“Time heals all wounds.” – Stephen King
Here Stephen King is talking about the emotional heals, which may heal with time, but you need to be very careful with the healing process when it comes to physical ones. A skin wound that does not heal leads to chronic pain, making the healing process difficult for the sufferer.
There can be multiple reasons behind a wound leading to chronic pain and suffering. Some drastic skin wounds can be a sign of trauma, infection, any underlying medical condition like diabetes, skin cancer, or much more. Therefore, it is highly advisable to collaborate with a practitioner before it gets difficult to heal.
Let’s surf through some common causes of chronic wounds –
- A serious surgery including an incision that turns into an infection later, making the healing process slower than usual.
- Being immobile, which releases excessive pressure on the blood flow, restricts the healing process.
- Trauma injuries slow down the healing process. In some severe cases, one may have to undergo neurological treatment as well. This solely depends on the severity of the trauma suffered.
- Tropical ulcers lead to a weird and unbearable sensation stopping the healing procedure for some time. This requires immediate practitioner’s consultation.
What is the healing process of a wound?
Whether you have a regular injury or a severe bruise that keeps on hurting even after a few weeks, the healing process for all wound types remains the same, at least in the initial stages. Here are the details –
Generally, a wound fails to heal when you miss one or two stages of the healing process. As a result, practitioners recommend avoiding any interruption in the natural healing procedure. It includes –
1. Inflammation stage– The blood vessels of the affected area tightens, which prevents blood loss and controls the platelets, which gather a lot of blood for your body. Once the blood clot is completed, the blood vessels begin to expand while maximizing the blood flow. For this, you can use a wound cream like – manuka honey ointment, which works on almost every sort of wound or cut. All you need to do is keep the affected area clean until new platelets appear.
2. Fibroblastic stage – The protein fiber called collagen begins to tighten the skin while improving its strength. This begins to grow within the affected area to enhance the healing process. It encourages the edges of the wound to shrink gradually.
What are the common barriers seen in the healing process?
Generally, the barriers depend on the kind and the severity of the wound suffered. However, some of the obstacles remain the same, and it includes –
- Hemorrhage
- Dead skin cells
- Age
- Diet
- Infection
- Medicines
- Smoking habits
- Excessive dryness on the upper layer of the skin
- Varicose veins
- Other medical complications
- Mechanical damages
Different types of wounds –
Common injuries take no time to turn into an infection that bleeds and leaves a negative impact on your skin. This is when you do not treat the minor cuts or bruises seriously for once. Surf through the list of different wounds and cuts to understand their severity and how it leads to a poor impact on the health –
No. 1 – Abrasions
It is the result of a scrape or harsh rub on a rough surface. One of the most common examples of this can be – skinning the knee while playing an outdoor game or scratching the elbow against a brick wall. Practitioners often refer to this as abrasions raspberries or strawberries. This is because of its unique appearance. Generally, abrasions do not bleed but may require a thorough examination as they can lead to infection. One can use a bandage or standard dressing processes to heal it. Commonly, it takes around a week or two to be healed completely.
No. 2 – Punctures
This is when a pointed nail penetrates into the skin pores. Puncture wounds are painful leading to excessive bleeding. This wound type should be cleaned by releasing extreme pressure on the affected area to remove all dirt and contaminants. Don’t forget to apply enough antibiotic ointment or cream on the wound before covering it with an antiseptic bandage.
Further, if someone has puncture wounds and had a tetanus injection in the past five years or so, you may not be able to see a good recovery even after 48 hours of first aid given. The same is the case when you have had rabies. Wounds by a cat or dog’s bite require the special attention of a veterinarian.
No. 3 – Lacerations
Lacerations are slight cuts or tears on the upper layer of the skin. It is caused due to sharp objects like broken glass or knives. Deep lacerations can end up in heavy blood flow leading to excessive blood loss. Here, one must pay attention to covering the wound completely to stop bleeding. Try not to release much pressure on the wound as extreme pressure releases more blood from the open cuts.
No. 4 – Avulsions
These are common injuries or cuts which can result in unstoppable bleeding putting the sufferer’s life at risk. This happens when a body part is totally torn away, leading to a significant injury. Generally, people get to see such cases in accidents or intentional physical damage cases. If the injury is too severe, it is advisable to take the sufferer to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment.
How to get control over unstoppable bleeding –
Someone experiencing unstoppable bleeding can see life-threatening circumstances. This is why practitioners recommend immediate consultation. If you do not see any improvement in bleeding, use the compress technique with the help of a clean cloth, preferably cotton. This helps to stop bleeding a few times. You need to cover the wound with both hands releasing excessive pressure. Keep holding on to the affected area until you see the bleeding stop. If the proper compress technique is followed, you can see positive results in 5 to 10 minutes.
Conclusion –
There are many reasons why people find it challenging to deal with the expanding wounds. It can be an alarming sign shouting out about a serious underlying health issue. All you need is to understand it and get the proper treatment for the same.