Any wounds on the facial skin can be pretty bad. This includes abrasions that are resulted from harsh contact between the facial skin and hard surfaces. Most scrapes heal with self-care and home remedies and do not scar. However, deeper abrasions on visible skin area may cause unwanted problems and embarrassment.

How long does it take for abrasion to heal on face?

Minor scrapes on face can be uncomfortable, as it does not only cause burning and painful sensation, but also causes embarrassment. However, they should heal quite quickly and do not commonly result in bad scarring as the other types of wound will. Commonly, this type of abrasions heal completely within 4 to 7 days with minimal scarring that is going to disappear within weeks. However, deeper facial abrasions may elapse more healing steps that make the entire process longer and slower.

• Facial abrasions commonly damage the outer layer of the skin—the epidermis. Eventually new skin forms beneath the wound and heal the wound site from the bottom up. The new skin is commonly yellowish and fairer than the scrapes, which appear red and inflamed. With minor skin, new skin cell formation is usually elapsed for the first 2 to 3 days.
• On day 4 or 5, the wound edges begin to heal. When all damaged outer layer of the skin is removed, the new skin appears to the edges of the wound, healing it from the outer edge to the middle. You might notice some fat tissues as well during this healing process.
• In uncovered scrapes, scabs might form. Naturally, these scabs are the barrier that protects the abrasions from outer injuries and dirt. When scabs form, the wound generally stops oozing and bleeding. If you do not pick at any scabs during this healing process, it will come off naturally, leaving the affected skin area with minimal scarring. In most cases, scabs occurring with facial abrasions become completely dry and come off within a week after the initial treatment.
• If scabs are disturbed—rubbed, picked at, scraped, it will trigger re-bleeding. When an abrasion re-bleeds, the healing process is restarted and hence, you are going to need another week to get it completely healed.
• When the abrasions on face heal completely, you might notice some lighter skin area from this healed wound, this is normal, considering the newly formed skin surface from the process. Eventually, your complexion will be even and the scar will go completely. You might need to give some weeks to months for the different skin tones to be even.

Which heals faster, body or facial abrasions?

Despite the embarrassment it may cause, superficial facial abrasions should not be a big concern, as it usually heals faster than abrasions on the other parts of the body, such as ones on the elbows or knees. There are a couple of common reasons why abrasions on face need less time to heal:

• Our face consists of numerous blood vessels. This is similar to the head. Thus, wounds in any type, including abrasions, which occur on the face or scalp need less time to heal than those located in the parts of the body where blood circulation is limited.
• Facial skin does not produce a lot of movements compared to the area where joints are located, such as the elbows and knees. A lot of movements will inhibit wound healing, as it may cause wound re-opening that results in re-bleeding. Scabs also easily form on these areas, limiting the movements once the wound is healed. Facial abrasions are commonly not disturbed by any movements, so that it can heal properly quite more quickly.
• Both body and facial abrasions are going to heal properly and faster if dressed in moist wound dressing. While in the past wounds are said to be let breathing, it is now found as less effective method of wound healing. As abrasions may easily turn into scabs, moist dressing on facial skin is highly recommended. Antibiotic ointment applied to the abrasions covered in moist dressing will prevent scab formation, so that these abrasions can heal thoroughly within one week with minimal scaring.