Essential Oils for the Skin & Scab Healing

Several conditions may break the skin, causing the formation of a scab, including abrasions, lacerations and blisters. A scab is a normal part of the healing process and should remain in place until it falls off naturally. Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy," recommends several essential oils to help speed the healing process. Essential oils can be caustic and should never be applied directly to the skin. Dilute essential oils with another oil, such as vitamin E or grape seed.

Abrasions occur when friction removes the top-most layer of skin. Skinned knees and rope burn are common types of abrasions. An abrasion may not bleed but will often become red and inflamed and the wound may scab over while healing. Worwood suggests using a blend of tea tree and red thyme oils for these types of wounds. You can also add frankincense, myrrh and lavender to the blend.

Lacerations, also known as cuts, vary in depth from the top-most layer, as with a paper cut, to deeper, as with a cut from a knife. A cut may not bleed or scab over, depending on its depth; for example, a surface cut like a paper cut may bleed very little or not at all. Worwood suggests applying a blend of lavender, tea tree and cypress oils to these types of wounds. She also suggests adding myrrh, rose and palma rosa to the mix.

Contusions, also known as bruises, are the result of blunt trauma that damages the blood vessels and soft tissues below the skin while leaving it intact. Bruises do not bleed or scab over but they can swell and they do discolor the skin. Worwood suggests applying a combination of chamomile, geranium and lavender oils to these types of wounds.

Blisters occur when the top-most layer of skin breaks away from the lower layers. This often occurs with friction, such as that caused by ill-fitting shoes. Blisters can also occur with burns and environmental irritants. Blisters form a bubble of fluid under the surface of the skin. If the bubble remains intact, the blister will not bleed or form a scab. If the bubble breaks, a clear fluid may seep from the opening and the skin underneath will be tender. A burst blister may scab over or the exposed skin may simply heal, depending on the depth of the blister. Worwood suggests using geranium for blisters and lavender for burns.