Improper wound care, infections, drug consumption, poor nutrition, and age can all delay wound healing. Careless removal of dressings and picking scabs can also cause re-trauma and susceptibility to infection. Optimal healing occurs when wounds are kept moist.
If a wound is not properly treated, a negative result can be a delay in wound healing. If an infection occurs, the healing process will also be delayed. Another cause of a reduced healing rate is the consumption of drugs that interfere with the healing process.
Improper wound care can be the cause of the problem. This often happens when wounds are dressed and a person carelessly or aggressively removes the dressing. This commonly leads to a reopening of the wound. If a person is not careful when cleaning the wound, he can also delay healing causing further trauma. Additionally, it has been found that for many wounds, optimal healing occurs when the injured area is kept moist; wounds left uncovered tend to dehydrate making recovery slower.
Picking of scabs is a common cause of slower-than-normal wound healing. A scab basically acts as a protective covering for a wound. From the outside it may look like a harsh and unsightly reminder of an injury. It actually protects the injured area from further problems and allows it to heal undisturbed. When this protective covering is removed, however, the wound can reopen and become susceptible to infection.
Delayed wound healing is most likely when infections occur. Wounds commonly become infected when bacteria invade the injured site, because these microorganisms can disrupt the healing process and make the problem worse. This is more likely to happen if a foreign object, such as a rusty hook, entered the wound when it was caused, or if a foreign object, such as a shard of glass, remains in the wound.
Certain medications such as corticosteroids, blood thinners, and antiplatelet drugs can cause the problem. These drugs tend to disrupt the body’s normal healing process in a variety of ways. Some, for example, reduce blood flow, which is essential for a speedy recovery.
Poor nutrition can be a major factor in delaying wound healing. A person gets the nutrients he needs to heal from food just as he gets the nutrients he needs to live. Proteins, for example, are required for cell regeneration. Zinc is required for proper protein production. If a person does not eat properly during the healing process, they are likely lacking the components necessary for a timely recovery.
Age also tends to play a role in delaying wound healing. Older people recover from physical trauma at a much slower rate than younger people. Age also hampers the body’s ability to resist injury, meaning other factors of delayed wound healing, such as careless removal of a wound’s dressing, are more likely to cause re-trauma for an older person.
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