As soon as you sustain an injury, your body will start trying to heal itself. Sometimes this healing process doesn’t quite go to plan.
Perhaps you have a weak immune system or a medical condition that impacts the production of new cells, or the wound may have become contaminated.
There is always a chance that a wound might become infected, but how do you know? Keep reading to find out what to look out for.
How Can You Tell When A Wound Is Healing?
If your wound is healing as it should, you will notice these signs.
Scabbing
The first stage of healing is called hemostasis, which is when the body tries to stop the wound from bleeding.
The blood coagulates or clots in order to form a barrier, preventing any further blood from leaving the body.
This process can take from several minutes up to a few days depending on the size of the wound. The scab will also protect the wound as it heals.
Swelling
The second stage of healing is the inflammatory stage. This is when the area around the wound swells. This protects the wound and any new tissue that begins to form.
It also brings more blood to the surrounding area, which contains oxygen and other important molecules needed for the process of healing. Wound swelling can last up to 5 days.
New Tissue
After a scab has formed over the wound and the area has become inflamed, new tissue will begin to grow to seal the wound.
This is called the proliferative phase. The body creates the cells it needs to fill in the area and create a new layer of skin. This stage of wound healing can feel itchy, which is a good sign.
Scarring
When the new tissue has formed and the wound has healed, the scab will fall off. Underneath the scab, there might be a scar.
If the wound has scarred then it has fully healed, but not all wounds leave a scar. It depends on the severity of the wound each person’s ability to heal.
How Can You Tell When A Wound Is Getting Infected?
Sometimes a wound won’t heal properly and it will become infected. Here are some signs that you should look out for – some of them are similar to signs of healing, but you need to pay attention to when they happen.
Heat
It is normal for a wound to feel warm in the first few days of healing. The area around the wound will swell with blood for protection, which can cause warmth.
The white blood cells also generate warmth as they fight off bacteria. If the wound continues to feel warm after several days, this could be a sign of infection.
Your body might be struggling to keep the bacteria away.
Swelling And Redness
In the first few days after a wound, the area is likely to be red and swollen. This is because the body is sending more red blood cells to that area.
This should settle down, but if it doesn’t it means the wound might be infected. Infected wounds will often have redness around the edges, which extends further outwards from the wound as the infection begins to spread.
If a red line comes from the wound, this means the infection is tracking into your bloodstream which is very dangerous.
This is sometimes accompanied by a fever as your body tries to fight the infection. If the infection spreads to other parts of the body it is harder to manage and can lead to further medical complications, including sepsis.
Pus And Discharge
Wounds will naturally release some clear or yellowish liquid called blood plasma. The scan that forms on the wound can be crusty and take on a yellowish appearance.
If your wound is still secreting liquid after several days, this could be a sign of infection. If the liquid is creamy and yellow or green, like pus, this is not a good sign. The wound may also begin to smell.
Pain
The healing process of a wound is not painless, but the pain should ease gradually over time. If you notice the pain worsening, this could be because the wound has become infected.
Infected wounds are often very painful to touch, as is the area around them. If you have sustained a large or severe wound, you will likely be on pain medication.
This can sometimes mask the pain of infection, so make sure you keep an eye out for any other signs that your wound could be infected.
Summary
To prevent infection it is important to sterilize the wound and keep it clean during the healing process. This includes changing the dressings regularly.
If you suspect that your wound is infected you should seek medical attention as you may need antibiotics.
