As any skincare enthusiast will tell you, water is great for your skin. When you drink enough water throughout the day, your skin stays supple and hydrated. On the other hand, if your body is not getting adequate water your skin will be dry and dehydrated. When it comes to wound care, having supple, hydrated skin can be quite beneficial for the healing process.
How to prevent scarring through hydration?
Wound healing takes place in well-defined stages, starting from the moment the skin is damaged. In the first stage of healing, blood rushes to the wound site carrying nutrients and oxygen to aid in healing. If your body is dehydrated then the wound will not receive adequate oxygen which will slow down the healing process. On the other hand, drinking enough water helps ensure optimum oxygen levels in our bloodstream. Hence, keeping your body hydrated can help in the faster healing of wounds and in turn, prevent scarring.
Should you keep a wound moist or dry?
Wounds need moisture to heal optimally and to prevent scarring. One way to do this is by ensuring that you are getting enough water and that your body is optimally hydrated. Another way is by inducing a moist atmosphere around the wound by using a wound plaster. Uncovered wounds tend to dry out and form scabs, which means an increased chance of scarring. In moist wound healing, however, the wound heals much faster with no scab formation, which helps prevent scarring.
So there you have it, optimum wound healing is as simple as drinking a glass of water and covering your cuts up with a wound plaster.