How to Tell if a Wound is Healing or Infected

Scrape on knees, minor cuts, animal bites, surgical incisions—wounds come in many shapes and sizes. Essentially, wounds are anything that break the skin. As soon as the skin is wounded, the body springs into action and starts the healing process. But how do you tell if a wound is healing properly?

Please read on to learn some of the signs of healthy wound healing as well as an infected wound. We will also talk about how to prevent infections and when to see a healthcare professional.

What should a normal healing wound look like?

All wounds go through certain stages of healing, no matter how they occur. Here is a brief overview of the normal healing process.

Hemostasis

This is the first stage in wound healing. It helps to stop bleeding. The body forms a clot to stop the leakage of blood. This is accomplished by narrowing the blood vessels around the wound to ease blood flow. The platelets in the blood stick together to form a clot or seal in the blood vessel walls. Tissues like collagen and thrombin make the blood thicker, and a thin layer or soft scab forms over the wound. The entire hemostasis stage occurs within a few minutes, and the wound stops bleeding.

Inflammation

This is the second stage of wound healing. The body gets to work cleaning and stabilizing the wound. White blood cells called neutrophils collect at the site of the wound. They are needed for fighting germs. This process occurs over a period of 24-48 hours. It is then followed by the arrival of macrophages, which are special immune system cells that clean the wound. The entire inflammatory stage of wound healing takes 4-6 days.

Proliferation

In the next stage, the body builds new skin by multiplying cells to repair the wound. The new tissue is called granulation tissue, and it is pink and uneven in appearance. New blood vessels form to supply oxygen and nutrients to the healing skin. The edges of the wound are pulled together. Layers of epithelial cells are added to cover the wound. This stage can take anywhere from 4 to 24 days.

Maturation

This is the last of the wound healing stages. It is called the maturation or remodeling stage. The body strengthens the tissues beneath and makes the skin strong and flexible again. This is accomplished by removing unneeded healing cells from the affected area and cross-linking cells to make the tissues stronger. It can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 years.

What are the signs of good wound healing?

Here are some signs that the wound is healing well:

Scab formation after the wound bleeds
Swelling, redness, pain, warm skin, and an initial discharge of clear liquid for up to 5 days (these things promote healing and are the body’s way to prevent infection)
New tissue growth as the wound heals
Scar formation (this can be pink, uneven, or stretched, but slowly blends in with the surrounding skin, although you may always have a scar)

What are the signs of wound infection?

Here are some signs of wound infection for which you should seek medical attention:

Swelling, redness, or warmth after the first 5 days
Increasing pain or long-lasting pain
Discolored or foul-smelling pus oozing from the wound
Darkening of the skin at the wound edges
Fever
Stiffness or limited movement of the infected area

What causes slow wound healing or non-healing wounds?

Risk factors for slow wound healing include diabetes, vascular disease, tobacco consumption, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and obesity. These conditions can result in poor circulation, a reduced ability to fight infections, and increased inflammation. If you have one of these conditions, you need to keep a close eye on every wound to ensure it doesn’t become a chronic wound or develop a wound infection.

How to get a wound to heal faster?

You can speed up the wound healing process by keeping the wound clean. The best way to clean a minor wound is to wash it under cool running water with mild soap. Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide can injure the tissues and delay wound healing. Using an antibiotic cream can help to fight invasions by bacteria and prevent wound infections.

It also helps to eat a healthy diet that includes protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Always stay up-to-date on your tetanus shot to avoid infected wounds and other serious complications from wounds.

When to seek medical attention for a wound?

Most minor wounds heal within a few days with basic wound care at home. However, some wounds can be life-threatening. You should seek immediate medical attention for any wounds that do not stop bleeding. It is also important to receive treatment from a healthcare professional for: