Why Is My Wound Not Healing?
Most cuts, scrapes, and surgical wounds should show steady improvement. If your wound isn’t improving, it’s often a sign that the body’s repair process is being interrupted. Understanding what “normal” looks like helps you choose the right next step.
Providers focus less on exact days and more on whether the wound is moving in the right direction. Legs and feet often take longer because circulation is more limited.
Measure progress over time — shrinking size, decreasing drainage, improving redness/swelling.
More walking, standing, friction, or pressure can cause short-term swelling or drainage changes.
Missed dressing changes or repeated pressure can disrupt healing and stall progress.
If improvement stalls completely (or reverses), evaluation is usually needed rather than “more time.”
Most non-healing wounds are multi-factor — several issues often overlap.
Skin becomes thinner, blood flow can decrease, and immune response can slow. Minor wounds may need closer monitoring.
Delayed detection (reduced sensation, vision changes, limited mobility) can allow wounds to stall before they’re noticed.
Reduced blood flow limits oxygen delivery and slows waste removal. Wounds may look pale/cool and remain open despite good care.
Poor circulation can also make antibiotics less effective because medication can’t reach the tissue well.
Diabetes, heart/kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders can interfere with circulation, immune function, or tissue repair.
Diabetes is a common cause: high blood sugar damages vessels/nerves, reducing sensation and blood flow.
Chronic wounds don’t move through normal stages. They stay open, worsen, or repeatedly reopen. They can also affect sleep, mobility, social activity, and emotional well-being.
No meaningful change after several weeks.
Persistent drainage over time.
Edges look abnormal instead of moving inward.
Surrounding skin becomes red, macerated, or fragile.
Closes a bit, then breaks down again.
Ongoing wound stress can increase inflammation and affect immune response; support and realistic expectations help.
Not every slow-healing wound is an emergency, but some require prompt evaluation. A provider should evaluate a wound that shows no improvement after 3–4 weeks, becomes more painful or swollen, develops increasing drainage/odor, reopens, or occurs in someone with diabetes or circulation problems.
If you’re unsure, choose evaluation sooner — especially for leg/foot wounds or diabetes.
Home support tipsMedical care matters, but daily habits strongly influence healing: hydration supports circulation; protein and calories provide building blocks for repair; avoid smoking (nicotine constricts vessels).
Supports circulation and tissue function.
Provides building blocks for new tissue.
Reduce repeated disruption (especially legs/feet).
Dressings, timing, and cleanliness matter.
Smoking significantly delays wound repair.
Catch changes early; progress should be visible over time.
Clinical reviewer & health writer
