Wound Healing: What’s Normal and What’s Not

Any injury that damages the skin and underlying tissues is considered a wound, whether it’s from a traumatic injury like a fall, a car accident, or anything that causes friction against the skin.

The wound healing process is straightforward, but can take several weeks to months in severe cases. You need to know what's normal and what's not when it comes to wounds to prevent infection and other complications.

You may not realize it, but if you're living with heart issues, peripheral artery disease, or varicose veins, you're at risk for severe wounds.

At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, Dr. Hesham Fakhri provides cardiovascular services, including wound care, at his practice in Tampa, Sun City Center, and Wesley Chapel, Florida.

Stages of wound healing

When you have a wound, it goes through several stages of healing before your skin returns to normal, as your body attempts to heal the tissues from the inside out.

The four stages of wound healing are essential in preventing infection or chronic wounds from forming. These stages include:

Hemostasis

The first stage of wound healing is hemostasis. Blood vessels constrict around the wound, and platelets gather together to form a scab to stop further bleeding.

Inflammation

The inflammatory phase typically occurs between days one and four. It involves immune cells entering the wound to remove bacteria and other cellular debris.

The immune cells also release growth factors and proteins called cytokines to recruit other cells into the healing process.

Proliferation

The proliferation phase occurs when new cells begin to form within the wound. It involves re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and granulation. These phases allow skin cells, blood vessels, and collagen to overtake the wound.

Maturation

The maturation phase happens between weeks two and two years after the initial injury. The new tissues strengthen and collagen remodels, allowing the scar tissue to become stronger.

What's normal in a wound?

It's normal for a wound to go through various stages of healing that last days, weeks, or months, depending on the location and severity. Some wounds heal very quickly where there's good circulation, while others take longer due to poor blood flow or depth.

Most people also notice inflammation around the wound as it heals, which is normal. The inflammatory process is how the body rebuilds tissue and cells necessary for tissue repair.

As the days pass, you should notice the wound changing, getting smaller, and a scab forming over the area. These are all good signs of wound healing that signal healthy circulation and a proper healing process.

When to seek treatment for wound healing

Sometimes it's challenging to differentiate a healthy wound from a non-healthy one, especially during the initial inflammatory phase of healing.

You should seek treatment if you notice any abnormal signs, which include:

Increasing pain
Tenderness to the touch
Spreading redness
Warmth
Increased swelling
Foul odor from the wound
Discharge or pus

Another abnormal sign is a wound that doesn't seem to be healing. Delayed wound healing can signal issues such as poor circulation and medical problems like diabetic neuropathy.

To prevent serious complications, get help when you notice slow wound healing or no healing at all. Seeing dead or unhealthy wound tissue is another abnormal sign that requires immediate treatment.

We offer wound care as part of our regular services. We provide lifestyle tips and tricks as well as professional treatments to help your wound get better faster.

Call us at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute today to schedule an appointment to discuss wound care or request a consultation here.