Your body is built to heal itself. Anytime you get a cut, scrape, or injury, your skin goes through four stages to repair the damage. Wound healing happens in four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
In this article, we’ll discuss the stages of wound healing, how to care for them, and when to see a wound care specialist in Phoenix, AZ.
How Do Wounds Heal?
Wound healing is a complex biological process that restores damaged skin and tissue. It involves a coordinated response from your blood cells, immune cells, skin cells, and connective tissue to close the wound and rebuild strength.
Healing speed depends on several factors, including wound size, location, blood supply, and overall health. Minor wounds heal in days, while deeper injuries can take weeks or months. Proper wound care, including keeping the wound clean and moist, helps prevent infection and supports faster recovery.
4 Stages of Wound Healing
All wounds heal in the same four phases of wound healing process, whether it’s a minor cut, a surgical incision, or a deeper injury.
1. Hemostasis (Stopping the Bleeding)
The moment your skin is injured, your body jumps into action. Platelets rush to the site, clump together, and form a clot to stop the bleeding. This clot also creates a protective barrier to prevent bacteria from getting in.
2. Inflammation (Fighting Infection & Clearing Debris)
Once the bleeding stops, your immune system kicks in. White blood cells kill the bacteria, clear out dead cells, and prevent infection. You might experience redness, swelling, warmth, and a little pain—this is all part of the healing process. Inflammation is necessary, but if it lasts too long, it can slow your recovery.
3. Proliferation (Building New Tissue)
Now, your body starts rebuilding. Fibroblasts produce collagen, the protein that gives skin its strength. New blood vessels form to supply oxygen, and skin cells begin covering the wound. A scab may form to protect the healing tissue underneath. This stage lasts several days to a few weeks, depending on the wound’s size.
4. Remodeling (Strengthening the Skin)
In the final stage, collagen reorganizes to make the skin stronger and more flexible. The wound site may appear pink or raised at first, but scars gradually fade over time. While the skin regains strength, it may not be as durable as before. This phase can take weeks to months, depending on the depth of the injury.
Signs of Wound Healing
As your wound heals, you’ll see clear signs that it’s getting better, including:
- Pain and swelling gradually decrease
- Formation of a scab to protect the wound
- Redness fades over time
- New pink skin appears under the scab or along the edges
- Drainage or fluid discharge decreases
- Skin becomes stronger and more flexible as healing completes
If your wound isn’t improving, becomes more swollen, painful, or infected, or takes longer than expected to heal, seek medical attention.
What is the Average Wound Recovery Time?
Wound healing time depends on multiple factors: the depth the wound, its size, location, and a person’s overall health.
On average:
- Minor cuts and scrapes: Heal within 3 to 7 days.
- Deeper cuts or surgical incisions: Close within 1 to 3 weeks, but full healing can take months.
- Severe wounds (burns, deep lacerations): May take weeks to months to fully heal, with scarring likely.
Poor circulation, diabetes, infection, smoking, and poor nutrition can all slow down healing. If you want your wound to heal faster and with minimal scarring, keep it clean, protected, and moisturized.
Which Doctor is Best for a Wound?
For minor cuts and scrapes, a primary care doctor or urgent care provider can help with basic wound care. However, if you have a slow-healing wound, signs of infection, or a deep injury, you may need a wound care specialist.
Wound care specialists are doctors trained to treat chronic wounds, post-surgical wounds, diabetic ulcers, burns, and injuries that aren’t healing properly. They use advanced techniques like debridement (removing dead tissue), specialized dressings, and skin grafts to promote faster healing and reduce complications.
You should see a wound care specialist if:
- Your wound hasn’t improved in a few weeks.
- You notice redness, swelling, or pus, which could signal an infection.
- The wound is deep, large, or exposes muscle, bone, or tendons.
- You have poor circulation, diabetes, or a condition that slows healing.
- The wound reopens after healing or becomes painful.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, a wound care specialist can help prevent infections, minimize scarring, and promote faster healing.
For expert wound care in Arizona, trust Shirah Surgical. With clinics in Phoenix and Scottsdale, our team specializes in advanced wound treatments to help your wounds heal faster and prevent complications.
Call us at (480) 531 – 1681 to schedule a consultation today and start your journey to recovery. We serve patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the surrounding areas, including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria, AZ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes wounds heal faster?
The best thing you can do is keep your wound clean, moist, and protected. Your skin heals best in a hydrated environment, so don’t let it dry out. For more info on at-home wound care, read our full guide on How to Treat an Open Wound.
What is the best ointment for open wounds?
A petroleum-based ointment or antibiotic cream works well to keep your wound moist and prevent infection. If you have sensitive skin, stick with plain petroleum jelly to avoid irritation. Whatever you use, apply only a thin layer—too much can slow healing instead of helping.
Why is my open wound not healing?
If your wound still looks red, swollen, or hasn’t improved after a couple of weeks, something might be slowing the healing process. Common causes include infection, poor circulation, underlying health conditions (like diabetes), or even using the wrong kind of wound care.
If you’re doing everything right but your wound isn’t getting better, check in with a wound care doctor to make sure there’s no underlying issue.
Does Betadine heal wounds faster?
Betadine (povidone-iodine) is great for cleaning a fresh wound, but using it too often can actually slow healing by irritating healthy tissue. If you need an antiseptic, use it sparingly. Once for initial cleaning is usually enough. After that, switch to a gentler wound care routine with mild soap, water, and a good moisturizer.
Do wounds heal faster, covered or uncovered?
Covered wounds heal faster. Leaving a wound open can cause it to dry out, form a thick scab, and take longer to heal. Instead, keep it covered with a breathable bandage and change it regularly. This keeps the wound moist, reduces scarring, and lowers the risk of infection.