Pimple scabs form when you keep picking the pimples and bumps on your face. Scabbing is a stage of healing wounds.
The best way to heal the wounds is to avoid touching, squeezing and scratching acne spots and bumps. But it is never simple given the pimples can be itchy or painful.
- Popped acne scabs can start to bleed or ooze.
- A yellow fluid is likely an infection on the pimples.
- Redness is also a sign of serious irritation.
- If you continue to pop and pick the acne spots, your pimple scabs won’t heal or go away.
So, before you try to get rid of acne scabs, it is important to know what is causing them.
What causes acne scabs?
Small crusts on the face are majorly caused by popping, squeezing and opening up acne zits and pimple bumps.
When you open up a big pimple, it is unlikely that you will be able to cover up the scab with makeup. As a result, the scab won’t heal. If it does, it will take long to go away.
Infected pimples and zits are also likely to form crusts especially when they break and start oozing. As they heal, they crust over and start scabbing. If you pick them further, they will form big wounds and leave acne scars on your face.
So what should you do to heal a pimple that turned into a scab quickly?
How to get rid of pimple scabs
Keeping the wounded pimples soft and moist can really help them heal overnight or fast enough. The natural healing process can take a little more time, but it may make the bumps go away without leaving black spots on your face.
Another basic rule for faster healing is not to scratch or pull off the crusty parts. This will cause further wounding. Here are other ways to get rid of acne scabs fast and naturally. Try these home remedies.
1. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is well known and widely used because of its antiseptic properties. When applied to the crusty zits, it helps prevent infections. This remedy is also used on cuts and wounds. You can opt to use the gel or oil. Both will give quick relief.
- Put a few drops of tea tree oil onto a clean cotton ball.
- Apply it on your face especially on the scabbing areas.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes and splash warm water.
- Repeat this twice a day to get rid of scabs faster.
When applying tea tree oil remedy, be gentle. Applying too much pressure will break the scabs and cause even bigger wounds.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has many health benefits for skin. These include hydration, soothing irritated skin and healing cuts and wounds.
Natural aloe vera gel contains Auxin and Gibberellin hormones. These help in healing wounds faster. They also provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin. This makes aloe vera a good remedy to cure acne scabs and redness easily.
Here’s how to use it:
- Obtain a fresh, succulent aloe vera leaf.
- Squeeze it to obtain the fresh aloe vera gel.
- Apply a thick layer of the gel on the scabbing pimples.
- Leave it on your face overnight.
- Wash your skin with lukewarm water in the morning.
Other than getting rid of popped pimple scabs, aloe vera gel can also help lighten black spots that form due to acne. This is beneficial if you have hyperpigmentation marks from acne breakouts.
3. Warm compress
Warm compresses help speed up the healing of wounds. How does it work? Warm compresses help improve blood circulation in the affected area.
To heal acne crusts quickly, immerse a clean face towel or a washcloth in warm water. Squeeze it to get rid of the excess water then apply it on the affected area.
Allow the warm washcloth to sit on the scabbed area for about 5 minutes. Repeat the procedure twice a day to facilitate faster healing. Do not use a very hot compress. It will weaken the crust and expose the wound beneath.
4. Do not pick pimples and acne zits
Disturbing acne zits and crusts is a sure way of getting them to turn into wounds. Picking and popping them affects their healing time, making them take a lot longer to go away.
Even if you have scars that won’t go away, ensure that you exercise restraint to prevent them from getting infected and scabbing over.
Your fingernails may have bacteria and other microbes. If you keep touching the itchy bumps and pimples, you may end up with an infection on your face.
- Allow the initial blood clot on your pimples to remain and form into a crust. It will protect your wounds and help them heal faster.
- Eat a balanced diet to help your wounds heal faster.
- Vitamin D, C and E in your diet can help your acne scabs heal faster.
If your zits are itchy, try applying a natural antihistamine to help relieve and soothe the itchiness. This will help you avoid popping and picking them.
