The Wound Healing Process

Abstract

Skin wounds develop when the tissue just beneath the skin deteriorates. There are a few possible explanations for this. Many things might set off this process, such as prolonged pressure, insufficient blood supply or trauma. However, these are not the only things that may trigger a reaction. The healing process for skin ulcers is multi-step, requiring careful coordination between the many steps involved. Included under this umbrella are remodeling, proliferation and inflammation, to name a few. The release of various growth factors, cytokines and chemokines is tightly regulated because of their important functions in wound healing. A wound can become chronic if the cellular and molecular signals that control the stages of healing are altered. Removing injured tissue, preventing infection and treating underlying diseases, like ischemia and diabetes, are all part of the standard wound care protocol.