What Is Wound Care?

Wounds include cuts, scrapes, scratches and punctured skin. They often occur as a result of an accident or injury, but surgical incisions, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but even cuts and scrapes require care.

Healing is a response to the injury that sets into motion a sequence of events. With the exception of bone, all tissues heal with some scarring. The object of proper care is to minimize the possibility of infection and scarring.

There are basically 4 phases to the healing process:

  • Inflammatory phase: The inflammatory phase begins with the injury itself. Here you have bleeding, immediate narrowing of the blood vessels, clot formation, and release of various chemical substances into the wound that will begin the healing process. Specialized cells clear the wound of debris over the course of several days.
  • Proliferative phase: Next is the proliferative phase in which a matrix or latticework of cells forms. On this matrix, new skin cells and blood vessels will form. It is the new small blood vessels (known as capillaries) that give a healing wound its pink or purple-red appearance. These new blood vessels will supply the rebuilding cells with oxygen and nutrients to sustain the growth of the new cells and support the production of proteins (primarily collagen). The collagen acts as the framework upon which the new tissues build. Collagen is the dominant substance in the final scar.
  • Remodeling phase: This begins after 2-3 weeks. The framework (collagen) becomes more organized making the tissue stronger. The blood vessel density becomes less, and the wound begins to lose its pinkish color. Over the course of 6 months, the area increases in strength, eventually reaching 70% of the strength of uninjured skin.
  • Epithelialization:This is the process of laying down new skin, or epithelial, cells. The skin forms a protective barrier between the outer environment and the body. Its primary purpose is to protect against excessive water loss and bacteria. Reconstruction of this layer begins within a few hours of the injury and is complete within 24-48 hours in a clean, sutured (stitched) wound. Open wounds may take 7-10 days because the inflammatory process is prolonged, which contributes to scarring. Scarring occurs when the injury extends beyond the deep layer of the skin (into the dermis).

To avoid infection and aid healing:

  • Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding
  • Clean the wound with water
  • Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
  • Bandage the wound if it's in an area that might get dirty
  • Watch for swelling and redness
  • Get a tetanus booster if you are due for one

 

Serious and infected wounds require medical attention. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, if you cannot close it yourself, if you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or if it does not heal.

 

Health Tip #:002

Boost The Fiber In Your Diet

Dietary fiber has been shown to be beneficial to good health. An indigestible carbohydrate found in plant foods dietary fiber comes in two forms. One, insoluble fiber, may help prevent colon cancer. Good sources are whole grains, high-fiber cereals, fruits and vegetables. The other, soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol and especially important for diabetics, may help control blood glucose by slowing the digestion of dietary glucose. Soluble fiber is found in oats, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

Just a few changes can be incorporated for any lifestyle with ease. To boost fiber:
1. Include plenty of beans and lentils in meals. These members of the legume family-which also includes peas, soybeans, and peanuts-are loaded with protein and minerals.
2. If the peel on the fruit and vegetable is edible, leave it on for more fiber.
3. Opt for whole grain breads and crackers. To tell whether a product is high fiber, check the label. Make sure the first ingredient is whole wheat or another type of whole grain flour.