
There are three stages in wound healing:
- Inflammatory Phase (Inflammation) Under normal conditions, this stage usually lasts 3-5 days. ...
- Proliferative Phase (Proliferation) This phase often ranges between 10 days to 4 weeks. ...
- Maturation/Remodeling Phase This phase may last from 2 weeks up to 6 months. Collagen is remodeled and wounds fully close. ...
How long does the proliferative stage of wound healing last?
This phase often lasts four to six days and is often associated with edema, erythema (reddening of the skin), heat and pain. Once the wound is cleaned out, the wound enters Phase 3, the Proliferative Phase, where the focus is to fill and cover the wound.
What happens in the maturation phase of wound healing?
The last stage of wound healing is the maturation phase which involves cross-linking, wound contraction, and remodeling of the wound. The type III collagen which is initially laid down in the proliferation phase is replaced by type I collagen which has greater tensile strength.
What are the physiological processes involved in wound healing?
But have you ever considered the physiological processes that are involved in wound healing? There are three stages in the wound healing process: Inflammatory phase – This phase begins at the time of injury and lasts up to four days.
What happens in the third stage of wound healing?
In the third stage, epithelial cells arise from the wound bed or margins and begin to migrate across the wound bed in leapfrog fashion until the wound is covered with epithelium. The Proliferative phase often lasts anywhere from four to 24 days. During the Maturation phase, the new tissue slowly gains strength and flexibility.

What wound takes longer to heal?
More severe wounds will take longer to heal. Any symptoms of infection, as well as any major injuries, should prompt a visit to a doctor for a full diagnosis and treatment.
What are the 4 phases of wound healing?
Wound healing is classically divided into 4 stages: (A) hemostasis, (B) inflammation, (C) proliferation, and (D) remodeling. Each stage is characterized by key molecular and cellular events and is coordinated by a host of secreted factors that are recognized and released by the cells of the wounding response.
Which phase is critical to the wound healing process?
During proliferation, the wound is 'rebuilt' with new granulation tissue which is comprised of collagen and extracellular matrix and into which a new network of blood vessels develop, a process known as 'angiogenesis'.
How long are the stages of wound healing?
Wounds generally heal in 4 to 6 weeks. Chronic wounds are those that fail to heal within this timeframe. Many factors can lead to impaired healing. The primary factors are hypoxia, bacterial colonization, ischemia, reperfusion injury, altered cellular response, and collagen synthesis defects.
What are the 3 main stages of wound healing?
Three Stages of Wound HealingInflammatory phase – This phase begins at the time of injury and lasts up to four days. ... Proliferative phase – This phase begins about three days after injury and overlaps with the inflammatory phase. ... Remodeling phase – This phase can continue for six months to one year after injury.
How long is proliferative phase?
The proliferative phase is the third phase in the healing process and lasts 6-21 days. This phase is characterized by the presence of granulation tissue and ultimately epithelialization.
Which tissue heals rapidly?
Muscle Healing Considerations: Muscle has a rich blood supply, which is why it is the fastest healing tissue listed above. The circulatory system provides all tissues with nutrients and oxygen – both of which enable the tissue to heal.
What are the stages of healing?
The four stages of wound healing are:Hemostasis Phase. Hemostasis is the process of the wound being closed by clotting. ... Inflammatory Phase. ... Proliferative Phase. ... Maturation Phase.
How long does inflammatory phase last?
Overview of Wound Healing The inflammatory phase occurs immediately following the injury and lasts approximately 6 days. The fibroblastic phase occurs at the termination of the inflammatory phase and can last up to 4 weeks. Scar maturation begins at the fourth week and can last for years.
Why is the inflammatory phase in wound healing often called the lag phase?
Further- more, this phase initiates the inflammatory process. Sometimes this phase is also described as the 'lag-phase', in which the organism has to manage the recruitment of the many cells and factors for the healing process in the absence of the mechanical strength of the wound [1] .
What is the first stage of the healing process?
Phase 1: Stop the bleeding (hemostasis) The first stage of wound healing is for the body to stop the bleeding. This is called hemostasis or clotting and it occurs within seconds to minutes after you suffer a wound.
What is inflammatory phase of wound healing?
Inflammation. Inflammation, the next stage of wound healing occurs within the first 24 hours after injury and can last for up to 2 weeks in normal wounds and significantly longer in chronic non-healing wounds (Figure 23.3).
What are the stages of healing?
