Enhancing Wound Healing Processes

Using nanotech to improve wound healing speeds and prevent bacterial infections

The Problem

Looking at face value, the wound healing problem seems little and nonexistent, as wounds seem to heal fast and infection rarely happens. While that may seem like the case, the reality is much different.

Time

How long it takes to heal a wound depends on how large or deep the cut is. It may take up to a few years to completely heal. An open wound may take longer to heal than a closed wound.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, after about 3 months, most wounds are repaired. The new skin and tissue is about 80 percent as strong as it was before it was injured, per the University of Rochester Medical Center. A large or deep cut will heal faster if your healthcare provider sutures it. This helps to make the area your body has to rebuild smaller.

This is why surgical wounds typically heal faster than other kinds of wounds. Surgery cuts normally take 6 to 8 weeks to heal, according to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Wounds may also heal faster or better if you keep them covered. According to the Cleveland Clinic, wounds need moisture to heal. A bandage also keeps the wound cleaner.