Things start to get complicated when germs enter the picture. Once the wound is clean, there are several techniques to speed up the healing process. An unclean wound may cause a bacterial infection to occur. You never know what kind of bacteria could be lurking on the surface of whatever you’ve just scraped up against, so skipping this important step could mean letting germs hang out and multiply, possibly upping your risk for infection and dragging out the healing process. The infection may involve just the skin, or affect deeper tissues or organs close to the wound. What increases my risk for a wound infection? Drainage is normal during the inflammatory stages of a wound, but becomes more cause for concern as the wound enters other stages of the healing process. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it acts as a protective barrier, keeping out nasty germs and pathogens. However, if you’re concerned that a wound looks deep, is not healing or might be infected, a healthcare professional should examine it. bacteria) enter the sensitive tissue beneath the skin. Generally, a wound will heal on its own. A wound is a cut or opening in the skin. Next, clean out any dirt and debris in your wound to prevent infection. Cuts can vary from minor scrapes, shallow cuts to deep wounds requiring stitches and surgery. I cleaned it and bandaged it, but now it appears to be getting quite grim. It can be just a scratch or a cut that is as tiny as a paper cut.. A large scrape, abrasion, or cut might happen because of a fall, accident, or trauma. A wound infection occurs when bacteria enters a break in the skin. But how exactly does a wound get infected? And while time is said to heal all wounds, infected wounds will need a little extra care. Big mistake. What is a wound infection? Most wounds heal with little to no trouble. That benign wound can turn into an infected cut once germs (i.e. These include the use of … Cuts and scrapes are a normal part of life. The body is an incredible machine that can fight invasions, mend bones, and regenerate new skin. Once opened, however, the risk of infection increases greatly. Drainage can be a sign of infection, but not always. Whenever the scan is broken, it has a florescent yellowish liquid - which always goes onto my bed covers!! The skin is an amazing organ that protects the body against infections. Our bodies are so efficient at healing that our wound healing process actually begins within minutes of getting hurt.However, the body’s healing process is occasionally interrupted when germs and bacteria make contact with the damaged skin, causing the area to become infected. Rinse the cut under running water, or pour a cup of clear water over it. Know which types of wounds are prone to infection. Anything that decreases your body's ability to heal wounds may put you at risk for a wound infection. Cuts on the feet, the hands, and other areas that commonly come into contact with bacteria are also especially susceptible. — … However, a wound is more likely to get infected if it has not been properly cleaned and treated. Wound drainage may be caused by surgery, injury or anything that results in an open wound. If your wound is super small or you’re in a rush, it can be tempting to skip disinfecting it. Is my cut infected, or just healing (with pictures) About 2 weeks ago I fell off my skateboard and got a nasty cut. Any damage to the skin that causes a break in the skin can lead to a wound infection.