Help a Wound Heal Faster

Skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and more easily breakable over time, says Peter Abadir, MD, an associate professor of geriatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Sun damage exacerbates the problem, which is why skin on the arms, shins, backs of the hands, and other areas routinely exposed to sunlight is particularly delicate.

The skin cells that produce keratin also lose their ability to divide over time, says Elof Eriksson, MD, PhD, professor emeritus of plastic surgery at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. And deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc can also slow down healing, experts say.

Anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids and pain relievers like ibuprofen, can reduce the speed of recovery because “the first stage of wound healing is inflammation,” Abadir says. “If you block inflammation, you delay wound healing.”

If your wound is large, generally more than 2x2 inches, or deep enough that it extends beyond the skin, you should see a doctor, says Elof Eriksson, MD, PhD, professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School. Smaller, less complicated wounds should clear up within two weeks. That said, if a minor cut or scrape isn’t improving in the way or time frame you’d expect, “then you should seek medical attention,” says David Margolis, MD, PhD, director of the cutaneous ulcer program at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.

If you’re at all unsure, or if your wound is swollen, red, or painful, consider at least sending your doctor a photo, says Peter Abadir, MD, of Johns Hopkins.

Blood thinners may also slow down recovery, says Caroline Fife, MD, medical director of St. Luke’s Wound Clinic in The Woodlands, Texas.

Never stop taking any drug, however, without first consulting your doctor.

For a dirty cut or scrape, start by gently cleaning it with liquid soap and tap water. Then pat it dry and apply a dressing that “creates a moist healing environment,” Eriksson says. It’s important to retain some moisture because this allows skin cells on the top and border of the wound to stay alive and help heal the area.

A wound is generally considered chronic if it fails to heal within 30 days, or “whenever it doesn’t heal in the [time frame] it’s believed that it should heal,” Margolis says.

If you have a chronic condition associated with skin ulcers, such as diabetes or vascular disease, have a “conversation with your healthcare provider to both help you understand what’s going on and help minimize or prevent [them],” Margolis says. Sometimes those ulcers can be prevented before they occur.