• Question: why does a scab form and how does it help us from not getting ill?

    Asked by haseebatahir786 to Tim, Sarah, Dalya on 13 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Tim Millar

      Tim Millar answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Scabs are formed by platelets which are very small cells floating around in the blood. When we have a cut these cells stick to each other and the blood vessel wall to form a blood clot. Some red cells get caught up in the clot that why its often red. The idea is to stop you losing blood and to stop nasty things fro the outside getting in and making you ill. The whole process is called the coagulation cascade and is very complicated.

      Some people have a problem with clots in their blood vessels and particularly their brain or heart. We use clot busting drugs to break them up or anti-coagulants (based on rat poison!) to stop them from forming in the first place

    • Photo: Dalya Soond

      Dalya Soond answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Good god, how does Tim get his answers in so quickly all the time.

    • Photo: Sarah Thomas

      Sarah Thomas answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Yup scabs are formed by platelets and they basically form a protective bandage around the injury. It stops germs from getting in because it is basically a physical barrier. White blood cells are also sent to the site of injury and they attach any germs that may have gotten in and remove any dead cells.

      And you are really not supposed to pick your scabs because if you do you can tear the deliacte new skin underneath and end up with a worse scar.

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