How to Get Rid of a Scab from a Pimple

You've probably been told that the number one rule for getting rid of a zit is not to pick it, and yet, here you are, post-pimple pop and with an acne scab to show for it. Your first thought might be to break out the concealer and full-coverage foundation. Alas, this won't totally mask or get rid of acne scabbing. Since patience is not your greatest virtue (it's what got you here in the first place, after all), you probably won't be satisfied with the advice that you should just simply wait for your acne scab to heal (FYI, it can take weeks).

So, to help you out, we tapped dermatologists Dr. Rachel Nazarian and Dr. Mona Gohara to get their expertise on all things acne scabs, from treatments to preventative measures and everything in between.

Keep reading for how to get rid of a scab from a pimple — without doing further damage.

What Are Acne Scabs?

"Acne scabs are formed when there is enough injury to the tissue to break through the surface, either from draining of liquid and pus from inside an acne lesion, or when the acne pimple becomes traumatized from an external source (most often from picking, squeezing, or aggressive scrubbing and washing)," Dr. Nazarian told us. "There must be a break in the top layer of skin in order for the formation of a scab to be triggered."

As for what types of blemishes are more prone to scabbing, Dr. Gohara said that deep, cystic, painful, or hard ones most often cause inflammation, which can lead to itching, irritation, and the urge to pick.

How to Prevent Acne Scabs

The major culprit of acne scabs, namely, popping/picking your pimple, is a difficult — albeit not impossible — habit to break. Avoid irritating your pimple; instead, treat it with acne-fighting products and ingredients. It's your best bet to keep an acne scab and an acne scar from forming.

According to Dr. Nazarian, while not all acne scabs will turn into a scar, you're definitely opening yourself up to the possibility if you pick. "Although having a scab does not mean that you are definitively going to scar, it does indicate that there was an increased amount of injury to the skin, and the chances are slightly higher," said Dr. Nazarian. "It's for this reason dermatologists often encourage our patients to keep their fingers off their skin."