Information about the wound that should be recognized:

A little blood is good as the blood helps clean the wounds, so a little bleeding is good. Most small cuts and scrapes stop bleeding quickly. To help with this, pressure can be applied to the wound with gauze or tissue.

If blood leaks through it, another piece of gauze can be placed over it. The old piece of gauze should not be removed so that the bleeding does not recur again.

Gently clean cuts and scrapes with cool water. Washing around the wound with soap and a washcloth.

Add an antibiotic cream. Not only do antibiotic creams and ointments keep wounds moist, but they can also reduce the risk of infection.

Cover the wound with a bandage. Exposed scratching is at risk of infection.

Signs of healing when the wound begins to heal. White blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Platelets, red blood cells, and fibrin create a jelly-like clot over the wound, and soon a protective scab forms.

Quick care for minor burns. Most of us experience a minor burn or two. Immediately cool the area with a cool cloth or cool running water to prevent the skin from retaining heat and continuing to burn. Next, wash the burn with soap and water and cover it with a bandage.

Surgical wound care. Caring for a surgical wound is similar to caring for cuts and scrapes. The wound may have to be protected with a bandage for a few days, and the dressing changed daily, or at the surgeon’s discretion.

Recognize signs of infection. If redness spreads, swelling, green or yellow fluid, or increased warmth or pain around the wound, there may be an infection. Other signs include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, as well as body aches or fever.

A doctor’s review answers if:

• Bleeding does not stop after 5-10 minutes of pressure

•The wound is deeper or longer than 1 cm

• The wound near the eye

• A gap or rupture

•A dirty or rusty wound

• The wound has dirt or gravel stuck to it

• The wound is very painful

• He shows signs of various injuries

• The wound caused by an animal or human bite

•Chronic wound

A skin wound that does not heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound. Some of the many causes of chronic skin wounds can include trauma, burns, skin cancers, infections, and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Wounds that take a long time to heal need special care.

Causes of chronic wounds

Some of the many causes of a chronic skin wound can include:

Immobility (pressure injuries or bedsores), where persistent local pressure restricts blood flow

Severe injury to the skin

Surgery – Incisions (cuts made during operations) may become infected and slow healing

Deep burns

Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or some types of vascular disease

Trophic ulcers, where a lack of sensation allows daily trauma to lead to an ulcer – as in diabetic neuropathy and leprosy.

Healing process

The skin wound healing process follows a predictable pattern. A wound may fail to heal if one or more stages of healing are interrupted. The stages of normal wound healing include:

Inflammatory phase – blood vessels narrow at the site to prevent blood loss and platelets (special clotting cells) aggregate to build up a clot. Once the clot is complete, the blood vessels dilate to allow maximum blood flow to the wound. This is why a healed wound initially becomes warm and looks red. White blood cells flood the area to destroy microbes and other foreign bodies. Skin cells multiply and grow across the wound.

Fibroid stage – Collagen, the protein fiber that gives skin its strength, begins to grow within the wound. Collagen growth encourages the edges of the wound to contract together and close. Small blood vessels (capillaries) form at the site to serve the new skin with blood.

Maturation Phase – The body is constantly adding more collagen and refining the affected area. This could take months or even years. This is why scars tend to fade over time and why we must take care of wounds for some time after they have healed.

Wound healing impediments

Factors that can slow the wound healing process include:

Dead skin (necrosis) – Dead skin and foreign material interfere with the healing process.

Infection – An open wound may cause a bacterial infection. The body fights the infection instead of healing the wound.

Bleeding – persistent bleeding keeps the wound margins apart.

Mechanical damage – eg, an immobile person is at risk of developing bedsores due to constant pressure and friction.

Diet – Poor food choices may deprive the body of the nutrients it needs to heal a wound, such as vitamin C, zinc, and protein.

Medical conditions – such as diabetes, anemia, certain diseases of the blood vessels that restrict blood flow to the area, or any disorder that impairs the immune system.

Age – wounds take longer to heal in older people.

Medications – Certain medications or therapies used to manage certain medical conditions may interfere with the body’s healing process.

Smoking – Cigarette smoking impairs healing and increases the risk of complications.

Varicose veins – Restricted blood flow and swelling can lead to skin breakouts and persistent ulceration.

Dehydration – Wounds (such as leg sores) exposed to air are less likely to heal. Various cells involved in healing, such as skin cells and immune cells, need a moist environment.

Diagnostic methods

The cause of the chronic wound must be determined so that the underlying factors can be controlled. For example, if a leg or foot ulcer is caused by diabetes, the doctor will control your blood sugar levels. In the case of ulcers due to varicose veins, surgical treatment of the veins may be required.

Methods for diagnosing a chronic wound may include:

Clinical examination, including examination of the wound and assessment of the local nerve and blood supply

Medical history, including information about chronic medical conditions, recent surgery, and medications the person takes routinely or recently

Blood and urine tests

Biopsy from the wound

Cultivate the wound to look for any disease-causing microorganisms.

Treatment options

The treatment your doctor recommends depends on your age, health, and the nature of the wound. General medical care may include:

• Cleaning to remove dirt and debris from a fresh wound. This is done very gently and often in the shower.

• Tetanus vaccination may be recommended in some cases of traumatic injury.

• It may be necessary to surgically explore the deep wound. A local anesthetic will be given before the examination.

• Surgical removal of dead skin.

• Close large wounds with stitches.

• Dressing the wound. The dressing your doctor chooses depends on the type and severity of the wound. In most cases of chronic wounds, the doctor will recommend a wet dressing.

• Relieving pain with medication. Pain can cause blood vessels to constrict, slowing healing. The doctor may suggest over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, or he may prescribe a more vital medication for pain relief.

• Treat signs of infection including pain, pus, and fever. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics and antimicrobial dressings if needed.

• Review the patient’s other medications. Some medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, interfere with the body’s healing process.

• Use aids such as support stockings.

• Treating other medical conditions, such as anemia, that may prevent wound healing.

• Recommend surgery or radiotherapy to remove rodent ulcers (non-invasive skin cancer).

• Improving blood flow through vascular surgery, if diabetes or other conditions related to poor blood supply prevent wound healing.

Self-care suggestions

• Do not take medications that interfere with the body’s natural healing process, if possible. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs (such as over-the-counter aspirin) will block the action of immune system cells.

• Eating properly. The body needs good food to fuel the healing process.

• Include foods rich in vitamin C in the diet. The body needs vitamin C to produce collagen. Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten daily also provide the body with other nutrients essential for wound healing such as vitamin A, copper, and zinc.

• Wounds heal faster if kept warm. Performance speed when changing dressings. Exposing the wound to fresh air can cause its temperature to drop and may slow healing by a few hours.

• Do not use antiseptic creams, lotions, or sprays on the chronic wound. These preparations are toxic to the cells involved in wound repair.

• Doing regular exercise because it increases blood flow, improves general health, and speeds up wound healing.

• Addressing any chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.

• Non-smoking.

Check the wound regularly. And see a doctor when:

• Bleeding

• Increased pain

• Pus or discharge from the wound

• Fever.