, warm water and a gentle cleanser. Use a light, circular motion to cleanse your skin, then rinse your face off thoroughly with warm water. Washing your face can boost your skin’s moisture and promote healing. It can also clear away bacteria and dirt that may cause infections.^{[1]
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- Avoid washing any skin that is turning white, which means it’s oversaturated. This can cause skin tissue to break, lead to infection, and increase healing time.^{[2]
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2

Pat your face dry.

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Use an even lighter touch on your scabs.^{[3]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} Taking care when drying your face and leaving your scabs slightly damp can prevent them from ripping off and promote healing.

3

Apply petroleum jelly.

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Dab a thin layer of petroleum jelly or a similar product on your wound. Do this each time you wash your face or change your dressing. Keeping the scab moist will promote healing and potentially prevent scarring.^{[4]
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- You don’t need to use an antibiotic ointment so long as you keep the wound clean.

4

Cover your scabs with a bandage.

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Place a sterile non-stick gauze dressing or non-adhesive bandage over the scab.^{[5]
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Go to source} Keeping your scabs covered helps them retain moisture, which helps them heal. A bandage can also minimize the risk of your scabs getting infected.^{[6]
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- Change the dressings daily or if they are dirty, wet, or damaged.^{[7]
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5

Avoid the temptation of picking off or itching your scabs.

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Touching, picking at, and scratching your face can dislodge the scabs. It can also interfere with healing and cause scarring, especially if your scabs come off.^{[8]
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- Once your wound heals, apply sunscreen daily to minimize scarring.^{[9]
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6

Watch for infection.

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Check your face and scabs every day to see if they’re healing well. Look for symptoms of possible infection of your scabs or surrounding skin. Seek immediate medical attention if you have:^{[10]
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- Redness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Discharge and/or foul odor

7

See your dermatologist or doctor if your scab isn’t healing.

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Your doctor can figure out why your scabs may not be healing properly. They can also treat your scabs to help heal them and the surrounding skin.

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Warnings

Seek prompt medical attention if you have intense itching, irritation, or signs of infection on your scabs. Symptoms of infection include warmth, redness, or pus draining you’re your scabs.^{[11]
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