How do cuts heal

But what about more serious wounds — the kind that involve stitches or a hospital stay? Most of us think of wounds happening because of accidents. But even clean surgical incisions are wounds. So are places where tubes or catheters go into the body. Skin is the largest organ in our body and helps protect it from germs bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on its surface. So, anything that breaks the skin is a wound because when the skin is broken, there's a risk of germs getting into the body and causing an infection.

The deeper, larger, or dirtier a wound is, the more care it needs. That's why a team of doctors and specially trained wound care nurses work together to monitor and treat serious wounds. Sometimes a wound is clean but there's a risk of infection because of where it is on the body. If the wound is in an area that has more bacteria — like the urinary tract, gastrointestinal system , or respiratory system — fluids and other contaminants could get into the wound and cause infection.

Dirt or a foreign object in the wound also can increase the risk of infection. If a wound is clean, a doctor will close it by stitching the edges together in two separate layers. The doctor will use dissolvable stitches to join the deeper layer of tissue under the skin. Then he or she will staple, tape, or stitch the skin over it.

Sometimes doctors use dissolvable stitches or tape to join the upper layer of skin as well as the lower layer. Otherwise, the doctor will remove any surface stitches or staples after about 7 to 10 days. Doctors don't always close a wound right away, though.

If there's a chance a wound is contaminated, they will leave it open to clean it out for example, with an animal bite. Closing a contaminated wound can trap bacteria inside and lead to infection. When they're sure there are no remaining bacteria or other contaminants, they will stitch or close the wound.

One of the most dramatic factors that can affect wound healing is reduced or poor blood supply to the wound. The oxygen and nutrients that new blood carries to the wound are key to successful healing. A wound that is not getting enough blood could take at least twice as long to heal, if it heals at all. These are called chronic wounds, which are more common in elderly people or people with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or other vascular disease.

People who smoke are at high risk for poor wound healing. If you have a wound that is not healing in a reasonable time frame, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. If you smoke, ask your provider for resources that will help you quit. Search Encyclopedia. How Wounds Heal Most of us take wound healing for granted.

Chemical signals instruct cells to create collagen, which serves as a type of scaffolding, and other tissues to begin the repair process. Occasionally, you see the result of this process as a scar that starts out red and eventually dulls.

Over time, the new tissue gets stronger. You might notice stretching, itching, and even puckering of the wound as that happens. Within 3 months, the wound is almost as strong in its repair as it was before the trauma. The entire healing process might take a couple of years to complete.

The process seems simple enough, but wound healing is actually quite complicated and involves a long series of chemical signals. Certain factors can slow or prevent healing entirely. One of the most dramatic factors is reduced or inadequate blood supply to the wound.

Properly caring for your wound means keeping it clean and covered. This can help prevent infections and scarring. When cared for properly, most wounds heal well, leaving only a small scar or none at all.

With larger wounds, you are more likely to have a scar. How cuts heal; How scrapes heal; How puncture wounds heal; How burns heal; How pressure sores heal; How lacerations heal. Wound healing. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 6. Wound care and dressings.

New York, NY: Pearson; chap Updated by: Debra G. Editorial team. How wounds heal. Deep wounds can affect: Tendons Muscles Ligaments Nerves Blood vessels Bones Minor wounds often heal easily, but all wounds need care to prevent infection. Stages of Wound Healing. The blood will start to clot within a few minutes or less and stop the bleeding. The blood clots dry and form a scab, which protects the tissue underneath from germs.

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.

You also may see some clear fluid oozing from the wound. This fluid helps clean the area.