Minor injuries, like a small paper cut on the finger, or a minor burn while cooking, can disrupt our busy lives. If you’ve suffered an injury, you’ll want to know what is the quickest way to heal a cut and what the stages of wound healing are.
However, wound healing is a complex process and many factors can interfere, delaying the healing process. Find out how to make a wound heal faster and products you should use to reduce the risk of scarring.
However, wound healing is a complex process and many factors can interfere, delaying the healing process. Find out how to make a wound heal faster and products you should use to reduce the risk of scarring.
How to make a wound heal faster
A wound describes an injury that cuts, breaks or impacts the skin. As a result, the body's internal tissues become exposed to the external environment and bacteria.
Most minor open wounds will not require medical treatment. While the majority of cuts heal naturally over time, there are ways to speed up the healing process to heal wounds faster.
Most minor open wounds will not require medical treatment. While the majority of cuts heal naturally over time, there are ways to speed up the healing process to heal wounds faster.
1. Cleanse wounds
A clean and cleansed wound is an essential first step for optimal wound healing. Cleanse your wound from dirt, bacteria and visible particles with the Elastoplast Wound Spray to prevent infections.
This is an easy to use spray for the antiseptic cleansing of minor acute wounds by mechanical irrigation, treating grazes, abrasions, first and minor second-degree burns and open blisters.
This is an easy to use spray for the antiseptic cleansing of minor acute wounds by mechanical irrigation, treating grazes, abrasions, first and minor second-degree burns and open blisters.
2. Protect wounds
The second step to heal wounds faster is to protect your wound from dirt and bacteria to enable an undisturbed healing. Cover your wound with a plaster, sterile wound dressing or compress from Elastoplast.
Research shows that the quickest way to heal a cut is by covering it with a plaster, reducing the chance of an infected wound. Elastoplast products provide protection until the wound is completely healed. Learn more in How do plasters work?.
Research shows that the quickest way to heal a cut is by covering it with a plaster, reducing the chance of an infected wound. Elastoplast products provide protection until the wound is completely healed. Learn more in How do plasters work?.
3. Heal wounds
Studies have shown that under moist conditions cells will grow, divide and migrate at an increased rate to optimise the wound healing process. In a moist healing environment, scabs- which inhibit the formation of new tissue – are prevented. This helps reduce the risk of scarring, improving the aesthetic outcome.
Learn how to make a wound heal faster using Moist wound healing.
Learn how to make a wound heal faster using Moist wound healing.
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Stages of wound healing
Wound healing is a complex process that can be subdivided into the four phases below:
Blood clotting: When a wound has been sustained, blood clotting ensures temporary closure of the site. This is the body's way of protecting it from further blood loss and infection, creating a wound healing environment. This process starts almost instantly, as a scab starts to form when blood dries.
Exudation and Inflammation: Blood vessels in and around the wound area are extended and blood cells migrate into the wound tissue. As the white blood cells destroy the dead tissue and foreign bacteria, skin can become red, warm and tender. There may also be a clear fluid, indicating the body is removing potential contaminants. However, swelling and pus can be signs of wound infection.
Proliferation and granulation: Around five days after the injury occurs, new cells are formed and the damaged tissue is replaced by ‘granulation’ tissue. ‘Granulation’ tissue slowly pulls the wound edges closer together. This can take as little as a few weeks for minor wounds.
Epithelialization and regeneration: The newly formed blood vessels ensure adequate oxygen and nutrient transport. The granulation tissue fills the wound. These phases are followed by maturation, during which the scar tissue reorganises and can have a noticeably different appearance. For minor wounds, some scars may disappear completely.
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How long do cuts take to heal?
Wounds heal faster covered by a plaster to promote moist wound healing. The length of time it takes for a cut to heal depends how large or deep it is, but most cuts heal fully within a few months.
Open wounds tend to take longer to heal than closed wounds. Large or deep wounds will heal faster if treated with sutures, so surgical wounds usually take less time to heal than other wounds. Surgery cuts take around six to eight weeks to heal.
Open wounds tend to take longer to heal than closed wounds. Large or deep wounds will heal faster if treated with sutures, so surgical wounds usually take less time to heal than other wounds. Surgery cuts take around six to eight weeks to heal.
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How to heal cuts fast using Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment
To support and speed up wound healing, apply the Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment daily until the wound has healed completely and cover it with a Elastoplast plaster, sterile dressing or compress if needed. The ointment forms a protective barrier on the wound while creating an ideal moist healing environment that promotes up to 2x faster healing and helps to reduce scarring. In a clinical study using an Abrasive Wound Model, wounds treated with the Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment have been proven to heal faster and with a better cosmetic outcome than untreated wounds*.
*W. Wigger-Alberti, et al. Assessment of local tolerability and wound healing efficacy of a novel wound healing ointment. An intra-individual comparison of four different regimes in an abrasive wound model. Submitted for publication. EWMA Conference (European Wound Management Association), May 2018.
Other ways to heal skin fast
As well as following the Elastoplast Wound Care Routine to carry out proper wound management, there are a number of other ways to speed up wound healing:
- Rest: Our immune system consumes lots of energy when repairing tissue damage and fighting infection. Recent research shows that disruption to sleep cycles can significantly delay the wound healing process.
- Exercise: While getting enough rest and sleep is important, regular exercise improves blood flow and reduces inflammation. Even less intense activities like walking can speed up the wound healing process.
- Wound management: Even if it looks like the wound is healing, keep it clean and apply new dressings or plasters until your doctor or treatment plan advises otherwise. Learn more in Wound dressing know-how.
- Diet: Healthy foods rich in nutrients like vitamin A, C, potassium and zinc provide your body with the fuel it needs to speed up wound healing. Power foods like dark, leafy greens, as well as ginger, mushrooms, beets and yoghurt will also help your body heal wounds faster. Avoid foods heavy in spices, sugar and nitrates, which can cause inflammation or strain skin-tissue.
- Don't smoke: Carbon monoxide in cigarettes lowers the oxygen level of blood vessels and causes them to constrict. This limits the blood flow to damaged areas, and effectively makes it harder for your body to fight infection and rebuild tissue.
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Please note that, although these were compiled with great care, the tips and advice given on this website by no means substitute medical advice and treatment. If you have or suspect a health problem, consult a doctor and follow medical advice regardless of what you have learned on this website.
Always read carefully and follow the instructions for use or the leaflets of our products. For further information about our products, please contact us via email at ConsumerRelationsUK@Beiersdorf.com