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How Wounds and Cuts Heal
2/20/2011Whenever the skin is broken, the wound bleeds and the clot (or haematoma) forms. This fills the gap in the tissues and stops the bleeding.
After about 24 hours, fibroblasts (or fibrous tissue cells) invade the clot and change it into granulation tissue. At the same time the cut capillaries in the wound send out 'buds', which grow into the haematoma. In this way the granulation tissue has a good blood supply.
The tissue and the remains of the clot are ingested by phagocytes (white blood cells), which also help to remove dirt and bacteria. Finally, cells from the epidermis (skin) grow in from the sides of the wound, so that it becomes covered with a thin layer of epithelium. The scar tissue gradually contracts or shrinks, and obliterates most of the new blood vessels.
Clean (or uninfected) wound plaster more rapidly than infected ones. Where there is little skin loss, the wounds heal more quickly than when more skin is lost. Wounds with a lot of skin loss may never heal unless skin is grafted.
Wounds heal more quickly when the wound edges are approximated by sutures (stitches) as less space has to be filled in by granulation tissue. Because they are made under sterile conditions and are sutured, operation wounds generally heal more quickly than those caused in other ways.
Tension on a stitched wound may interfere with healing, such as that caused by a haematoma, obesity, a bandage, or coughing. First aid kit may be helped by supporting the wound with a binder, bandage, or plaster of Paris.
In some areas of the body, a poor blood supply to the part may delay healing, for example the shin. Parts with a good blood supply, on the other hand, heal rapidly for example the face and neck.
Poor nutrition will also delay healing, especially a lack of protein or vitamin C in the diet.
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