Why do I get a scab?

A scab comes because your skin got hurt. It makes a hard little cover. The cover keeps dirt out. Let it stay until it falls off.

You get a scab when your skin has a cut or scrape. Your body makes a dry, hard cover over the sore spot. It helps keep dirt and germs out while new skin grows underneath. It is like putting a lid on a cup so the drink stays safe inside.

A scab forms when your skin is cut or scraped. Tiny blood parts called platelets hurry to the spot and stick together. They help make a clot, a plug that stops bleeding. As the clot dries, it turns into a scab. The scab is a natural bandage that keeps germs and dirt out while new skin grows underneath. Fun fact: platelets can change shape and grow sticky “arms” to grab each other at a cut.