Wounds that don't heal: see when it's time to worry
Wounds that don't heal can be a warning sign of more serious health problems. Although cuts, bruises and minor injuries generally recover in a few days or weeks, when healing takes a long time or even doesn't happen at all, you need to see a doctor to evaluate the problem.
This is because slow healing can happen for a variety of reasons. Among the most common are diseases such as diabetes, which compromises blood circulation and reduces the skin's ability to regenerate; poor circulation, which makes it difficult to transport oxygen and nutrients to the injury site; and infections, which prevent the body from completing the tissue repair process.
In addition, repetitive trauma, such as constant friction in the same place, and diseases that affect the immune system can make it difficult for the skin to recover.
"People who have circulation problems, especially in the legs, can cause ulcers due to this poor circulation. Diabetes can cause large wounds, also mainly in the lower limbs. And people who are bedridden or who sit in the same position for a long time can also have ulcers that are difficult to heal", explains Patrícia Mayumi Ogawa, dermatologist.
External and behavioral factors can also interfere with skin healing. The use of medications, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, can delay wound healing.
Smoking is another villain, according to dermatologists. Smoking impairs tissue oxygenation and reduces the skin's ability to regenerate.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of proteins, vitamins and minerals essential to our body, can also compromise the healing process.
"The prolonged use of corticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs, anticoagulants and immunosuppressants can harm skin repair. Furthermore, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of hydration are factors that directly affect healing. Poor sleep and chronic stress also interfere, as the body becomes less efficient in cell regeneration", details Isabela Pitta, dermatologist member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.
Some signs may indicate that a wound needs medical attention. They are: persistence for more than two weeks, increased redness or heat in the area, presence of pus, pain, bad smell or frequent bleeding.
"It is also important to seek care if the wound does not heal after 7 to 10 days, if the surrounding area darkens, or if there is a fever," adds Pitta.
Treatment depends on the cause of the healing difficulty. In some cases, it may be necessary to use special dressings, antibiotics or medical procedures to stimulate skin regeneration.
"For each type of wound, there are more appropriate types of dressings. And there are countless possibilities that we can use. There are other types of treatments, such as, for example, with laser and hyperbaric camera. We often need to carry out surgical treatment of these wounds, with debridement of the wound and always multidisciplinary follow-up to assess the cause", adds Ogawa.
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Source: CNN