Wound healing

The Wound healing is a natural process that is influenced by many external and internal factors. Without reliable wound healing, there would be health consequences that could even lead to death.

What is wound healing?

In the Wound healing complex and extremely complicated processes take place in the organism, which ultimately contribute to the closure of the wound opening.

The basis for wound healing is a new formation of tissue, which is completely the same or just similar to the destroyed one. In this context, wound healing can also end with scar tissue.

A whole series of effects can lead to a disorder in wound healing. As a rule, wound healing occurs quickly if the dimensions are small. The body's own natural biological processes can drag on or fail to heal for a long time. Wound healing also depends on the nature of the wound. There are different forms of wound healing.

Course, stages & phases

The Wound healing goes off in different stages, which also characterize the processes and symptoms that occur during wound healing. In medicine, the exudative, resorptive, proliferative and regenerative stages are classified as stages of wound healing. All sections are based on the previous phase and cannot be separated from each other. The stages of wound healing cannot be clearly defined in every case.

Within the first three days after an injury, wound healing occurs through blood clotting. In wound healing, this is based on a secreted moisture, an exudate, which contains fibrin, a coagulation factor. Visible from the outside, the initiation of wound healing can be seen as a scab or scab. This initially temporary wound closure means that no infections can develop during wound healing.

The resorptive stage of wound healing is characterized by the fact that an accumulation of the body's own protein manifests itself. The formation of so-called granulation tissue is opened.

In the proliferation phase, which lasts up to the seventh day, the fibroblasts produce a supporting tissue. In wound healing, this consists of collagen fibers and represents a protein-containing basic structure.

Scar tissue grows eight to nine days after the wound has formed. The scar tissue appears visually lighter and smoother than intact tissue. In addition, when wounds heal, scar tissue develops not only on the skin, but also on the internal organs. Normal wound healing is completed with the scar tissue made of squamous epithelium, a special layer of tissue.

Functions & tasks

The Wound healing includes other functions in addition to cleaning, protecting and closing the wound. The intact wound healing can prevent diseases caused by invading germs. In addition, wound healing causes an interruption in blood loss so that the organism can survive.

A damaged or destroyed tissue and the associated organ regain its functionality through a completely completed wound healing process.

Diseases, Complications & Disorders

In the event of an interruption or inability of the organism, a complete Wound healing to ensure, is spoken of a disorder of wound healing or a wound healing disorder.

A disruption in wound healing is causally related to varying factors. These aspects either relate directly to the wound itself. Wound healing can be impaired, for example, by infection, the action of pressure, inadequate coagulation and wound closure, too large a wound size or exposure to stress.

If wound healing is disrupted despite the exclusion of these causes, the causes can be age (wounds heal very poorly in older people), existing diseases such as metabolic diseases, insufficient immune defense, cancer, hormonal disorders and deficiencies.

An inadequate, unbalanced diet and too little fluid can also lead to impaired wound healing. Various minerals and vitamins that support wound healing are important in connection with nutrition. As a result of malnutrition or malnutrition, these are missing and there are wound healing disorders.

If there are disorders of wound healing, reasons such as the use of various medications (anticoagulants, cytostatics), diseases of the cardiovascular system with associated reduced blood flow and individual mental illnesses can be the reasons. Excessive addiction-related consumption of alcohol or drugs also restricts wound healing.