How to heal open wounds faster

Skin Care article posted on Mar 28, 2009 by Josephine Toulemonde, Digestive Care Advisor & Optiderma Founding member

To speed the wound healing process, you need to understand what is involved in wound healing. There are three phases: the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. What happens in the healing process is a growth of millions of tiny blood vessels producing new capillaries. Wound edges are then pulled together and in the last phase, new collagen forms.

Time may heal all wounds. But to encourage this to happen faster, there are several things that can be done.

How to heal open wounds faster? First aid guidelines...
Fastest and safest wound treatments? Natural remedies...
Other natural ways to heal an open wound? Nutrition...
Useful links on wounds

How to heal open wounds faster? First aid guidelines...

Most wounds do not require emergency medical treatment. However, watch for signs of severity.
If the wound is either too deep, infected, if you can’t control the bleeding, if there are still remaining debris after cleaning or if the wound is located on sensitive skin, medical wound care is usually much needed. You may also need steri strips or sutures to help close the wound and heal faster. Check these links to make sure your open wound is minor before starting self treatment: when to call your doctor or when to go to the hospital.

For any open wound, your main focus should be to reduce the bleeding and avoid infection by applying pressure on the wound.
Next wrap a sterile and absorbent cloth (or a compress) around it.
To reduce bleeding, you can also raise the injured part above the level of the heart.
When the bleeding is controlled, an ice pack wrapped in a towel can be applied until it begins to feel numb. This helps constrict blood vessels.

To clean the wound, rinse it out with clear water. Do not use soap because it can irritate the wound, so try to keep it out of the actual wound. Wound cleaning reduces the risk of infection and tetanus.

Fastest and safest wound treatments? Natural remedies...

In case of superficial open wounds, there are many natural remedies that can be used to help fight against the infection and regenerate new cells.

Colloidal silver to avoid further infection

Colloidal silver helps kill bacteria without damaging newly forming skin cells. It does not sting or burn. Other antiseptics sting when applied to a wound because they are killing the surrounding wall tissue cells. Colloidal silver does not harm the surrounding cells or tissue. Use a spray and sprinkle the colloidal silver over the affected area.

Herbal remedies and essential oils

If infection is still likely to happen, it is best to avoid applying aloe vera or any essential oils on the wound at this stage. Essential oils, such as tea tree or clove oil, provide excellent treatment to heal faster when infection is unlikely. Comfrey or calendula ointments can also be used topically.

Other tips to heal open wounds faster

Wounds heal faster if there is no pressure on them and if they are kept relatively motionless. Movement disrupts the formation of the new blood vessels.
Bandages keep the wound clean, keep harmful bacteria out, and maintain moisture to prevent your skin from drying out. Bandages should be changed daily. However, after the wound has healed enough to make infection unlikely, exposure to the air will speed wound healing.

Other natural ways to heal an open wound? Nutrition...

Nutrition is definitely something to focus on. Whereas good nutrition facilitates healing, malnutrition can delay, inhibits and complicate the process.

Protein is required as part of the inflammatory process, in the immune response and in the development of tissue.
The amino acid arginine is also important because it is abundant in the structure of collagen.
Carbohydrates are needed for a healthy inflammatory response.
Essential fatty acids are essential for skin membrane function. However, some studies show that fish oil supplements could slow down wound healing (article from news-medical.net). Omega-3s from fish oil are anti-inflammatory, but you might want to avoid it for a while.
Vitamin B, E, A, C, zinc and copper play key roles in wound healing.

Nuts, seeds, polyunsaturated oils such as flax, olive, or hemp oil, whole grains and beans should be part of your diet. Eat vegetables and fruits to get plenty of vitamins and minerals.

A wound Diet Supplementation can also help heal faster. A study (Rohrich's study) shows that taking a herbal supplement called InflammEnz can heal a wound 20% faster. This herbal product combines several antioxidants, nutrients and enzymes, including calcium and potassium. But there are four in particular that are suspected of boosting the healing process : vitamin C, bromelain, rutin, and grape seed extract. See this article: supplement speed wound healing.