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How to Tell if a Wound is Healing or Infected
Wounds are open areas on the skin that happen from trauma, chronic disease, or after a surgical procedure. Most wounds heal quickly unless you have diabetes or circulation issues, which could cause complications like an infection.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of a wound infection is essential to your health. Slow healing or infected wounds can pose a real threat to your well-being.
If you're living with a wound and are unsure if it's healing properly, the team at Calvary Urgent Care in Humble, Texas, provides a quick evaluation and treatment.
Dr. Joseph Goin,our board-certified physician, is an expert in wound care. Dr. Goin carefully evaluates the wound to determine if it's healing correctly or if you require antibiotics or other interventions for an infection.
Stages of wound healing
When you have a wound, the body responds in several ways, including clotting blood and forming a scab to protect the injury. Typically, the body goes through four specific stages when it comes to wound healing, and they include:
Hemostasis
The first stage of open wound healing is hemostasis when the body sends platelets to clot the blood and stop bleeding. This stage is essential in scab formation and preventing excessive blood loss.
Scabbing
The second phase is the inflammatory phase, during which the scab forms and the body works to close the wound. Platelets keep the wound plugged shut, while fibrin holds the platelets in place to keep the wound safe and help it close.
Rebuilding
The third stage is the rebuilding stage, where the body rebuilds the wound by supplying it with oxygen-rich blood. It also produces collagen, the building block of new, healthy tissue around the wound.
Maturation
The last stage is maturation, which continues after the wound is closed. Your body continues to build and strengthen the tissues around the wound to ensure you have firm, healthy skin in the area of injury.
Signs a wound is healing
Every wound goes through all four stages of healing, but some take longer than others. How your wound heals depends on various factors, including age, overall health, the type of wound, and where it is on your body.
For instance, someone with diabetes will have a slower healing wound than someone healthy and fit. A small cut also heals quicker than a large open sore because of the size and depth of the injury.
It's essential to understand the signs that your wound is healing correctly. If you have a healthy wound, you should notice the following signs that mean it's healing correctly:
- Blood clotting over the wound
- Scab formation
- Wound shrinking in size
- Clear drainage
- Itching
- Pink skin around the wound
A wound may take several weeks to heal, but you should start seeing progress within the first week. Proper wound care and preventing debris and dirt from entering the open wound are the best ways to ensure it heals without complications.
Symptoms of an infected wound
An infection is one of the many complications of a wound, and can significantly delay wound healing and may lead to further issues with your health. The earlier you notice the signs of infection the faster you can get treatment.
Our team helps you understand the symptoms of an infected wound so you know when to get help. The following are typical signs that your wound may be infected:
- Slow or delayed healing
- Liquid oozing or the presence of pus
- Warmth around the wound
- Redness or skin color change
- Swelling and inflammation
- Pain or tenderness to touch
An infected wound is scary, but Dr. Goin has the knowledge and experience to treat it appropriately. He carefully inspects the wound and may provide treatments such as debridement, antibiotics, and special dressings to help fight the infection and keep the wound healing.
If you require expert wound care or think your wound may be infected, don't hesitate to call our Humble, Texas practice at 832-680-2273 or request an appointment on our website today.