Actually, most people don’t. But if you DO, then you REALLY do.
Welcome to Wound Healing, one of the best kept secrets in medicine. By the time you finish this post, you will know more about wound healing than many of the doctors in America. This post is brought to you by the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery, a group of physicians working to improve wound care by increasing awareness of this area of medicine.
Most everyday wounds will heal normally. When a wound fails to resolve, it is considered chronic. Common medical problems complicate the normal process of healing. People with diabetes, poor arterial circulation, or chronic swollen legs often develop wounds that are resistant to healing after even minor injuries. Chemotherapy for cancer can slow healing. Lack of protein or vitamin nutrition can delay healing, even in people without chronic medical conditions. Lack of access to bandages or washing can change a simple cut into a medical crisis. Wound healing specialists work to overcome the obstacles associated with chronic wounds, with the goal of saving tissue. Although it can appear that sophisticated dressings are the primary tool, educating patients and their caregivers is at least equally as important as bandage selection.
The posts that follow will include information about wound healing strategies, including basic principles, simple dressings, and advanced approaches to care. Our philosophy is that the best approach considers the “Whole Patient,” not the “Hole” in the patient– which is to say, no single approach will work for everyone. In general, these principles apply:
- Clean it: Unless there is exposed bone or tendon or a deep abdominal open wound, cleaning a wound at each bandage change will help the wound to heal. Since all wounds have bacteria in them, failing to clean the wound is likely to allow the bacteria to get the upper hand and prevent healing.
- Cover it: Keeping a wound covered with almost any dressing will lead to improved outcomes compared to leaving a wound open to air. Scabs are not healing. A healing wound should have a moist bed.
- Nourish it: Healing a wound is like building a house. It goes faster if there are extra supplies on hand. Our tissues are built of protein, and vitamins are like the glue that hold them together. During healing, it’s especially helpful to concentrate on the value of nutrition intake.
- Avoid further injury: Nicotine and increased sugar intake interfere with healing and cause further injury. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to healthy tissue. Walking barefoot can cause further injury for people with feeling loss in their feet.
In conclusion, not all challenging wounds can be healed, but most can.
Your wound healing doctor will teach you not only how to care for your wound, but also how to reduce your chances of getting another wound. If you have a wound that is not progressing normally toward healing, ask your medical provider about a referral to a wound healing specialist. It’s such a well-kept secret, there’s not even an -ologist name for it.