5. Vaseline
Wounds heal a lot faster when you apply Vaseline petroleum jelly to them. It helps keep the pimple wounds clean and moist.
Apply a good layer of Vaseline on your face, chin or nose to give the crusts covered and moist. Moist crusts are less itchy.
Popped pimple scabs are also prone to infections. Applying Vaseline on them helps protect them from an infection.
6. Honey
Honey has amazing healing qualities. You can use it to get rid of acne scars as well as the crusts that form during the healing process.
It is a good moisturizing agent that has many other benefits. The benefits include anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal properties. If you get scabs because of popping acne bumps due to their itchiness, honey is your go-to natural remedy.
Here’s how to use honey to get rid of pimple scabs fast.
- Cleanse your face well.
- Pat it dry with a clean towel.
- Apply a small amount of manuka honey on the face. You can mix it with your moisturizer.
- Dress your acne wounds with a hydropolymer dressing.
- Leave it overnight to heal crusts faster.
The dressing will help absorb the pus exuded from the facial sores. A dry but fairly moist area will heal faster compared to a dry and itchy one.
7. Baking soda (removing scabs)
Baking soda is a home remedy for many things including hormonal acne. It promotes faster healing due to its antibacterial properties. You can apply it on your face to remove pimple spots and sores.
- Put a little baking soda in a mixing bowl.
- Add a small amount of water.
- Mix to make a consistent paste.
- Dress your scabbed areas with this paste to ensure you cover the scabs.
Do this once a day to remove the scabs. You can apply this remedy as an overnight treatment.
8. Antibiotic treatment
Apart from using the home remedies discussed above, antibiotic treatments can help cure infected acne and pimple scabs.
Over-the-counter medications such as Neosporin and polysporin are good in getting rid of scabbed spots on the face, lips, chin and nose.
How to cover pimple sores
If you want quick results, covering with makeup is your remaining option for a clear face.
But what is the best way to cover popped pimple sores on the face? Use mineral makeup because of two reasons:
- Mineral makeup is healthier than traditional makeup that contains preservatives such as chemical dyes, parabens and fragrances.
- Used with a dense brush, it can cover up the spots much better.
When covering up with makeup, ensure that you use a moisturizing foundation to keep things moist and less itchy. Otherwise you will end up scratching and picking the pimples again and causing the scabs to bleed.
Calamine lotion helps dry it out that’s what I’m trying.
But just remember to only use a tiny tiny dab of ointment in each bump whatever kind of bump it is and use a new side or new qtip each time.
Also wash at least with baking soda and water no more ham 6-8 hours later so it don’t clog your pores. I found that about every 2-3 days a good steam was the key to get all oils out of pores followed by an egg white and tissue mask that pulls out all the junk. Then I take an orange and peel it.
I take the peel and cut into finger size pieces and I squeeze or dig my nail into each of the pieces one by one for each spot and I rub the peel juice into the spots to start the fading and vitamin c booster right away and I eat the orange because an orange a day helps your skin.
I use pure aloe Vera gel from the leaf or honey as a face wash to moisturize my skin after each treatment. It does wonders.
And only do the blistex and the orange peel once a day. Keep in mind all of this might burn a little bit and it might make you think you are ruining your skin. You’re not. You are being proactive and trying to keep your skin nice.
The other steps can be repeated twice a day. Last thought: if physicians and skin care products and whoever else were to tell us that removing the scabs were bet to do they would all be out of business with scar and blemish treatments and prevention. Wink wink. Good luck to you all.
