What Are the Causes of Non-Healing Skin Wounds?
May 25, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Introduction
As individuals age, their body’s tissue regeneration capacity declines. Additionally, blood vessels in older adults undergo varying degrees of hardening (arteriosclerosis), resulting in reduced local blood supply and prolonged cell division and proliferation cycles of dermal fibroblasts. If wound care is neglected after injury—leading to bacterial infection—not only may wound healing be impaired, but the wound may also become purulent and develop a more severe infection.
In daily life, everyone is prone to minor bumps and bruises that result in skin wounds. However, some individuals notice that their skin wounds consistently fail to heal. The specific reasons are as follows:
① Age
As people age, the body’s tissue regeneration capacity declines. Additionally, older individuals often experience varying degrees of vascular hardening, leading to reduced local blood supply. Moreover, the cell division and proliferation cycle of skin fibroblasts becomes prolonged, thereby extending the wound-healing process—or even preventing healing altogether.
② Infection
Failure to properly care for a wound after injury may lead to bacterial infection, which not only delays wound healing but may also cause suppuration and systemic infection. Therefore, meticulous wound care is essential following injury to prevent infection.
③ Nutrition
Inadequate dietary nutrition can likewise impair wound healing—particularly in patients with severe trauma, whose wounds require substantial nutrients and trace elements. Key substances that promote wound healing include protein, glucose, vitamin C, and zinc. Selective or restrictive eating habits after injury may lead to insufficient intake of these essential nutrients, thereby compromising wound healing.
