Here's what happens: Step 1: This stage starts with filling in the wound with lots of new cells, forming new tissue. These new tissues, known as granulation tissues, are usually pink or red and uneven in texture. Your body also forms new blood vessels so that the new tissue receives enough oxygen and nutrients.
When a scrape removes the outer layers of skin, new skin will form in the bottom of the wound and the wound will heal from the bottom up. This type of scrape looks pink and raw at first. As it heals, the new skin sometimes appears yellowish and may be confused with pus.
Over time, the area will turn pink and shiny as the new skin forms. This usually occurs when a scrape is kept covered with a bandage and is washed regularly with soap and water to remove the scab-forming tissue.
Scar tissue is usually red at first, then pink for 3-6 months and then fades to a slightly lighter than normal skin color. Exposure to heavy sunlight may cause a scar to heal darker. Sun avoidance and use of sunscreen over scar sites is advisable for six months after surgery.
Once the scab forms, your body's immune system starts to protect the wound from infection. The wound becomes slightly swollen, red or pink, and tender. You also may see some clear fluid oozing from the wound. This fluid helps clean the area.
Granulation tissue is firm to the touch, slightly shiny and a sign of healthy would healing. This kind of tissue is rich in collagen, an essential element for skin growth, and gets its reddish color because of the presence of newly formed blood vessels that help promote the growth of new tissue over the wound.
Because scar tissue is made of fibers, not skin cells, it's stronger than ordinary skin. Unlike skin, scar tissue doesn't have hair, sweat glands or blood vessels. It may look shiny and it's often a different color from the skin around it.
Shiny skin may actually be a sign of skin health, since the oil that comes from the sebaceous glands contains ceramides. These are fatty acids that help form a protective barrier on skin, defending against environmental stressors like sun damage or daily pollution, and helping to regulate moisture levels.
Flushed skin occurs when the hundreds of tiny blood vessels just beneath the skin dilate, or widen. When these blood vessels expand, they rapidly fill with more blood, which can make the skin appear red or pink.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Some pink or red skin on the edge of the wound is normal. It's more common if the wound is sutured. It's also normal for it to be swollen for a few days. Your child's wound is not infected unless the redness spreads or pain increases.
It will take six to 18 months for the scar to have its final appearance. Your scar should gradually soften and fade over these six to 18 months, but will look pink initially (photo B). Some scars never fade. If your scar stays pink after 12 to 18 months please call to discuss options.
This process takes seven months on average, but can be influenced by the type of wound and position1. This is because redness on a fresh scar is caused by blood vessels underneath the injured area, which help to bring the oxygen and nutrients necessary for wound healing.
Check if you have a keloid scar
Keloid scars are usually raised, hard, smooth and shiny. They can be skin colour, pink, red, purple, brown, or darker than the skin around them. You can get keloid scars on any part of the body, but they're most common on the chest, shoulders, chin, neck, lower legs and ears.
All healthy skin has some shine and natural glow, except for dry skin, which has little not not shine. That natural glow and shine means that sebum production is normal. A natural shine or sheen is a good sign.
Healthy granulation tissue is pink in colour and is an indicator of healing. Unhealthy granulation is dark red in colour, often bleeds on contact, and may indicate the presence of wound infection. Such wounds should be cultured and treated in the light of microbiological results.
Healthy granulation tissue is bright red with a grainy appearance, due to the budding or growth of new blood vessels into the tissue. This tissue is firm to touch and has a shiny appearance. It is essential to protect the granulation tissue to allow the epithelialisation process to proceed in order to close the wound.
Smooth texture
Healthy skin looks smooth and feels smooth. If you look closely in the mirror, you will notice a uniform layout of your pores and tiny peaks around your hair follicles (yes, our face does have a fine layer of hair, almost invisible to the naked eye). The pores are small, tight, and feel smooth to touch.
You should keep a wound moist and covered for about five days.