How wounds heal

How cuts heal; How scrapes heal; How puncture wounds heal; How burns heal; How pressure sores heal; How lacerations heal

A wound is a break or opening in the skin. Your skin protects your body from germs. When the skin is broken, even during surgery, germs can enter and cause infection. Wounds often occur because of an accident or injury.

Types of wounds include:

  • Cuts
  • Scrapes
  • Puncture wounds
  • Burns
  • Pressure sores

A wound may be smooth or jagged. It may be near the surface of the skin or deeper. Deep wounds can affect:

  • Tendons
  • Muscles
  • Ligaments
  • Nerves
  • Blood vessels
  • Bones

Minor wounds often heal easily, but all wounds need care to prevent infection.

Blood clotting

Ouch! Here's how platelets form clots. This small artery has a cut. Blood flowing past the cut includes red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets that come from white blood cell fragments, and clotting factors that help blood clot. When a blood vessel is damaged, blood cells and plasma ooze into surrounding tissue. Platelets immediately stick to the edges of the cut and release chemicals that attract more platelets. Eventually, a platelet plug is formed, and the outside bleeding stops. On the inside, clotting factors cause a cascade of activity that includes strands of blood-borne material called fibrin sticking together to seal the inside of the wound. Eventually, the blood vessel heals, and several days later, the blood clot dissolves.

Bruise healing - series

Bruises occur when blood vessels break, due to some kind of force, and leak blood into areas under the skin. The main symptoms of a bruise are pain, swelling, and skin discoloration. A bruise begins as a pinkish, red color that can be very tender to touch.

Stages of Wound Healing

Taking Care of Your Wound

Outlook

When to Call the Doctor