subject: The Wound Healing Process [print this page] The Wound Healing Process The Wound Healing Process
Most people know how to manage everyday injuries like minor burns and small lacerations with the help of a first-aid kit. Dealing with small cuts and wounds does not require any specialized knowledge of wound management. However, understanding the mechanism of wound healing can certainly help in improving the standard of care. There are normally three phases of wound healing:
Inflammatory phase
is phase begins with blood clotting in the wound, which takes place when the blood vessels in the wound area start contracting right after the injury. Once the clotting occurs, the vessels again dilate to allow the blood flow as well as the supply of important substances like proteins, nutrients, enzymes etc. At this time, the skin around the wound area starts showing the signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling and pain.
Proliferation Phase
In the second phase of wound healing, the wound starts rebuilding. Three things happen in this phase: formation of new blood vessels, production of new cells that cover the wound and collagen formation which is the primary component of connective tissue that form the skin. Granulation begins in the wound at this stage, which is a sign of proper healing. The color of the granules indicates whether it is healthy granulation or not. Healthy granulation is characterized by pink color while dark granulation is indicative of problems with healing.
Maturation Phase
This is the final and the longest phase which starts two to three months after the injury and may continue for months. In this phase, the unwanted or dead cells are removed and the skin over the wound becomes stronger and the area starts returning to its normal color.
While it helps to know how a wound heals, proper first-aid and initial treatment of the wound is also very important. Properly and thoroughly cleaning the wound and then using an appropriate wound dressing or bandage ensures quick healing. Wound dressings protect the wound and help them heal. Dressings and bandages are an essential part of first-aid kits. These have remarkably improved over the years using technologies like hydrocolloids, hydrogels, alginates and foams. The newer dressings such as Tegaderm and Duoderm are much more effective as compared to the traditional ones. Many new dressings are water-proof, create a moist wound healing environment, can be left on for up to seven days and are painless upon removal.
A moist environment in and around the wound is very effective in promoting quick wound healing. However, moist wound healing is not suitable for all types of wounds. For example, wounds of diabetic people who have neuropathy should be kept dry because their wounds become infected very easily.
