Wound healing is a natural process the body works to protect itself against infection and further damage that can occur. It can be complex and it can be halted or slowed by certain illnesses and diseases. Knowing about this natural body process will help you gauge it's progress and success.

In a healthy person, wound healing begins as soon as the tissue is injured or damaged. Blood platelets carry many different factors to help stabilize the wound, so that it can begin the healing process. The clotting process, the first step of healing, occurs when blood comes into contact with air is the first phase of wound healing. This clotted blood makes a plug over the wound, helping to keep infection and dirt out, and helping to give the cells a place to begin replenishing to heal the wound. If blood clotting doesn't occur, it's difficult for the wound to begin the healing process. This phase is called the inflammatory phase and is the foundation for wound healing. In the inflammatory phase another thing that happens is ridding the body of bacteria and debris.

In the next two phase of wound healing, the proliferative and epithelialization, phases, the granular tissue cells and epithelial cells begin their regrowth process to help close up the wound. Collagen is produced and deposited into the wound bed, which begins the process of closing up the wound. The wound edges begin to contract and pull together. This process takes place over a period of two days to three weeks, depending upon the severity of the wound.

The final phase of wound healing, the remodeling or maturation phase, is the one that is most noticed by the naked eye. Contraction of the skin edges becomes more noticeable as less scar tissue is seen. This process may continue for up to two years, depending upon the severity of the wound to help make the tensile strength of the wound stronger. Scar tissue is not as strong as healthy tissue, which can make you more susceptible to injury and wounds. Even if your wound is completely closed, the process of wound healing is still ongoing.

Wounds that heal quickly and in a normal way are considered acute wounds. Those that don't heal completely or quickly are called chronic wounds. Various situations affect wound healing. Estrogen and DHEA promote wound healing, at least in mice and humans, and testosterone inhibits it, except with severe burns.

Several situations decrease the natural processes of wound healing. Infection, debris in the wound, tissue hypoxia (inadequate oxygen), and repeated damage to the wound. Illness can also slow the healing process; malnutrition, diabetes, certain medications, and immunodeficiency disorders. Some of these conditions can cause significant issues in wound healing, causing the process to stall completely or to take much longer than normal. This leaves the body open to infection and further damage, not to mention scarring. Medical attention may be needed to close the wound surgically for maximum protection.

Wound healing is one of the most complex systems that our body undergoes. By understand more about the process, you can better appreciate your body and its amazing power.