Why wound itch when healing

This is why it is recommended to keep healing skin clean, covered, and moist with petroleum jelly. Jacobson, PA-C. These are letters from practitioners around the country who want to share their clinical problems and successes, observations and pearls with their colleagues. We invite you to participate. If you have a clinical question, submit it here. From the May 01, Issue of Clinical Advisor. The scab forms as fibrin and other substances dehydrate and form a protective covering over the healing wound.

The next stage of wound healing is where the real pain and itching begin. In this phase , inflammatory cells rush to the wound site to help clean the base of the wound and prepare for new cells.

Some of these cells, called histamines, help open the vessels around the wound for immune cells to begin cleanup. Unfortunately, histamines are also a primary chemical cause of itching. An infected wound will create additional itching, as inflammatory and immune cells work overtime to fight bacteria.

In some unfortunate cases, wounds stop healing properly and become stuck in this phase. Itching is a major problem with complications that result in chronic wounds. As these new layers are pulled together in the final phase, fluid builds below the wound surface. There are a few abnormal aspects of healing that could cause extra itching over your stitches. Contact your doctor if you experience inflammation, redness, or oozing, which can be signs of:.

Wound care can be complicated and may include cleaning and dressing the area. Scratching an itchy wound could cause it to break open and delay healing.

Some ways to relieve stitch itch include:. For more severe wounds and itching, or wounds that take a long time to heal, your doctor may have to try:.

You might think that scratching, or even a gentle rub, will help relieve your itch. Blood clotting happens thanks to cells called platelets. Eventually, when the wound stops bleeding, a scab forms.

The scab helps protect the freshly injured skin from contaminants like bacteria and allows the skin to heal. Underneath a scab, your body is working hard to repair damage to the skin and blood vessels. The body also enlists white blood cells to help clean up any foreign matter and bacteria in the wound.

After some time, a scab will fall off to reveal brand-new skin. Deep wounds and severe burns require emergency medical treatment. But most small nicks, cuts, scrapes, and surface burns heal well on their own in a healthy person.

Itching occurs as a normal part of healing. However, the reason the itch develops isn't completely understood. One study from suggests that the same mechanisms at work with eczema itchiness are involved in itching during wound healing.

Additionally, itching that occurs during wound healing might be the result of poorly translated nerve signals. Your brain might receive a signal that your skin is regenerating via collagen synthesis, but that information is translated as an itching sensation. And so, what you feel is that itching sensation. While some experts believe histamines, which are released by the body to help with wound healing, may contribute to itching, research suggests that their effect may be minimal.

Signs that a wound may be infected include:. Scratching an itch feels great. Scratching an itchy wound that is in the process of healing, however, can cause scarring and prolong healing if you open the wound back up again.

You might even introduce bacteria, causing an infection to develop. Proper care ensures the wound heals without complications and lessens your chances of getting a scar. For a minor wound:. Some wounds require stitches. By alleviating the itch, you can avoid a prolonged healing process and potential infection from scratching too much.

The temptation to scratch an itch can be hard to overcome, but taking preventive steps or preoccupying your hands with other activities will allow your body to do the important work of healing. To learn more about how to prevent itchy skin, check out our guide to winter skin care. A native Tennessean, Joe Morris has written for and edited publications all around the country, covering everything from local government and courts to financial institutions and celebrities. He has been with Parthenon Publishing since , writing and editing employee- and consumer-focused healthcare publications.

More Posts — Website — LinkedIn. But annoying as that itch is, there is a reason for it.