Chronic wounds, by definition, are sores that don’t heal within about three months. They can start small, as a pimple or a scratch. They might scab over again and again, but they don’t get better.

Factors that can slow the wound healing process include: Dead skin (necrosis) – dead skin and foreign materials interfere with the healing process. Infection – an open wound may develop a bacterial infection. The body fights the infection rather than healing the wound.

A scab is the body’s natural wound covering. As long as the site is kept moist, the scab will not inhibit the healing process. At that time, keeping scabs and blisters intact seemed like the keys to wound healing.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, keeping your wounds moist helps your skin heal and speeds your recovery. A dry wound quickly forms a scab and slows your ability to heal. Moistening your scabs or wounds can also stop your wound from getting bigger and prevent itchiness and scarring.

Wound healing can be delayed by factors local to the wound itself, including desiccation, infection or abnormal bacterial presence, maceration, necrosis, pressure, trauma, and edema. Desiccation.

Here’s the kicker: It may feel like the wrong thing to do, but research shows it can be OK to pick a scab. Picking can actually help the healing process because a scab that’s on for too long increases scarring.

Wound healing can be delayed by systemic factors that bear little or no direct relation to the location of the wound itself. These include age, body type, chronic disease, immunosuppression, nutritional status, radiation therapy, and vascular insufficiencies.

Poor Circulation During the healing process, your body’s red blood cells carry new cells to the site to begin rebuilding tissue. Poor blood circulation can slow down this process, making the wound that much longer to heal. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can cause poor blood circulation.

Scabs assist with wound healing by helping to prevent bleeding and infection in an open wound. Crusty scabs consist of blood and serum that harden over a wound. According to the journal PLoS Biology , scabs help to repair damaged or injured skin.

The fastest way to heal a scab on your face, arms, legs, or another part of your body is to keep the area moist and well hydrated. For example, regularly applying a natural healing ointment like aloe vera can help to get rid of scabs on the face caused by acne or pimples.

Moisten and Clean. For the vast majority of wounds, scab removal is a matter of keeping the affected area clean and washing it often, which will remove the scab little by little over a period of time. Keeping a scab moist and clean will cause it to heal much more quickly.

Ways to help scabs heal Keep it clean. A person can gently wash a scab with warm water and soap. Avoid picking or scrubbing at the scab. When scabs become itchy, some people scratch, scrub, or pick at them. Apply a compress. Moisturize the scab. Only cover the scab when necessary. Get enough rest. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid cigarette smoke.