But it doesn’t heal it just keeps moisture locked in so no scab forms or so old scars can come off easily. This is my theory from 100% personal experience because if you leave a scab sitting on your face it turns into a solid rock and it will just sit and sit and sit. Think of a big rock just laying in the dirt or on top of sand basically anything that will take on the shape of the rock if left there. You remove the rock after so much time passes and the pitted indention of the rock remains. If you remove the rock constantly it doesn’t get a chance to settle and cause an indention that lasts because the natural elements will fill it in. Just like sand and dirt or anything formable, our skin is capable of the exact same outcome. If you leave a scab sitting on your skin to prevent scarring you are actually gonna be damaging your skin and then get deep scarring when the scab is removed because it won’t fall off. The scab gets heavier as it hardens and it attached to the skin deeper and deeper. Just remove them and your skin will continue to regenerate all the goodies that makes our skin new again. It’s much easier to get rid of a light colored beginning of a scar that’s in the top layer of your skin than to have deep scars. That’s eventually a medical necessity for scar removal. If you leave it there eventually our skin says ok my job is done. Think about it regenerate skin or leave it to be at a a permanent fixture. It’s up to you.
I want my skin to glow all times without any makeup and all and I have rubbed my pimple leading to blood coming out and there is no formation of skin for many days the blood comes out regularly as I wash my face.
Wohh exactly what I was looking for, thanks for putting up.
Help!!!!!!!! I have a dance this Friday and I had this pimple on my lip off to the left. It was really annoying so I popped it then I didn’t get it all and the next day it was all red. I continued to mess with it, popping it more, peeling off the scrub and even face masks which made it very irritated. I need something quick that can get ride of in in two days. Pleas please please help me!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a pimple on my forehead what do I do if its forming a brown scab above it someone please helllpppp!!!
Do NOT use tea tree oil unless diluted! I burned my face by using straight tea tree oil to treat a pimple.
Good combination with tea tree oil is witch hazel , salicylic acid , Burt Bees toner ( all of their acne products are A+).. Use a cotton pad that has a textured surface , combine two pads to hold more fluid, use witch hazel to saturate pad since it’s the cheapest, next is salicylic acid, then Burt Bees and now the pads should be close to fully saturated. Lastly , you apply the tea tree oil by holding pad to bottle and quickly turning over so it’s not pored on. Use 2-3 spots on pad at first to gauge tolerance and if it’s not too strong then apply to 5 spots ( kinda like a dice 5 ). Now it’s close to drippping and start applying to face in gentle circular pattern with more vigor after pad is not so saturated. Once you have cleaned face, turn pads inside out for a clean surface to give it another pass until most of the pads are dry. Moisturize since this will leave face dry , tight but dirt, and oil free. If it’s too harsh you can reduce tea tree or acid, don’t do this more than 1 time a day ( before bed ).. Use witch hazel for any other cleanings throughout the day. Don’t pick, don’t pluck and wash/change your pillow often (3-4 days).
Sudocrem gets rid and prevents acne, eczema and all sorts of rashes and insect bites. I get it on Amazon and it works better than steroids on eczema. Its super cheap too
I have a lot of vanished acne but they always leave red marks on my face after the pimple is gone how do I get rid of them??
I have so many pimple scans on my forehead and I need the best solution to heal them in 2 days!! HELP
Can Vaseline cure a scabbed over pimple?
I have a pimple right at the tip on my nose and I’ve kept picking at it and it’s been here for a year help
Doesn’t everyone love getting a giant pimple on the tip of THEIR NOSE on the last day of summer….. No…. Just me…
I’ve done a lot and I mean a lot of research on how to heal, treat, and prevent my face from breaking out and in my research I discovered is that if you will put tyme preferably German tyme in rubbing alcohol and let it sit for over a week it will turn into a powerful tincture that you can apply a cotton ball to your entire face as a toner it is the best thing you can do beyond anything on the market if your research tyme (the herb) you will see as many beneficial properties. However I still suggest a moisturizer to follow.
I recently got a pimple on my cheek. I popped it because it looked really unsightly with the pus, and soon a scab was formed. The scab was annoying me so I peeled it off but now I regret it! Another scab has formed but my skin is now red and a little swollen and it’s ruining my whole face! Ice doesn’t help get rid of the redness. What should I do? School is starting soon… 😰
Use baking soda paste ( baking soda with little water ) apply and wait ten minutes . Wash off with a warm/moist cloth carefully and put ice in a cloth and apply gently for about 5-10 minutes ( if it bleeds it’s ok just apply a little pressure with the cloth with ice so it will slow the bleeding or stop it ) repeat these steps until it is gone ( which won’t be long at all )
Ice it often and in 5-minute intervals. Use the warm compress method in the article. It works like a charm. I am in the same boat as you Sammy except its on my damn forehead.
