Scabs, pick them or leave them?

[RATTER15]

Recently I was with A District Nurse whilst tending a resident with a small wound, I commented when I saw the Nurse picking the scab off. She said whilst it has always been seen a bad thing to pick scabs off, it is now seen to to be the correct thing to do as long as you keep it sterile, she then said that this is why it is so instinctive to pick scabs off. I must say that the wound healed very quickly.

Im very unsure about this modern technique however, what do you think?

[Bbbananas]

I think Yuck.

[RATTER15]

I must admit to having a good pick at my own scabs!

[ojread2]

It is now considered better to keep a wound moist rather than dry to heal quickly

[wolf63]

I have a couple of spots on my scalp that I pick when bored - they are certainly not healing. How much of this is due to my picking and how much to the diabetes I don't know. Picking is soothing.

[ojread2]

And yes, rather disturbingly I like a good pick :/

[Bbbananas]

ONly at the correct stage of maturity though! Not ripe enough and they will bleed and form a new scab. Too ripe and you won't get quite the satisfaction. I cannot believe I'm saying this, I feel bilious now.....

[ummmm]

If you pick the scabs off and put on a sterile dressing the scab doesn't form again.

[ojread2]

now where's the fun in that, umm? :)

[ummmm]

I'm thinking big, bad, monster scabs....that will leave a scar :-)

[bednobs]

pick and eat (your own that is - not other people's)

[ummmm]

Nooooo....

You are joking bednobs?

[bednobs]

nope, very satisfying!

[ummmm]

lol....I'll take your word for it.. :-)

[anneasquith]

scabs, are natures way of healing a wound, id say leave them alone, they fall off naturally

[Sqad]

Makes not a jot of difference........

[boxtops]

Ideally I'd leave them and let nature take its course, but moist wound healing is certainly very effective for larger ones.

[RATTER15]

Isn't it also natural and instinctive to pick them off?

[starone]

Yes it is natural and instinctive. Everyone picks scabs off.

[firewatch]

have to admit reading that made me want to pick a scab lol

[rowanwitch]

The scab is trapping moisture underneath.... it is natures dressing... scabs off if there might be infection underneath so it can be properly cleaned...

what you do with your own scabs however.....