Why does wound healing get slower as we age?

Despite how happy we would all be to avoid it, getting older is an experience we all have to handle. As we age, it's important to understand how the changes affect how we think about everything from the clothes we wear to the roles we serve to the ways our body can heal. With that said, how does age affect wound healing? It slows the process down enough that a minor cut causes more worry than it may have in the past. Here are the top reasons why aging slows the speed of wound healing: Our bodies can't heal wounds as quickly when we get older. Increasingly fragile skin As we get older, our skin begins to lose elasticity – which is the reason wrinkles are an indicator of age. Wound Source noted that environment, exposure to smoking, stress or radiation, drugs, diet, lifestyle and family history can further influence how skin ages. Regardless of the reason, however, changes in skin composition make the risk of skin tears, bruises and other wounds skyrocket as we age. Age-related health conditions Medical conditions that are more common in elderly adults, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, can have a negative effect on the healing process. For instance, when the health issue prevents fresh blood cells from quickly reaching the wound, the affected area loses out on the nourishment and oxygen levels it needs to promptly begin the first phases of the healing process. Changes in the cells Recent experiments at The Rockefeller University suggested an exp...
Source: Advanced Tissue - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Wound healing Source Type: news