When you think about a wound, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s your child’s scraped knee or a cut from a kitchen incident. Wounds can also be the result of an incision made during surgery or a symptom of a condition such as diabetes. Show
When a wound happens, your body leaps into action to heal itself and is usually able to make everything right again. That’s why your kiddo’s scraped knee looks better within a few days and surgical incisions can heal in a matter of weeks. But sometimes wounds stick around longer than they should, and in some cases, they can become chronic wounds. So, how do you know if your wound is healing properly? And how can you tell if a wound is infected and may need medical attention? Read on to learn about the stages of wound healing and what to do when you have a wound that’s not healing the way it should. The stages of wound healing: How to tell if you’re on trackNo matter how a wound came about, the stages of healing are the same. Below, we’ll cover how your body stops the bleeding, cleans and protects the wound, and builds and strengthens new skin. We’ll also explain approximately how long each stage should take. Hemostasis stageHemostasis is the first stage of wound healing. Your body’s goal during this stage is to stop the bleeding. What your body does: Closes the wound by forming a clot to stop blood from leaking out of your body. Here’s what happens:
How long it takes: This stage of wound healing happens pretty quickly – usually within a few minutes. Signs it’s working: You know that you’ve made it through the hemostasis stage if your wound has stopped bleeding. Inflammatory stageThe inflammatory stage is the second stage of wound healing. The goal of this stage is to clean and stabilize the wound. What your body does: Gets rid of the bacteria and debris that could prevent proper wound healing while also creating a barrier against infection. Here’s what happens:
How long it takes: Usually about 4-6 days. Signs it’s working: During this stage of healing, you may experience swelling, redness or pain while your wound heals. Your skin may also feel hot to the touch, and you may see a clear liquid around your wound. These are all signs that the inflammatory stage of wound healing is well underway. Inflammation is important to wound healing because it helps control the bleeding and prevent infection. But if you continue to experience inflammation for more than a couple weeks, it may be a sign that something is getting in the way of the healing process and you should talk to a doctor. We’ll get into possible reasons for poor healing below. Proliferative stageThe third stage of wound healing is the proliferative stage and that’s when the rebuilding process begins. Proliferative means that your cells are multiplying and spreading – and that’s a good thing because your body uses these cells to repair your wound. What your body does: Fills, defines and covers up the wound with new tissue. Here’s what happens:
How long it takes: Usually between 4-24 days. You can help the healing process stay on track by keeping the new tissue on wounds clean and hydrated. Signs it’s working: During this stage, the granulation tissue over your wound is typically pink or red and uneven in texture – and it usually doesn’t bleed. However, if the new tissue is very dark, that could be a sign that things aren’t healing the way they should, and you may need to talk to a doctor. Maturation stageThe last stage of wound healing is the maturation stage, sometimes called the remodeling stage. The goal of this stage is to strengthen the repair. Even if your wound is closed and looks healed at the end of the proliferative stage, it takes time for the skin to become strong and more flexible. What your body does: Organizes cells and strengthens the new tissue. Here’s what happens:
How long it takes: Anywhere from three weeks to two years, depending on some of the factors listed below. Signs it’s working: At the beginning of the maturation stage, the new tissue may look pink, wrinkled or stretched. But as time goes on, the tissue will fade in color and flatten out. However, you may always have a scar. Common signs of wound healing problemsWe’ve talked about signs of good healing. So, what are signs that a wound is not healing the way it should? Here are some things to watch for: Wound infectionAn infected wound can slow the pace of healing. That’s because your body is putting all its effort into trying to keep your wound clean and getting rid of the bacteria, fungi or germs that are in the wound. If you think you have an infection, talk to a doctor right away, no matter how small your wound is. This will help reduce the chance of the infection spreading. The following are signs of wound infection:
Inflammation that doesn’t go awayWhile inflammation is an important part of wound healing, prolonged or returning inflammation can signal that there’s a problem such as poor healing or infection. While it can take up to a year or more for a wound to fully heal, it should start looking better after about a week. At this point the inflammation should be mostly gone and your body should be working on making new tissue. If your wound is still red and raw after a couple weeks, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor – even if you don’t think you have an infection. Our Wound Healing Center offers specialized expertise and advanced treatments.Learn more Are some people more likely to have get slow healing wounds?Yes. Slow-healing wounds are more common if you have diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, high blood pressure or vascular disease. Here’s how these conditions affect your body’s ability to heal itself:
Having one or more of these conditions doesn’t mean that your wounds won’t heal. However, you’ll want to watch out for new wounds to make sure they don’t turn into chronic wounds. What is a chronic wound?A wound becomes chronic when it heals very slowly or doesn’t heal at all. The following may be signs that a wound is chronic:
Wounds don’t need to be large to become chronic. If there’s a small scratch that doesn’t heal, that can be an issue, too. So, pay attention to all your cuts and scrapes, no matter how tiny. Although chronic wounds are most common in people with diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, high blood pressure or vascular disease, you can have a chronic wound even if you are otherwise healthy. How to make a wound heal fasterTake good care of your woundsYour wound may heal faster if you keep it clean, moist and free of bacteria. Using antibiotic cream and keeping it covered with a bandage can help. If your wound is large or deep, it may take longer to heal. And if you have lots of tissue damage, your body may need more time to fully recover. Larger or deeper wounds heal faster when treated by your doctor. When your doctor closes a wound using stitches, it reduces the area that your body needs to work at healing. Eat a wound healing dietYour body needs certain nutrients to fix your wounds. To have a wound healing diet, make sure you’re getting enough of the following: Usually you can get enough of the nutrients you need by eating a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables. But talk to your doctor if you have questions. Get help for infected wounds or slow-healing woundsYour body has an amazing ability to repair all your cuts and scrapes. For most people, it’s just a matter of time before things heal. But if you think your wound is taking too long to heal or may be infected, it’s time to talk to a doctor. This is especially true if you have medical conditions that can slow wound healing. If you have a wound that won’t heal, we can helpWe can help you get the wound healing process back on track. Even if you’ve had a chronic wound for months or years, it’s not too late to get treatment. Our Wound Healing Center offers the most advanced options for the most chronic wounds. Learn about our Wound Healing Center Can a non open wound get infected?A closed wound is when the injured area is under the skin and not exposed to the air. But it can still become infected with germs and may develop into an abscess.
Why are my wounds not bleeding?Not all wounds bleed. For example, burns, some puncture wounds, and pressure sores do not bleed. Once the scab forms, your body's immune system starts to protect the wound from infection. The wound becomes slightly swollen, red or pink, and tender.
What do you call a wound that doesn't bleed?Typically, an abrasion will not bleed heavily, but the area should be thoroughly cleaned and washed with soap and water to avoid infection. An abrasion may require a bandage or dressing in extreme cases, but minor abrasions should heal on their own after cleaning.
How do you know if the wound is not infected?After the initial discharge of a bit of pus and blood, your wound should be clear. If the discharge continues through the wound healing process and begins to smell bad or have discoloration, it's probably a sign of infection.
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