Whether it’s a simple cut or an incision from surgery, all wounds go through three healing stages.
Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing wants to you be familiar with the three stages so you can better understand the progression and come up with an effective wound healing plan.
- Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to trauma. When a wound occurs, blood vessels constrict and seal off, while platelets help form a clot to stop the bleeding. This process is called homeostasis. Once the bleeding stops, the blood vessels dilate to allow white blood cells and other elements start to heal the wound and prevent infection. The person will experience pain, swelling, heat, and redness during the inflammation phase.
- Proliferation
New granulation tissue forms over the wound in the proliferation stage. This is where an infection would present itself. If the color of the granulation tissue forming over the wound is pinkish or reddish in color, it would be considered healthy. A darker color of tissue generally means the tissue is either infected or not enough blood is being delivered to the wounded area. Always consult a doctor if a wound is showing signs of infection.
- Maturation
Maturation, or remodeling, occurs after the wound is closed. Surprisingly, this process can take up to two years, so while the skin may appear healed on the outside, there is still work being done for the area to get back to 100 percent. Even after maturation is complete, the wound area can be up to 20 percent weaker than it was prior to the injury.
It’s important to note that there is no timetable for each stage of the healing process – it’s based on a number of factors like skin health, age, and the body’s immune system.
