• What Causes Delayed Healing?
• How Can I Aid in the Wound Healing Process?
• How Can a Wound be Managed?

Have you ever experienced a significant wound? When healing from that wound, did you wonder how to care for it properly? A wound isn’t just a simple cut or scrape; it’s any break in the skin or deeper tissues. While most skin injuries heal relatively quickly, some wounds pose challenges in the healing process, meaning “chronic wounds.” Chronic wounds aren’t your typical scrapes or cuts that heal swiftly. These persistent wounds demand specialized care and attention to heal properly and efficiently. Many things can cause them, such as:

• Surgical wounds that reopen
• Pressure ulcers resulting from skin breakdown due to excessive pressure on bony areas
• Injuries to the feet or legs due to poor circulation, leading to arterial or venous ulcers
• Loss of sensation and circulation due to diabetes, causing diabetic ulcers

But how can you make sure your wounds heal properly? And how can you provide yourself with proper home care? At Freedom Health & Wellness, we don’t want our patients to go without knowing how to properly care for and heal an open wound when the event occurs. Here are a few things you should know about how to care for your wound at home. 

Chronic wounds pose challenges due to factors hindering their healing process, such as bacteria. When a wound is open, bacteria can easily infiltrate, causing contamination. While not all contamination is harmful, there are distinct differences:

Colonization: Bacteria exist in the wound but aren’t reproducing or causing harm.

Infection: Bacteria multiply, invade the tissue, and impede healing, leading to soft tissue invasion.

Here are some factors that can cause delayed healing:

• Poor nutrition
• Diseases like diabetes or conditions affecting the liver, kidney, or lungs
• Specific treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation
• Smoking and obesity

Supporting the wound’s healing process involves creating optimal conditions for tissue growth. Maintaining a clean, warm, and moist environment facilitates faster healing. To aid healing:

• Keep it Clean: Prioritize hand hygiene to prevent infection by washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs before and after touching the wound.
• Dress the wound: Keep it covered with a clean dressing to shield it from germs and potential injury.
• Protect the wound: Prevent potential trauma or injury by carefully safeguarding the wound.
• Maintain Good Nutrition: Maintain a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals to provide the necessary building blocks for healing.

Having a scheduled routine for cleanings and dressing changes is vital for optimal healing. Follow these steps for effective wound care:

• Prepare: Set up and sanitize a clean workspace and gather supplies.
• Remove the old dressing: Clean hands, remove the dressing carefully, and clean the wound gently.
• Apply a New Dressing: Carefully position a fresh dressing over the wound and secure it.

Regular monitoring of your wounds is essential for optimal healing. Make sure to watch for any signs of infection. If you are still determining whether it is time to get your wound looked at, make an appointment with one of our physicians at Freedom Health & Wellness.