Which factor leads to a wound that takes longer to heal than usual?

Wounds that take a long time to heal are susceptible to infection. Join SignsSymptomsList to learn the factors that slow down the wound and how to effectively take care of the wound right in the article below.

Wounds, whether large or small, if not taken care of properly, will take a long time to heal and become infected. So what factors make the wound not heal forever?

What are the stages of wound healing?

Normally, the wound healing process will go through 3 main stages:

• Stage 1: The stage against the penetration of bacteria into the wound.
• Stage 2: Formation of granulation tissue to fill the wound.
• Stage 3: Epidermal regeneration stage, this is the final stage for the wound to heal completely.

Factors that slow wound healing

Biofilm prevents wound healing

Biofilm prevents bacteria from coming into contact with the outside environment. Thanks to the polysaccharide layer, bacteria are able to survive for a long time on the surface and easily communicate with each other, and are resistant to antibiotics. Under the protection of the biofilm, bacteria can become resistant to high doses of antibiotics. When the drug is stopped, the dormant bacteria in the biofilm will recover and cause the infection to return. 

Most current wound antiseptics  are not capable of removing biofilms. Some other products can remove biofilms but are not strong enough to kill microorganisms present in membranes. 

Poor blood circulation

Wounds heal faster if they have an adequate blood supply. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells. White blood cells in the blood help kill disease-causing bacteria and clean wounds. Finally, red blood cells carry new skin cells and collagen to the wound for healing. 

Some diseases cause blood vessels to narrow, making it difficult for blood to circulate, such as atherosclerosis , obesity, diabetes, etc. In these patients, the wound healing process is often slower than the average person.

Poor blood circulation does not reach the cells, making the wound heal longer

Wound infection

An infection is an increase in bacteria, viruses, or fungi in a wound. The manifestation of an infected wound is that the skin around the wound is red, swollen, painful, secreting pus, pus with a bad smell. 

Normally, pathogens are easily destroyed by macrophages of the immune system. However, if the wound is not protected and is constantly attacked by bacteria, it will be much more difficult to heal. To avoid infection, it is recommended to wash the wound with an antiseptic solution 2-3 times a day, then cover the wound to protect it from external agents.

Chronic diseases

Diabetes is a common cause of slow wound healing, making it take longer to heal. Due to high blood sugar, which is a rich source of nutrients for pathogenic bacteria, people with diabetes are very susceptible to infections and slow healing. High blood sugar also causes atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries that impede blood flow. High blood sugar inhibits its ability to kill bacteria. Therefore, under the onslaught of external factors, the body becomes more passive. 

In addition to diabetes, a number of other diseases are also associated with slow wound healing such as rheumatoid arthritis , atherosclerosis, obesity, ...

For people with diabetes, open wounds are often more difficult to heal

Less activity

Being sedentary, lying down a lot causes poor blood circulation and increases pressure in a certain area of ​​the skin. This is the main cause of slow healing of open wounds and a higher risk of infection. You should change the lying and sitting position often so as not to put pressure on any part of the skin to avoid necrosis.

Inappropriate use of disinfectants

Chemotherapy often weakens the immune system, which causes wounds to heal slowly. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids sometimes have a negative effect. They inhibit the body's natural inflammatory process, making it impossible for the immune system's cells to repair wounds. In addition, commonly used antiseptic solutions are also the culprits that few people expect are alcohol and povidone iodine.

They have the ability to kill bacteria, prevent superinfection, but they also damage fibroblasts and granulosa cells to heal wounds. Therefore, limit the use of these antiseptic solutions on open wounds.

Improper nutrition

To make the wound heal quickly , you need to add a lot of protein to your daily meal. Doctors recommend eating more meat, fish, eggs, milk, ... to meet the body's protein needs. 

In addition, the vitamins A and C found in vegetables are also effective aids in speeding up the wound healing process. These vitamins are found in oranges, grapefruits, sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers, etc. 

Some bad habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking inhibit the natural wound healing process. According to scientific studies, alcohol reduces the number of white blood cells to fight bacteria. So alcohol significantly increases the rate of infection in people with wounds. Tobacco is also a poison because it weakens the immune system and constricts blood vessels. Patients must give up these bad habits if they want the wound to heal faster. 

Diet greatly affects wound healing

Wound healing is an important process, especially for diabetics where wound healing takes longer . Hopefully, this article has equipped you with the right methods of taking care of open wounds to help them heal faster.