The four stages of wound healing, in plain English
Knowing what each stage looks like tells you whether a wound is progressing or stuck.
Healing is not one process but four overlapping ones. Recognising the stage you are looking at makes it much easier to judge whether something is going wrong.
1. Bleeding and clotting — minutes
Vessels constrict and a clot forms to seal the wound. This is what direct pressure is helping along.
2. Inflammation — days one to four
The area becomes red, warm, slightly swollen and tender as immune cells clear debris and bacteria. This looks alarming and is normal. The distinction from infection is direction of travel: inflammation settles, infection worsens.
3. Rebuilding — days four to twenty-one
New tissue fills the gap and new skin creeps across from the edges. The wound looks pink and may be lumpy. This is the stage a dressing protects most usefully.
4. Remodelling — weeks to two years
The repair reorganises and strengthens. A scar keeps changing colour and texture long after it looks closed, and never regains full original strength.
What "stuck" looks like
A wound that has not visibly changed in two weeks, or one that reverts to looking inflamed after improving, needs assessment.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.