The four stages of wound healing are:Hemostasis Phase. Hemostasis is the process of the wound being closed by clotting. ... Inflammatory Phase. ... Proliferative Phase. ... Maturation Phase.
What are the 5 principles of wound management?
In this article, the authors offer five generalisable principles that colleagues providing community care can apply in order to achieve timely wound healing: (1) assessment and exclusion of disease processes; (2) wound cleansing; (3) timely dressing change; (4) appropriate (dressing choice; and (5) considered ...
Does itching mean healing?
Itchiness is a normal part of wound healing. To understand the cause of itching, you have to understand how a wound — even one closed with stitches — is rebuilt.
Phase 1: Homeostasis
Any injury to the epidermis results in bleeding from small blood vessels. As a result, the body’s initial response to injury is to stop the acute blood loss and achieve "homeostasis". The blood vessels constrict immediately after an injury.
Phase 2: Inflammation
After achieving hemostasis, the next goal of the wound healing process is to prevent bacterial invasion at the wound site. This is achieved during the inflammation phase of wound healing. [ 3] The initial vasoconstriction is reversed in the second phase by vasodilation of blood vessels.
Phase 3: Proliferation
The third stage - the proliferation phase - occurs within 3 to 21 days after an initial injury in a normal wound healing process. This stage is characterized by the formation of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) at the wound site.
Phase 4: Maturation
The last stage of wound healing is the maturation phase which involves cross-linking, wound contraction, and remodeling of the wound. The type III collagen which is initially laid down in the proliferation phase is replaced by type I collagen which has greater tensile strength.
What happens in the final phase of wound healing?
In the final phase of the proliferative stage of wound healing, epithelial cells resurface the injury. It is important to remember that epithelialization happens faster when wounds are kept moist and hydrated.
What are the stages of wound healing?
The stages of wound healing proceed in an organized way and follow four processes: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation. Although the stages of wound healing are linear, wounds can progress backward or forward depending on internal and external patient conditions. The four stages of wound healing are:
What is the proliferative phase of wound healing?
The proliferative phase of wound healing is when the wound is rebuilt with new tissue made up of collagen and extracellular matrix. In the proliferative phase, the wound contracts as new tissues are built. In addition, a new network of blood vessels must be constructed so that the granulation tissue can be healthy and receive sufficient oxygen ...
How quickly does hemostasis occur?
The hemostasis stage of wound healing happens very quickly. The platelets adhere to the sub-endothelium surface within seconds of the rupture of a blood vessel's epithelial wall. After that, the first fibrin strands begin to adhere in about sixty seconds. As the fibrin mesh begins, the blood is transformed from liquid to gel through pro-coagulants ...
Why is my wound granulation red?
In healthy stages of wound healing, granulation tissue is pink or red and uneven in texture. Moreover, healthy granulation tissue does not bleed easily. Dark granulation tissue can be a sign of infection, ischemia, or poor perfusion.
What is collagen maturation?
When collagen is laid down during the proliferative phase, it is disorganized and the wound is thick. During the maturation phase, collagen is aligned along tension lines and water is reabsorbed so the collagen fibers can lie closer together and cross-link. Cross-linking of collagen reduces scar thickness and also makes the skin area of the wound stronger. Generally, remodeling begins about 21 days after an injury and can continue for a year or more. Even with cross-linking, healed wound areas continue to be weaker than uninjured skin, generally only having 80% of the tensile strength of unwounded skin.
How long does it take for a wound to heal after cross linking?
Generally, remodeling begins about 21 days after an injury and can continue for a year or more. Even with cross-linking, healed wound areas continue to be weaker than uninjured skin, generally only having 80% of the tensile strength of unwounded skin. The stages of wound healing are a complex and fragile process.
What is the proliferative phase of a wound?
Proliferative phase – This phase begins about three days after injury and overlaps with the inflammatory phase. It involves cells called fibroblasts that help ...
What is the treatment for slow healing wounds?
Patients with diabetes, vascular disorders, or other chronic conditions may experience slow-healing or non-healing wounds that require specialized medical care in the form of compression therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or growth factor therapy.
How long does it take for a paper cut to heal?
If you’ve ever sustained a paper cut or a more serious skin laceration, you’ve likely noticed that your injury heals over the course of several days or weeks.
What is BayCare wound care?
