According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, after about 3 months, most wounds are repaired. The new skin and tissue is about 80 percent as strong as it was before it was injured, per the University of Rochester Medical Center. A large or deep cut will heal faster if your healthcare provider sutures it.
The best way to ensure that a deep open wound heals as quickly as possible, is to follow the advice of your doctor or nurse. Avoid alcohol, quit smoking, and stick to a healthy diet, with plenty of fluids. Avoid opening the wound further by heavy lifting or certain exercises.
Without stitches, it may take 3 weeks or more for a wound to heal. Prolonged healing time isn't only a nuisance, it's also an infection risk. The risk of a wound infection continues as long as the wound hasn't healed. This is especially important to keep in mind if you have diabetes or you are immunocompromised.
The larger and deeper the scrape, the longer it will take to heal. A large, deep scrape may take up to 1 to 2 weeks or longer to heal. It's common to have small amounts of fluid drain or ooze from a scrape. This oozing usually clears up gradually and stops within 4 days.
If your wound is bigger than approximately ½ inch or deeper than ¼ inch, you should seek medical attention immediately, and you will need stitches. This size of cut is likely to bleed excessively and will need stitches to stop the bleeding.
If the wound is spread open, it will heal by filling in from the bottom and sides. A wound that is not stitched may take 1 to 4 weeks to heal, depending on the size of the opening. You will probably have a visible scar. You can discuss revision of the scar with your healthcare provider at a later time.
Your risk of infection increases the longer the wound remains open. Most wounds that require closure should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives (also called liquid stitches) within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some wounds that require treatment can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury.
Which Part of the Body Heals the Fastest? Muscles and tendons generally heal the fastest. These parts of the body recover more quickly thanks to an ample blood supply. The circulatory system provides muscles with plenty of nutrients and oxygen needed for healing.
Wound healing can be delayed by factors local to the wound itself, including desiccation, infection or abnormal bacterial presence, maceration, necrosis, pressure, trauma, and edema.
During the healing process, your body's red blood cells carry new cells to the site to begin rebuilding tissue. Poor blood circulation can slow down this process, making the wound that much longer to heal. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can cause poor blood circulation.
Signs a cut requires an emergency department visit
Deep enough to expose the dermis or yellow subcutaneous fatty tissue. Gaping open so that you can't easily use gentle pressure to press the edges together. Located on or across a joint. (You may also have damaged nerves, tendons, or ligaments.)
Large or deep wounds
When the wound is large or deep, even if the bleeding is not severe, it's time to call the doctor.
If the wound environment is dry, the cells will have to find moisture deep in the wound bed so that they can migrate. This slows down the healing process. In fact, studies show that moist wounds heal 50 % faster than dry wounds.
Betadine is used on the skin to treat or prevent skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns. Betadine is also used in a medical setting to help prevent infection and promote healing in skin wounds, pressure sores, or surgical incisions.
Call your health care provider right away if: The wound is large or deep, even if the bleeding is not severe. The wound is more than a quarter inch (. 64 centimeter) deep, on the face, or reaching the bone.
First, we clean the cut with iodine and cover the area with a surgical drape. Then, if necessary, we sew stitches under the skin. Your body will absorb these; we won't need to remove them. We will then stitch the wound shut, clean it with saline, apply antiseptic and cover with gauze or a bandage.
Your wound likely requires stitches if: it's deeper or longer than half an inch. it's deep enough that fatty tissue, muscle, or bone is exposed. it's wide or gaping.
Super glue can be a viable option if used under the right circumstances (small and clean cut, not too deep and not infectious). If you choose to use household super glue or even over-the-counter adhesive products, do so with caution and full understanding of the risks, including infection and scarring.