What happens if you keep peeling a scab

Any injury that causes a break in the skin can put someone at greater risk of developing the infection. Other risk factors include obesity and swelling of the limbs. Picking at scabs, pimples, or other parts of the skin can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition called dermatillomania.

According to one recent study , dermatillomania — also known as skin picking disorder, excoriation disorder, neurotic picking, or psychogenic excoriation — can cause a person to pick at their skin excessively.

People with dermatillomania can damage large areas of their skin, which can lead to the development of local infections and other complications. However, picking at a scab, pimple, bug bite, or other area of skin does necessarily mean that a person has dermatillomania. The International OCD Foundation identify dermatillomania as a person experiencing all three of the following symptoms:.

The most common symptom is that a person will continuously and habitually pick at a portion of their skin. The picking can result in damage to the skin tissue. According to the International OCD Foundation , a person may pick at one or more areas of their skin at a time. Some common areas for this include the:.

They add that a person often picks with their fingernails or fingers but that they may also use other methods, such as biting or tools such as scissors or tweezers. Without treatment, dermatillomania can lead to several potential complications. The Picking Me Foundation indicate that complications can include:.

In one review of studies , researchers found similar potential complications, including abscess, paralysis, blood loss, and bacterial infections. They also indicate that living with the condition can become life threatening due to blood loss, though it is important to note that this is rare.

Specifically, treatments may include :. According to Mental Health America , a person needs to display the following signs and symptoms for a doctor to diagnose dermatillomania:. There are several different potential scar treatments that a person can talk with their doctor about. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association , potential scar treatments may include:.

In severe cases, a person may require a skin graft. According to one review of studies , a person may need skin grafting when the picking has damaged large areas of their skin. A person may wish to talk with their doctor if they constantly feel a need to pick their skin.

In general, the gauze or bandage should be clean and dry at all times, so change it as needed. You should also protect the wound from further trauma; hide the area from sunlight; and, if there is any concern that it will turn into an "ugly scar," schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

Do you need to let a wound "air out" so it heals properly? During the first 24 to 36 hours, wounds benefit from a closed humid environment; but after this period, there is no further benefit and letting the wound breathe is beneficial. Protecting the wound with gauze that will allow the wound to "air out" will be enough. Is it important to leave scabs untouched for as long as possible?

Sometimes leaving a scab in place will allow the area to heal, but sometimes having a scab prevents wounds from healing and removing the scab will expedite the healing process. It is better to address this on a case-by-case basis with your doctor. If a specific area receives repetitive trauma removing a scab over and over , the tissue will become inflamed and it can scar poorly.

What is the best hydrating cream to help healing and minimize scarring? There are multiple products available to aid for a better healing process, but what has been proven to help is the pressure that is exerted during the time of application of a product — the actual effect of rubbing. In addition to this mechanical effect, some medicated scar gels have shown to have good results. The key is to perform these applications with certain firmness and to do it consistently. Are cocoa butter and antibiotic ointment good to use?

Cocoa butter is good to use, not only because of its moisturizing effect but also because of the rubbing effect. I would not recommend antibiotic-based ointments because when these are used without the presence of an actual infection they can alter the skin's natural "flora" and cause an infection.

Once you have a scar, is there anything you can do to remove it or lighten it? You can do several things to scars to make them look better, hide them or change their aspect.

These recommendations include scar gels, injections, laser treatments, dermabrasion and sometimes surgery. If you have a scar you'd rather not boast about, Dr. Salazar-Reyes recommends you visit a plastic surgeon for an evaluation on how you can reduce its appearance. When you notice a scar starting to appear, you can try putting some silicone gel on it daily. You can buy silicone gel on Amazon.

You can also talk to a dermatologist about laser therapy for scars. Also note that it can take up to six months to know if a scar is likely to be permanent. There are many ways to manage dermatillomania, but you might have to try a few things before you find what works for you. The TLC Foundation lists both in-person and online support groups. If you have pimple scabs, this article provides useful tips and strategies for prevention and healing.

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