How to Heal a Scab

Co-authored by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: February 7, 2025 Approved

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Scabs naturally form over cuts, scrapes, and wounds while they’re healing to protect your wounds. Even though they’re important for keeping bacteria, germs, and dirt out of your wound, there are still ways to speed up the healing process so you don’t have a scar. Sometimes scabs can itch and they may appear unsightly on your skin. To heal a scab, you can apply petroleum jelly, honey, or oil as well as food products like onion and garlic. Choose one method at a time rather than using a combination of products.

1

Place a warm compress on the scab.

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Wet a clean cloth or towel with warm water. Then, place it on the scab for five to ten minutes. Do this several times a day to keep the scab moist.

2

Soak the scab in a salt bath.

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Epsom salts are great for healing and reducing tenderness around the scab. Fill a bucket or the bath with warm water and ¼ cup Epsom salts. Then, soak the injured area with the scab in the salt bath for an hour. Pat the area dry.^{[1]
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- Soak the scab once to twice a day until it starts to heal.

3

Put a non-stick dressing on the scab.

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Apply petroleum jelly under the dressing to encourage healing.

4

Put Vaseline on the scab.

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Petroleum jelly is a good way to keep the scab moist and keep any bacteria out. The moisture will help the scab to soften and allow new skin to grow over the scab, healing the wound and the scab.
- Dab a small amount of petroleum jelly on the scab throughout the day to keep it moist. Over a few days, it should soften and fade away or peel off on its own.

5

Try applying honey to the scab.

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Honey contains antibacterial properties and can speed up healing. Put a small amount of medical-grade honey on the scab to help it heal faster.
- You can find medical-grade honey online or at your local drugstore.

6

Apply tea tree oil to the scab.

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Tea tree oil is a great natural oil for treating scabs. It can speed up the healing process and prevent the scab from leaving a scar. Apply tea tree oil to the scab once to twice a day.^{[2]
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- You can find tea tree oil at your local health food store or online.

7

Use garlic on the scab.

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Garlic is antibacterial and antiseptic, so it’s a good natural way to heal a scab. Blend or mix two to three cloves of garlic with one cup of wine. Then, let the mixture sit for two to three hours. Apply the mixture to the scab with a cotton ball.^{[3]
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- Rinse the garlic wine mixture off after 10-15 minutes with warm water. If the garlic causes your skin to itch, remove it right away.

8

Put onion on the scab.

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Onion contains antibacterial properties. It is good at healing wounds and scabs as well as preventing infection. Chop up the onion and make a paste with honey. Then, apply the paste to the scab and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse the paste off with warm water.^{[4]
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- You can apply the onion honey paste up to four times a day.

9

Apply a baking soda paste to the scab.

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Baking soda is a mild antiseptic and good for removing scabs. Mix 10 grams (0.35 oz) of baking soda with 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz) water to make a paste. Then, apply the paste over the scab. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.^{[5]
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- You can apply the baking soda paste two to three times a week.

10

Put aloe vera on the scab.

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Aloe vera is a great natural substance that can help speed up healing. Put aloe vera on the scab and let it sit for five minutes. Then, rinse it off with warm water. Do this three to four times a day.^{[6]
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- You can find aloe vera in gel form online or at your local health store.
- If you have access to an aloe vera plant, you can squeeze the juice from the plant onto the scab.

11

Allow the scab to dry.

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You don’t want to keep it too moist, as this can allow a fungal infection to take hold. Alternate treating the scab with ointment and allowing it to dry.

12

Try not to pick off the scab.

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Picking off the scab can increase the risk of infection, cause scarring, and prolong the healing time for the wound. Avoid the temptation to pick off the scab to get rid of it.

13

Avoid applying antiseptics to the scab for cleaning.

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Antiseptics can kill good bacteria on the scab and lead to swelling. Steer clear from hydrogen peroxide and iodine.^{[7]
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American Academy of Family Physicians
Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities

Go to source} They can also dry out the scab, which can prolong the healing time for the scab.^{[8]
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- You can use topical antibiotic ointments like Neosporin on the scab.

14

See a doctor if the scab appears infected.

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If the scab starts to swell, feels hot, or leaks pus or fluid, it may be infected. Go see a doctor right away so they can diagnose the issue and prescribe the right treatment. A scab that is infected and untreated can take a long time to heal or lead to other health issues.
- This is especially true in patients that have leg scars, as well as people that are diabetic or immunocompromised. Small scabs can lead to ulceration.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can you help a pimple scab heal faster?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

If your skin is inflamed, you do not want to exfoliate it. That will cause more breaks in the skin, leading to more bacteria and inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide spot treatment can be helpful. Oral antibiotics or Accutane can help if it’s really bad.

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Question

How can I make a scab heal faster?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator based in Tennessee. With over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She also has experience as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Tennessee, teaching physical health assessment, medical-surgical and community nursing, and supervising and guiding nursing undergraduate students. Luba received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006. She also has a Doctorate of Naturopathy from the Russian Institute of Innovative Naturopathy.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Keep the scab clean, apply petroleum jelly, and cover it up during the day. Change the dressing at least twice a day. It also helps if you eat nutritious, low glycemic index foods, stay hydrated, make smoothies with collagen, and maintain moderate physical activity to speed up the healing.

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