So, we’re all made out of cells, right? And these cells are really super tiny, so why is it when we accidently cut ourselves, like a papercut or from glass, the sharp edge just doesn’t push the cells to the side?
Further, do those edges push aside out individual atoms too, or somehow have we just been avoiding death via splitting atoms?
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So this might not be super ELI5, but our tiny cells are not just bound together physically (like pushed together), but they’re bound together through chemical processes, like glue. Once it’s dried (the cells have formed and been created and specialized), they’re more “rigid”. Normally skin stretching is like sticky putty that pulls apart but snaps back together. That knife or cutting surface breaks that “rigid” bond and just like glue, after its set, you can’t just stick it back together and have it reform.
Same thing that happens when cutting as pulling apart. Once it reaches its limit of distance apart it’ll break. Cause the knife or whatevers edge is so fine, it wedges itself between those cells and pushes them apart much quicker. It’s much more efficient to do this than to pull for that reason, that sharper angle increases the tension.
That’s why your body needs to send clotting factors and fill the gaps, it’s starting that gluing process again. As your scab is forming, your body is sending tiny little packets of glue through your blood to bit by bit stick to the edges until it closes the hole. These then dry/set in place and are pushed outward by more cells that keep piling on. Your body is pretty much constantly making these new bits of glue at the bottom later of your skin and pushing the old ones outward.
The topmost layer of your skin is actually a lot of old dead skin that is not alive but serves as a protective layer before it flakes off.
I think it’s best to think of your scab as a gluing process but its coming from the inside instead of out. You still need to wait for it to dry.
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