Why Scabs Itch and Why You Shouldn’t Scratch Them

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Wounds HealWhy Scabs ItchWhy You Shouldn’t ScratchHow to Stop ItchingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Wounds Heal

Why Scabs Itch

Why You Shouldn’t Scratch

How to Stop Itching

Frequently Asked Questions

An itchy scab can be irritating, but it’s typically a sign that a wound is healing correctly.

Verywell / Sydney Saporito

When you injure yourself and cut, scrape, or burn your skin, blood begins to clot in order to stop the blood from excessively leaving your body. Blood clotting happens thanks to cells calledplatelets. Forming platelets is the body’s way to patch up a leak.

Eventually, when the wound stops bleeding, a scab forms. The scab helps protect the freshly injured skin from contaminants like bacteria and allows the skin to heal.

Underneath a scab, your body is working hard to repair damage to the skin and blood vessels. The body also enlists white blood cells to help clean up any foreign matter and bacteria in the wound. After some time, a scab will fall off to reveal brand-new skin. It’s a pretty amazing process.

Of course, the body can’t repair all wounds this way. Deep wounds and severe burns require emergency medical treatment. But most small nicks, cuts, scrapes, and surface burns heal well on their own in a healthy person.

What Scabs Are and How They Heal

Itching occurs as a normal part of healing. However, the reason the itch develops isn’t completely understood.

One study from 2016 suggests that the same mechanisms at work witheczemaitchiness are involved in itching during wound healing.

When to See a Healthcare ProviderIt’s time to see a practitioner if you have symptoms of an infection. Signs that a wound may be infected include:PusRedness and swellingA red streak that’s emanating from the woundSevere painSwollenlymph nodesFeverBlack edges around the wound, which may be necrotic tissueAn injury that isn’t healing or whose stitching has opened upIf you don’t have anup-to-date tetanus shot, you should see a healthcare provider immediately, especially if the wound has dirt in it.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

It’s time to see a practitioner if you have symptoms of an infection. Signs that a wound may be infected include:PusRedness and swellingA red streak that’s emanating from the woundSevere painSwollenlymph nodesFeverBlack edges around the wound, which may be necrotic tissueAn injury that isn’t healing or whose stitching has opened upIf you don’t have anup-to-date tetanus shot, you should see a healthcare provider immediately, especially if the wound has dirt in it.

It’s time to see a practitioner if you have symptoms of an infection. Signs that a wound may be infected include:

If you don’t have anup-to-date tetanus shot, you should see a healthcare provider immediately, especially if the wound has dirt in it.

Scratching an itch feels great. It’s so satisfying, in fact, that people tend to scratch even when they really shouldn’t. Scratching an itchy wound that is in the process of healing, however, can cause scarring and prolong healing if you open the wound back up again.

You might even introduce bacteria, causing an infection to develop.

Wound Healing TipsWhen you get a minor cut, scrape, or burn, it’s essential to properly take care of the wound. Proper care ensures the wound heals without complications and lessens your chances of getting a scar. For a minor wound:Clean the area with gentle soap and water to remove debris and bacteriaBandage the area to prevent contaminationAvoid scratching during the healing processIf your wound is deep, very large, or doesn’t seem to be healing, see a healthcare provider. Some wounds require stitches. An injury that’s infected may require antibiotic treatment.

Wound Healing Tips

When you get a minor cut, scrape, or burn, it’s essential to properly take care of the wound. Proper care ensures the wound heals without complications and lessens your chances of getting a scar. For a minor wound:Clean the area with gentle soap and water to remove debris and bacteriaBandage the area to prevent contaminationAvoid scratching during the healing processIf your wound is deep, very large, or doesn’t seem to be healing, see a healthcare provider. Some wounds require stitches. An injury that’s infected may require antibiotic treatment.

When you get a minor cut, scrape, or burn, it’s essential to properly take care of the wound. Proper care ensures the wound heals without complications and lessens your chances of getting a scar. For a minor wound:

If your wound is deep, very large, or doesn’t seem to be healing, see a healthcare provider. Some wounds require stitches. An injury that’s infected may require antibiotic treatment.

Itching can sometimes be excruciating, even more so if you’re trying not to scratch. However, it’s important to avoid excessive scratching because it can cause the wound to open up again. By alleviating the itch, you can avoid a prolonged healing process and potential infection from scratching too much. Here are a few ways to stop the itching:

It may also help to find effective distractions from the itching. If itching is due to a more significant or more chronic injury, then your healthcare provider may prescribe gabapentin or other medications to provide relief.

Who Is at Risk for Slow Wound Healing?Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing slow wound healing, which can lead to infection. The following people have a higher risk of complications from a wound:People with diabetesOlder adultsPeople on certain medicationsSmokersPeople who drink heavy amounts of alcoholPeople with poor blood flow

Who Is at Risk for Slow Wound Healing?

Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing slow wound healing, which can lead to infection. The following people have a higher risk of complications from a wound:People with diabetesOlder adultsPeople on certain medicationsSmokersPeople who drink heavy amounts of alcoholPeople with poor blood flow

Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing slow wound healing, which can lead to infection. The following people have a higher risk of complications from a wound:

If you tend to scratch in your sleep, you may want to wear hand coverings. They can prevent you from damaging your skin or introducing bacteria to the wound. It may also help to cut your fingernails.

Frequently Asked QuestionsInside a scab are platelets, white blood cells, other various blood cells, and fibrin (a protein that helps stop blood flow). Platelets clump together to form a clot, while white blood cells attack any bacteria inside the wound that can cause infection. Removing a scab during this healing process can undo the repairs it has undergone and force it to start from scratch.Stitches can itch for the same reason that small cuts or scrapes itch - the wound is in the process of healing. The length of time that itchiness lasts can vary, but it may persist until the stitches are removed or fade away. Scratching the itch is tempting, but it’s important to avoid picking at it so that it properly heals.Scratching an itch may make it worse. According to research in mice,serotoninmay have a role in itch. This neurotransmitter is produced in the brain and released to help regulate mood and pain perception. Scratching an itch may cause pain and the release of serotonin. While it may offer brief satisfaction, serotonin does not prevent the itch from returning and may actually intensify it.

Inside a scab are platelets, white blood cells, other various blood cells, and fibrin (a protein that helps stop blood flow). Platelets clump together to form a clot, while white blood cells attack any bacteria inside the wound that can cause infection. Removing a scab during this healing process can undo the repairs it has undergone and force it to start from scratch.

Stitches can itch for the same reason that small cuts or scrapes itch - the wound is in the process of healing. The length of time that itchiness lasts can vary, but it may persist until the stitches are removed or fade away. Scratching the itch is tempting, but it’s important to avoid picking at it so that it properly heals.

Scratching an itch may make it worse. According to research in mice,serotoninmay have a role in itch. This neurotransmitter is produced in the brain and released to help regulate mood and pain perception. Scratching an itch may cause pain and the release of serotonin. While it may offer brief satisfaction, serotonin does not prevent the itch from returning and may actually intensify it.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours KidsHealth.What’s a Scab?Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Itchy Skin After Burn Injury.Allen HB, et al.Pruritus of healing wounds: Why ‘scabs’ itch.J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2016:7(3):1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000333Lerner E.Why do wounds itch?Wounds. 2018;30(1):1-3.Paul J.Wound pruritus: pathophysiology and management.CWCMR. Published online August 2015:119. doi:10.2147/CWCMR.S70360Mießner H, Seidel J, Smith EStJ.In vitro models for investigating itch.Front Mol Neurosci. 2022;15:984126. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.984126MedlinePlus.How Wounds Heal.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Wound Infection.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Incision Care After Surgery.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching.Additional ReadingJohns Hopkins Medicine.How Wounds Heal.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours KidsHealth.What’s a Scab?Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Itchy Skin After Burn Injury.Allen HB, et al.Pruritus of healing wounds: Why ‘scabs’ itch.J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2016:7(3):1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000333Lerner E.Why do wounds itch?Wounds. 2018;30(1):1-3.Paul J.Wound pruritus: pathophysiology and management.CWCMR. Published online August 2015:119. doi:10.2147/CWCMR.S70360Mießner H, Seidel J, Smith EStJ.In vitro models for investigating itch.Front Mol Neurosci. 2022;15:984126. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.984126MedlinePlus.How Wounds Heal.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Wound Infection.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Incision Care After Surgery.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching.Additional ReadingJohns Hopkins Medicine.How Wounds Heal.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nemours KidsHealth.What’s a Scab?Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Itchy Skin After Burn Injury.Allen HB, et al.Pruritus of healing wounds: Why ‘scabs’ itch.J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2016:7(3):1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000333Lerner E.Why do wounds itch?Wounds. 2018;30(1):1-3.Paul J.Wound pruritus: pathophysiology and management.CWCMR. Published online August 2015:119. doi:10.2147/CWCMR.S70360Mießner H, Seidel J, Smith EStJ.In vitro models for investigating itch.Front Mol Neurosci. 2022;15:984126. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.984126MedlinePlus.How Wounds Heal.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Wound Infection.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Incision Care After Surgery.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching.

Nemours KidsHealth.What’s a Scab?

Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Itchy Skin After Burn Injury.

Allen HB, et al.Pruritus of healing wounds: Why ‘scabs’ itch.J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2016:7(3):1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000333

Lerner E.Why do wounds itch?Wounds. 2018;30(1):1-3.

Paul J.Wound pruritus: pathophysiology and management.CWCMR. Published online August 2015:119. doi:10.2147/CWCMR.S70360

Mießner H, Seidel J, Smith EStJ.In vitro models for investigating itch.Front Mol Neurosci. 2022;15:984126. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.984126

MedlinePlus.How Wounds Heal.

Seattle Children’s Hospital.Wound Infection.

University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Incision Care After Surgery.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.How Wounds Heal.

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