A wound is defined as an injury to living tissue, especially one that causes a break in the skin or other organs. Wounds are usually classified according to their cause and severity. A typical example is when someone gets cut by a sharp object(s) like glass, metal, etc. There are also varying degrees of wounds that will affect the recovery time for each. For example, a small paper cut to the skin could take three days to two weeks to heal completely.
On the other hand, if an individual is involved in an accident that causes them to lose a limb or undergo extreme blood loss, it may take months or even years for their wound(s) to heal. This article will look at the different types of wounds. And why you should see a Bakersfield wound care specialist.
Open Wounds
Open wounds are defined as an injury that breaks the skin surface. It may be caused by cuts, abrasions, punctures, lacerations (cuts on body tissues), or gunshot wounds. These types of wounds happen when something sharp pierces your skin like a cut, scrape, puncture via nail/staple/puncture by a sharp object, etc. The open wound can be caused by sharp objects penetrating the skin, hot/harsh chemicals that burn the skin, or blunt force trauma.
Open wounds are deep or shallow depending on how far into the tissues they penetrate. Deep wounds are deep enough to reach beyond the outer layer of skin and fat tissues, while a shallow wound may only penetrate the outer layer of skin.
Closed Wounds
A closed wound doesn’t break the skin surface. It may be caused by an impact or a crushing injury, as in car crashes, or it can also happen due to various medical conditions such as blood clots, tumors, and cysts. Because they don’t break the skin surface, they are also known as internal wounds.
Ulcers
An ulcer is a sore that develops on the skin or tissues underneath your skin surface. It is an open and shallow wound caused by damage to the tissue below the skin’s surface. Ulcers may also happen on organs such as your intestines, stomach, etc., and may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, poor circulation, and certain types of cancer.
Treatment depends on the cause of ulcers, and they can be treated with topical medication such as antibiotics, ointments, and physical therapy, depending on the severity of the wound. Ulcers usually take three to twelve weeks to heal completely, depending on their size and depth.
Contusions
A contusion is also known as a bruise, and it occurs when something hits the body part causing internal bleeding or swelling. Contusions can happen on any part of your body, often resulting from accidents like car crashes, falls, assaults, etc.
The amount of time it takes for this type of injury to heal depends on its severity.
In summary, anyone could suffer from many kinds of wounds. Some of the most common types include open wounds, closed wounds, contusions, and ulcers. Simply knowing the difference between each can help you choose the right treatment for your wound.
