Cuts, burns, and bruises occur very often, but that doesn’t make them less annoying. A small wound can make life inconvenient until it heals, especially when it’s located in a highly active body part, such as your finger or foot. So there’s every reason to desire faster wound healing so you can get back to your activities painlessly.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to achieve that.
Below, we’ve compiled some effective ways to make your wound heal faster.
6 effective ways to make wounds heal faster
1. Clean the wound
The first step to promoting faster wound healing is cleaning the cut or scraping it. If the wound isn’t cleaned, there may be dirt and germs lodged in the skin that may impair healing.
Use water and antiseptic to wash the wound.
2. Cover the wound
Covering a cut or scrape can help it heal faster. That’s because the bandage protects the wound from dirt, germs, and infection, which may delay healing. Such an environment is crucial for healing to take place rapidly.
Without the covering, a scab may form over the wound, which can also stall the healing process. You also risk hitting the wounded area against objects, and that’s a fresh start for your pain.
Apply an appropriate bandage and change it daily.
3. Treat with an antibiotic
A crucial way to make a wound heal faster is to apply topical ointment to it. One very effective product to use is manuka honey, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting rapid wound healing.
Furthermore, manuka honey creates a moist, protective barrier around the wound against microbial infection. It acts just like a bandage cover, but a natural one. You’d also notice significant pain relief throughout the healing process.
You can further speed up the healing process by applying manuka honey to the wound while changing the bandage.
4. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits
Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and antioxidants that aid skin cell repair. Your wound will heal more quickly if your skin cells can repair faster. Consume foods rich in vitamin A, copper and zinc, such as liver, sweet potato, kale, carrot, and mango.
5. Get enough sleep
This may sound superficial, even corny, but it works. According to research findings, sleep deprivation can delay healing and increase pro-inflammatory cytokines. So if you want your wound to heal faster, ensure you don’t deny yourself some long, quality night sleep.
6. HBOT therapy
Wounds need oxygen to heal. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a procedure that speeds up healing by exposing the body to oxygen at a higher pressure. If you’re suffering from stubborn wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other kinds of injuries in which tissues get insufficient oxygen, HBOT is one of the best ways to speed up the healing process.
However, this is the most expensive option on the list in this article.
Points to note when treating wounds
A covered wound:
- Has less chance of infection
- Scars less easily
- Heals faster
Whereas an uncovered wound:
- Has higher chances of infection
- Scars more easily
- Heals slowly
Conclusion
Clean your wound, apply an effective ointment such as manuka honey, cover with a bandage, consume antioxidants, and rest assured your wound will be gone in no time.