Alert: Get information and resources about COVID-19 including testing, vaccines, at home treatments and a daily snapshot. COVID-19 Information. 1300 Miccosukee Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-431-1155 Five Signs Your Wound Isn't Healing Properly Home Healthy Living Blogs Five Signs Your Wound Isn’t Healing Properly Published: 08/20/2013 Wounds can range from cuts, scrapes and bruises to deep lacerations of the skin and ulcers. No matter how simple or severe a wound is, the goal is always to have the wound heal as quickly as possible and without complication. While wounds vary in the time they take to heal, be cautious of the following signs that your wound is not healing properly, and medical attention may be needed: 1) Increasing Pain. As the wound heals, the amount of pain you experience should decrease, not increase. 2) Discharge. If the discharge is thick and yellow, this typically indicates an infection has occurred. Gently clean the wound with warm soapy water, and seek medical attention. Never scrub a wound. 3) Foul Odor. The presence of odor in a wound might be a sign of decaying or dead tissue. Do not use scented creams or other scented toiletries to try to hide the smell, because this could worsen the condition of the wound. 4) Redness or Swelling. Slight swelling or redness around a wound is normal at the beginning of the healing cycle, but it should begin to subside after a few days. If redness or swelling is still present or worsens with time, the wound is likely not healing as it should. 5) Thirty days without Improvement. While not all wounds will have healed at the 30-day mark, they should be well on their way. If a wound has not improved in this timeframe, advanced medical care is needed. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek care from an experienced wound healing center trained in treating complex wounds. Without proper care, infection of a wound can be dangerous and lead to loss of a limb, illness or even death. There are many reasons why a wound might not heal correctly. However, certain conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, lymphedema and venous insufficiency can increase the chances you will develop a non-healing wound. So, can smoking. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and regular exercise can help ensure that your body heals properly. Categories: Healthy Living, Wound Healing Written by: Edward Forster, MD Edward Forster, MD, is board-certified in Family Medicine and is a faculty member at the TMH Family Medicine Residency Program. Sign up for our newsletter Call 850-431-1155 1300 Miccosukeee Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 Get Directions Quick Start Find a Doctor Find a Location Patient Portals Pay a Bill Classes & Events Volunteer For Professionals TMH Medical Staff Referring Physicians Lab Services Institutional Review Board Employment Verification More Resources Careers News & Media Contact Us Privacy Policy ©Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. All Rights Reserved. Language Assistance If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, contact our webmaster at pr@tmh.org.