Infection can make a wound larger and take longer to heal. Diabetes. People with diabetes are more likely to have wounds that won't heal, which are also called long-term (chronic) wounds. Poor blood flow due to clogged arteries (arteriosclerosis) or conditions such as varicose veins.
The factors discussed include oxygenation, infection, age and sex hormones, stress, diabetes, obesity, medications, alcoholism, smoking, and nutrition. A better understanding of the influence of these factors on repair may lead to therapeutics that improve wound healing and resolve impaired wounds.
Key Takeaways: Wound-healing consists of 3 distinct stages with their own nutrient requirements. Sugar, alcohol, sodium-rich foods, and caffeine should all be avoided or limited while recovering from an injury.
Wound pain can be caused by skin damage, nerve damage, blood vessel injury, infection and ischaemia. It can lead to hypoxia which impairs wound healing and increase infection rates.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or iodine on the wound as these may cause skin irritation in some people. Stop using other antiseptic ointments if they cause skin irritation. Do not pick at the skin or the scab, as this can lead to scarring, slow healing, and increase the risk of infection.
Wound healing can be delayed by systemic factors that bear little or no direct relation to the location of the wound itself. These include age, body type, chronic disease, immunosuppression, nutritional status, radiation therapy, and vascular insufficiencies.
Pressure Ulcers
An example of a hard-to-heal wound is a pressure ulcer, otherwise known as bedsore.
As the wound begins to dry, a crust starts to form in the outer layer. If the crust is yellowish and if there is a formation of pimples on or near the wound, it could be septic. Sores that look like blisters. If there is a formation of sores which look like pockets of fluid around the area, they could be septic.
Q: What colour pus is bad? A: Pus is a protein-rich fluid known as liquor puris, which is accumulated at the site of infection. While whitish-yellow pus is normal, pus with the colour yellow, green or brown along with a foul smell can be a sign of infection.
People who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol are more likely to experience slower healing rates than those who don't smoke or drink. Both habits inhibit wound healing by suppressing your body's inflammatory response and restricting the flow of blood, oxygen, nutrients, and reparative cells to the injured area.
Water is the best source of fluid. When you have a poor appetite, choose milk or smoothies more often. Plan drinks into your day, as your body may not always tell you when it's thirsty.
Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten daily will also supply your body with other nutrients essential to wound healing such as vitamin A, copper and zinc. It may help to supplement your diet with extra vitamin C. Keep your wound dressed. Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm.
A telltale sign of maceration is skin that looks soggy, feels soft, or appears whiter than usual. There may be a white ring around the wound in wounds that are too moist or have exposure to too much drainage. Most instances of maceration are mild and resolve on their own without medical intervention.
MRSA may look like a bump on the skin that may be red, swollen, warm to the touch, painful, filled with pus, or draining. The pus or drainage contains the infectious bacteria that can be spread to others.
Ligaments, nerves and wounds in areas with more movement heal the slowest. Injuries to these areas have a longer recovery time because of poor blood circulation and constant motion stress.
An avulsion is a forcible tearing off of skin or another part of the body, such as an ear or a finger. Any time layers of skin have been torn off to expose muscles, tendons and tissue, it is called an avulsion. An amputation, such as getting a limb caught in a piece of heavy machinery, is also considered an avulsion.
Phase 2: Inflammation in wound healing
This phase can be the most painful of all.
Salt (sodium chloride) forces the liquid in cells to move out of the body when it comes in contact with them. If there is bacteria in the liquids, it is forced out too, helping to cleanse the skin. This is why salt water has been used since ancient times to treat cuts, wounds, sores, and skin irritations.
Small cuts and scrapes can be left uncovered, but moisture is usually needed to help speed up the healing process. Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and cover with an adhesive bandage any exposed wounds that might become dirty on the hands, feet, arms or legs.
A wound may throb or feel warm during the healing process. This is normal and shows that your body is fighting germs or bacteria and repairing the damaged tissue. However, if the throbbing persists for more than a few days or becomes more intense, it may be a sign of infection.