André Alves,
Sao Paulo-SP
It’s like calling a plumber and a mason to fix a burst pipe in the kitchen. First, the plumber stops the leak. Then, the mason cements the wall and leaves everything brand new. That’s more or less what happens in our organism in the region of a bruise. Only, instead of masons and plumbers, white blood cells, platelets and other cells that act in wound healing come into play. How long this endeavor will last depends on several factors: the severity of the cut, the person’s health conditions and the way the wound is treated. As it is impossible to interfere in the severity of the injury, we can only learn to take good care of the injuries. If the wound is superficial, like a scrape on the knee, for example, don’t be scared: just wash the region well with saline solution or clean running water and neutral soap – to remove superficial dead tissue and foreign bodies, such as asphalt residues, sand etc. Another expert tip is to avoid drying the wound, which delays healing. Therefore, the ideal is to keep it moist with the use of band-aid dressings. When the “crust” of the wound appears, do not keep touching it, which also compromises the healing that will come. All of these tips above, it’s good to stress, are only for superficial injuries. In the case of serious ones – which reach deeper layers, such as muscles and bones – do not hesitate: look for an outpatient clinic. By the way, in a few years you will be able to look for doctors in these places who specialize in treating wounds. Although they still do not have official recognition from the competent bodies, many doctors who are dedicated only to this area of medicine already call themselves “woundologists”.
At the Bookstore:
New Approach to Wound Care – Prof. Dr. Luiz Claudio Candido, Senac-SP, 2001
On the Internet:
https://www.feridologo.com.br
1. When you make an injury that goes beyond the layer of skin — which measures 1 to 4 mm — blood vessels can be cut. The blood that spreads around the site contains various substances, from red blood cells (which carry oxygen) to platelets (responsible for clotting).
2. Immediately the organism directs more platelets to the region and the production of fibrin begins – a substance that only forms in the blood when a vessel is broken. Platelets collect at the ends of the cut vessels and act as a plug, stopping the bleeding within minutes. Fibrin acts as the glue that binds platelets together.
3. The region’s defense takes about three days and is carried out by white blood cells. These blood cells destroy foreign things that have entered the body through the wound—such as bacteria. The defense process leaves the wound inflamed for a few days. During this period, the “crust” of the wound also appears, which is simply clotted and dried blood.
4. After the action of the white blood cells comes general cleaning. Enter the macrophages (a type of cell present in the skin), which “swallow” dead cells and the last remaining bacteria. At the same time, the blood flow in the region grows, giving rise to that typical bruised redness. With more blood, cells multiply in the superficial portion of the skin
5. The extra blood supply also brings in some cells called fibroblasts, which produce a special type of tissue: collagen. Combined with the multiplication of other skin cells, collagen forms new fibers. It is these fibers that come together to close the wound once and for all, which occurs from the outside to the inside of the wound.
6. About two weeks after the accident, the wound is completely covered with a new layer of skin. At most, depending on the severity of the cut and the body of each person, a small scar will remain in place to remember the accident.
Read too:
– How does the wound scab form?
– When to use cold and hot compresses?
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