Chemical signals in the body tell cells around the wound to make elastic tissues called collagen. This helps to repair the skin and tissues in the wound.
Collagen is like a scaffold that other cells can be built on. At this stage in healing, you might see a fresh, raised, red scar. The scar will slowly fade in color and look flatter.
It might look pink and stretched or puckered. You may feel itching or tightness over the area. Your body continues to repair and strengthen the area. How long it takes to heal a wound depends on how large or deep the cut is. It may take up to a few years to completely heal. An open wound may take longer to heal than a closed wound. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, after about 3 months , most wounds are repaired.
The new skin and tissue is about 80 percent as strong as it was before it was injured, per the University of Rochester Medical Center. A large or deep cut will heal faster if your healthcare provider sutures it. This helps to make the area your body has to rebuild smaller. This is why surgical wounds typically heal faster than other kinds of wounds. Surgery cuts normally take 6 to 8 weeks to heal, according to St. Wounds may also heal faster or better if you keep them covered.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, wounds need moisture to heal. A bandage also keeps the wound cleaner. Some health conditions can cause very slow healing or stop wound healing. This can happen even if your cut is due to surgery or a medical procedure. Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and everything else your body needs to heal the wound site. Almost 6. There are several reasons why a wound may not heal properly.
Age can affect how you heal. Elderly adults may have slower healing wounds. Some health conditions may lead to poor blood circulation.
These conditions can cause poor wound healing:. A chronic wound heals very slowly or not at all. If you have a chronic wound, you may need to see a specialist. An infection happens when bacteria, fungi, and other germs get into the wound before it fully heals.
Signs of an infection include:. See your healthcare provider if you think you have an infected wound, no matter how small it is. This can be harmful and cause health complications. You may have an underlying condition that slows down healing. Treating and maintaining a chronic condition like diabetes can help skin wounds heal better.
Lifting the bandage may start the bleeding again. Clean the wound. Run water over the cut for 5 minutes. Then use soap to gently wash the cut or scrape thoroughly. If there's dirt or debris in the wound like gravel from a scrape , remove it if you can — a soft, damp cloth can help. Cleaning the wound helps get infection-causing bacteria out of the injured area. If you can't get all the dirt out, call your doctor's office. Put a light layer of an antibiotic ointment around the cut to kill germs.
Make sure you're not allergic to the medicines in the ointment. Cover it with gauze or other type of bandage. A bandage helps prevent germs from getting into the cut and causing an infection. If the bandage gets wet or dirty, change it right away. Each day, take off the bandage and gently wash the injury. Watch for signs of infection redness, swelling, pain, or liquid draining out. To prevent infection and reduce scarring , don't pick at the scab or skin around the wound.
If you notice any of these signs of infection, call your doctor right away: redness around the cut red streaking spreading from the cut increased swelling or pain around the cut white, yellow, or green liquid coming from the cut fever The doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help your body fight off the infection.
However, prolonged exposure to moisture can make it more difficult for macerated skin to return to normal. Injuries that result in open wounds activate an immune response from the body. Part of this response involves a chemical called histamine. It widens the blood vessels to allow the release of a fluid called plasma.
As plasma and other fluids accumulate, they cause the skin around the wound to swell. Wounds need to be cleaned, dried, and dressed to prevent maceration and its complications. When a wound is infected, fluid production can increase. Hyperhidrosis is a common condition that causes excessive sweating.
Sweating is necessary to help cool the body. However, too much sweat can cause mild maceration. Hyperhidrosis usually affects the underarms, palms of the hands, or soles of the feet. The feet are the most susceptible to maceration. This is because wearing socks and shoes make it harder for them to dry.
Severe maceration in the feet can lead to a related condition called trench foot. Poor hygiene can increase the risk of skin maceration, especially for people with incontinence or who stay in bed for long periods of time due to a condition. Simple things, such as not drying your feet or moisturizing too much before putting on socks, can also cause mild maceration.
Treatment for macerated skin depends on the cause and how serious it is. In mild cases, exposing the affected area to air is usually enough to reverse it. However, treatment is usually necessary for more severe cases. Treatments for macerated skin caused by wounds include specific types of bandages and dressings, including:. Ask your healthcare provider about which bandage type would work best for your wound. They can also show you the best way to put it on and advise you on how often to change it.
In addition, your healthcare provider might prescribe topical creams to prevent extra moisture around the wound.
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