Learn more about the health benefits of turmeric here. According to a review , several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of garlic in treating wounds. It stated that in preclinical studies, aged garlic extract showed wound healing potential depending on the dosage. A study looked at the use of garlic to treat wounds on rats. Fibroblasts are an integral part of tissue repair, therefore, the use of garlic had a positive effect and helped the wound heal faster.
Learn more about the health benefits of garlic here. Coconut oil contains the substance monolaurin, a fatty acid with antimicrobial properties. Fatty acids found in vegetable oils are assumed to play a large part in helping wounds heal.
A person can use coconut oil on a wound to help reduce the risk of contracting an infection. According to a study , virgin coconut oil can help wounds on rats heal quicker than those without the oil. A person can use the substance on a wound as a barrier to help reduce the risk of acquiring an infection. Learn more about the health benefits of coconut oil here. A person can often treat minor wounds at home. However, in some instances, wounds need medical attention.
A person should also speak with a doctor if their wound has contracted an infection. Signs of a wound acquiring an infection include:. A doctor will often use antibiotics to treat a wound with an infection. A person may also require a tetanus shot. People should always complete the entire course of antibiotics, even if infection symptoms are no longer present. This treats the infection fully and prevents bacteria from becoming resistant to the antibiotic.
Learn more about infected wounds here. Minor open wounds may not require medical treatment. However, people should clean the wound and dress it using a clean bandage.
An unclean wound may cause a bacterial infection to occur. Once the wound is clean, there are several techniques to speed up the healing process. Why do scars look different from normal skin? Our skin is made up of two proteins: elastin, which gives skin its flexibility, and collagen, which gives it strength.
But because the body cannot create new elastin, scars are made entirely of collagen. So they're tougher and less flexible than the skin around them. Serious wounds don't heal overnight. It can take weeks for the body to build new tissue. So after you leave the hospital or doctor's office, good home care is important to prevent infection and minimize scarring. Because wounds can be so different, your doctor will give you instructions on how to take care of yourself after you go home from the hospital.
In most cases, doctors will ask patients to:. Our bodies rely on vitamins and minerals to heal. Try to eat healthy foods — especially lots of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables and lean proteins — while your wound heals.
Drink plenty of water and eat high-fiber foods like whole grains to avoid constipation. Constipation can be a side effect of pain medicine. Your wound might heal quickly, but scars can take longer. For thick scars, try massaging the area with lotion or petroleum jelly. Doing this helps the collagen mingle with the elastin in the surrounding skin, decreasing some of the scarring. But ask your doctor or a wound care nurse if massaging the wound is a good idea before you try it.
If a deep or large wound gets infected, it can be a serious problem. Call your doctor or surgeon right away if any of these things happen:. There's good news about wound healing when you're a teen: Age is on your side because young bodies heal faster. Causes of chronic wounds Some of the many causes of a chronic skin wound can include: Being immobile pressure injuries or bed sores , where persistent localised pressure restricts blood flow Significant trauma injury to the skin Surgery — incisions cuts made during operations may become infected and slow to heal Deep burns Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or some types of vascular disease Specific types of infection such as the Bairnsdale or Buruli ulcers Mycobacterium ulcerans Trophic ulcers, where a lack of sensation allows everyday trauma to lead to an ulcer — such as in diabetic neuropathy and leprosy.
The healing process The healing process of a skin wound follows a predictable pattern. A wound may fail to heal if one or more of the healing stages are interrupted.
The normal wound healing stages include: Inflammatory stage — blood vessels at the site constrict tighten to prevent blood loss and platelets special clotting cells gather to build a clot. Once the clot is completed, blood vessels expand to allow maximum blood flow to the wound. This is why a healing wound at first feels 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. Fibroblastic stage — collagen, the protein fibre that gives skin its strength, starts to grow within the wound.
The growth of collagen encourages the edges of the wound to shrink together and close. Small blood vessels capillaries form at the site to service the new skin with blood. Maturation stage — the body constantly adds more collagen and refines the wounded area. This may take months or even years. This is why scars tend to fade with time and why we must take care of wounds for some time after they have healed. Barriers to wound healing Factors that can slow the wound healing process include: Dead skin necrosis — dead skin and foreign materials interfere with the healing process.
Infection — an open wound may develop a bacterial infection. The body fights the infection rather than healing the wound. Haemorrhage — persistent bleeding will keep the wound margins apart. Mechanical damage — for example, a person who is immobile is at risk of bedsores because of constant pressure and friction. Diet — poor food choices may deprive the body of the nutrients it needs to heal the wound, such as vitamin C, zinc and protein.
Medical conditions — such as diabetes, anaemia and some vascular diseases that restrict blood flow to the area, or any disorder that hinders the immune system. Age — wounds tend to take longer to heal in elderly people. Medicines — certain drugs or treatments used in the management of some 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 break down and persistent ulceration.
Dryness — wounds such as leg ulcers that are exposed to the air are less likely to heal. The various cells involved in healing, such as skin cells and immune cells, need a moist environment. Diagnosis methods The cause of the chronic wound must be identified so that the underlying factors can be controlled. For example, if a leg or foot ulcer is caused by diabetes, your doctor will review the control of your blood sugar levels and may recommend that you see a podiatrist to prevent recurring ulcers in future.
This wash is specially formulated to temporarily relieve pain and discomfort while helping to remove dirt and germs. The next step to help wounds heal faster is to treat the cut or scrape with a first-aid antibiotic ointment because wounds that become infected take longer to heal.
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