At BayCare, we are committed to educating both our patients and members of the Tampa Bay area community about health risks and treatment options for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including wounds or pressure ulcers caused by diabetes, skin grafts, immobility, and lymphedema. Please feel free to browse our online wound management resources such as When to Seek Professional Wound Care Treatment, Seven Tips for Preventing Foot Ulcers, and Nutrition Guidelines for Wound Care.
How long does it take for a wound to heal?
Simple wounds, such as those without extensive tissue damage or infection, take about 4–6 weeks to heal.
What is wound healing?
Wound healing is the process that the skin goes through as it repairs damage from wounds. There are three main types of wound healing, depending on treatment and wound type. These are called primary, secondary, and tertiary wound healing. Every wound goes through various stages of healing, depending on the type of wound and its severity.
Why is it important to close a wound?
Closing a wound in this way reduces the tissue lost and allows the body to focus on closing and healing a smaller-area wound rather than the larger initial wound. For example, a doctor might stitch up a large cut rather than allow the body to heal over the entire cut.
What are the processes of wound healing?
This occurs over the course of four different processes: 1 Epithelialization: This is the process of creating new skin tissue in the various layers of damaged skin. 2 Angiogenesis: This is the creation of new blood vessels in the area of the wound healing. 3 Collagen formation: This is the building up of strength in the tissue of the wound. 4 Contraction: This is the reduction and eventual closing of the wound size and area.
How long does it take for scar tissue to heal?
Scar tissue will never return to 100% strength, but it will reach about 80% strength around 11–14 weeks after sustaining the initial wound. The following sections describe the wound healing process in more detail.
Why does secondary wound healing take longer?
This process takes longer, which may be due to increased wound size, the risk of infection and contamination, and other factors , such as the use of certain medications.
How long does it take for granulation tissue to form?
The combined connective tissue and blood vessels is called granulation tissue. This granulation tissue starts to form around 4 days into a wound’s healing process.
What are the phases of wound healing?
The 4 phases of wound healing. Healing begins with Hemostasis. During Phase 2, a type of white blood cells called neutrophils enter the wound to destroy bacteria and remove debris. These cells often reach their peak population between 24 and 48 hours after injury, reducing greatly in number after three days.
How long does the proliferative phase of a wound last?
In the third stage, epithelial cells arise from the wound bed or margins and begin to migrate across the wound bed in leapfrog fashion until the wound is covered with epithelium. The Proliferative phase often lasts anywhere from four to 24 days.
How long does collagen last?
The Maturation phase varies greatly from wound to wound, often lasting anywhere from 21 days to two years. The healing process is remarkable and complex, ...
How long does the immune system last in a wound?
This phase often lasts four to six days and is often associated with edema, erythema (reddening of the skin), heat and pain.
What is the cascade of healing?
The cascade of healing is divided into these four overlapping phases: Hemostasis, Inflammatory, Proliferative, and Maturation.
What is the first step in healing?
Hemostasis, the first phase of healing, begins at the onset of injury, and the objective is to stop the bleeding. In this phase, the body activates its emergency repair system, the blood clotting system, and forms a dam to block the drainage. During this process, platelets come into contact with collagen, resulting in activation and aggregation. An enzyme called thrombin is at the center, and it initiates the formation of a fibrin mesh, which strengthens the platelet clumps into a stable clot.
What is the second phase of coagulation?
If Phase 1 is primarily about coagulation, the second phase, called the Defensive/Inflammatory Phase, focuses on destroying bacteria and removing debris—essentially preparing the wound bed for the growth of new tissue.

Hemostasis Phase
Inflammatory Phase
- Inflammation is the second stage of wound healing and begins right after the injury when the injured blood vessels leak transudate (made of water, salt, and protein) causing localized swelling. Inflammation both controls bleeding and prevents infection. The fluid engorgement allows healing and repair cells to move to the site of the wound. During the inflammatory phase, …
Proliferative Phase
- The proliferative phase of wound healing is when the wound is rebuilt with new tissue made up of collagen and extracellular matrix. In the proliferative phase, the wound contracts as new tissues are built. In addition, a new network of blood vessels must be constructed so that the granulation tissue can be healthy and receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Myofibroblasts cause the wou…
Maturation Phase
- Also called the remodeling stage of wound healing, the maturation phase is when collagen is remodeled from type III to type I and the wound fully closes. The cells that had been used to repair the wound but which are no longer needed are removed by apoptosis, or programmed cell death. When collagen is laid down during the proliferative phase, it is...