If you’re trying to remove blackheads there is a blackhead removal tool you can buy at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, ect. It’s a metal tool that has a flattened loop at the end of it. To use it properly take a wash cloth and soak it with hot water. Put the cloth where ever you have blackheads to open your pores. Firmly (and I mean firmly) press the loop down and pull it across your skin. Your blackheads will be squeezed out into the center of the loop where the can be cleaned off.
I used to have so many issues with this. I felt like half of these don’t work/make it worse/ or bring out more acne. Peroxide really is the cure-all for drying out the area, and then you can quick heal it with Neosporin.
Black spots from pimples. Help me.
Like blackheads? You can extract them with tweezers and other methods to get rid of them, as no product will *eat* them away, despite advertising it. However, to avoid getting blackheads, the best thing to do is exfoliate a lot, so rubbing with a washcloth, using a face brush, or a face wash with some type of acid, such as salicylic.
I have a really bad scab on my chin and have had it for months. I’ve tried every remedie there is but nothing has helped!! SOS!!!
Hello Rachael,
Sorry about the scab. Have you tried these remedies?
Put baking soda mixed with water on it and make sure it is completely covered then wait ten minutes. After that is done gently wash it off with warm water then if it bleeds apply pressure ( not to hard though ) with a cloth full of ice. If it doesn’t bleed though, or if it did and you followed my steps then take a cloth full ice and ice it for about 5-10 minutes and follow those steps for a few days until it is better or gone
Would steaming your face help?
absolutely mate!!!!! and it will help prevent the pimples too because it is really good for your pores! I’m starting my year of grade 11 soon and i did that and it helped really well!
I have pimples between my eyebrows and on my chin
Me to and i start highschool soon ahhhhhhhh
Help my small pimple above lip is now a soft scab with yellow/white pus I started aquaphor last night and have a wedding to go to this weekend will this work or do I have to dry it out? ahhhhhhh
please tell me this worked. In the same boat. Chin and nose are horrible after a clay mask and caused sores. My sisters wedding is ON saturday and its Wednesday!!! AHHH (not to mention the family coming from out of town that i havent seen in years) im freaking out!
hi I have a pimple right above my lip that was tiny but I have a wedding to go to and Lets just say I tried to pop it and now it has a soft scab but pus underneath and I have been appling the aquaphor since last night can I keep doing this as the wedding is Sat or do I need to dry it out? HELP please email me!
I have a small pimple on my forehead… I decided to pick it cos it’s scratchy bout it ended up as a dark spot on my forehead… I need a solution quickly!!
Hi James, please check out our article on how to get rid of dark spots from pimples.
If I go to sleep with honey on my face, won’t it get all over the pillow?
Put a band aid on top.
Yeah thats why you place hydropolymer dressing
I just got a pimple on the middle of my forehead someone plz help!
Ice for 10 minutes then when your about to go to bed put toothpaste on it (must be paste not gel and white toothpaste looks the best)
Putting toothpaste on a pimple actually makes the pimple more irritated and more redness will occur from doing so. I don’t suggest putting toothpaste on pimples.
Don’t ice! It’s your face! I have done this and regretted it. Caused a swollen red burned area on my Face
Ice doesn’t do that.
I use desitin rapid relief. It gets rid of redness in 1 day. I also use it to get rid of cuts burns scratches. I apply it 10x a day or more so IT caN be gone in the next day .
Where did you get this??
Pimples are a usual skin condition that have an effect on lots of
people. Pimples are an inflammation of skin within which the sebaceous
glands (oil glands) develop into infected with bacteria, swell up, and
fill with pus.