You may get a cut, scrape, or puncture wound from an accident. You may have a wound because of a condition like diabetes. Or you may have a cut that needs care after surgery. No matter what kind of wound you have, the healing process for it happens in four stages. These stages are:

• Stopping the bleeding (hemostasis).
• Inflammation.
• Growth and rebuilding.
• Strengthening.

When your skin is cut, scraped, or punctured, you usually start to bleed. Within minutes or even seconds, blood cells start to clump together and clot. This protects the wound and prevents further blood loss. These clots turn into scabs as they dry.

Once the wound is closed with a clot, the blood vessels can open a bit to allow fresh nutrients and oxygen into the wound for healing. Blood-borne oxygen is needed for healing. The right balance of oxygen is also important—too much or too little and the wound won't heal correctly.

Another type of blood cell, a white blood cell called a macrophage, fights infection and oversees the repair process. You might see some clear fluid on or around the cut at this time. It is helping clean out the wound. Macrophages also make chemical messengers, called growth factors, which help repair the wound.

Blood cells, including oxygen-rich red blood cells, arrive to help build new tissue. Chemical signals tell the cells to create collagen. It serves as a type of framework. Sometimes you see the result of this process as a scar. On lighter skin, the scar may start out red and fade over time. On darker skin, the scar may appear brown or another color. It may or may not fade.

Over time, the new tissue gets stronger. You might notice stretching, itching, and even puckering of the wound as that happens. The wound gains strength quickly over the first 6 weeks of healing. In about 3 months, the wound is 80% as strong in its repair as it was before the injury. But the wound area will never reach 100% of its original strength. Depending on the size of the wound and how severe it is, the entire healing process might take up to a couple of years to complete.

Care may vary depending on the type of wound you have. But whatever the cause of the wound, there are things you can do to care for it at home.

• If your doctor told you how to care for your wound, follow those instructions. If you didn't get instructions, follow this general advice for minor wounds.
  • Wash your hands before and after touching the wound.
  • Keep the wound dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, wash the area daily with mild soap and water. Pat it dry.
  • You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.
  • Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage daily.
  • Avoid using an antibiotic ointment unless your doctor recommends it.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
• Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Avoid aspirin. It can interfere with clotting. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• If you have stitches, do not remove them on your own. Your doctor will tell you when to come back to have them removed.
• If you have tape strips, leave them on until they fall off.
• If possible, prop up the injured area on a pillow anytime you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.

Your doctor may also want you to come back for a wound check. The wound check lets the doctor know how your wound is healing and if you need more treatment.

Certain factors can slow or prevent healing entirely. One of those factors is reduced or poor blood supply to the wound. The oxygen and nutrients that new blood carries to the wound are key to successful healing. A wound that is not getting enough blood could take at least twice as long to heal, if it heals at all. These are called chronic wounds. These are more common in older people or people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or other vascular disease. People who smoke are at high risk for poor wound healing.

If you have a wound that is not healing in a reasonable time frame, talk to your doctor. If your injury seems to be getting worse or appears infected—that is, if it is more swollen, warm or hot to the touch, painful, or draining or oozing pus—see a doctor right away. Don’t smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about quit programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.