Smoking and poor wound healing, non healing wounds, chronic wounds, ulcers, injuries, plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, Dr Alexander, Cochin, kerala India+

Blood vessels are like roads that lead ‘to and fro’ the damaged wound sites. The body sends workers and supplies to repair the damaged site by these blood vessels. Further adequate oxygen (carried by red blood cells) cannot reach the wound site and good oxygenation is required for proper functioning of all cells. If blood supply to the wound area is decreased from any reason then the ‘worker cells and specialist cells’ as well as nutrients and repair materials cannot easily reach the wound to begin the process of repair and healing effectively.

Smoking hampers wound healing and in fact the use of tobacco in any form must be avoided. This is because use of tobacco releases nicotine which in turn causes the blood vessels to contract (vasoconstriction) and reduce the blood flow to the wound. Similarly it also increases the platelet adherence (blood cells that stick together or clump together) which again diminishes the blood flow; all of which will lead to poor wound healing. To quit smoking suddenly may be difficult, but one could drastically reduce the frequency of smoking, or at least stop smoking during the time your wound needs to heal.