How long does the inflammatory phase of wound healing last?

The inflammatory phase of wound healing typically lasts for a short period, generally up to about 4 days. During this phase, the body initiates a complex biological response to tissue injury. This response involves the increased blood flow to the area, the accumulation of white blood cells, and the release of various cytokines that help to protect the body and begin the healing process.

The duration of this phase is crucial because it sets the stage for the subsequent phases of wound healing, including the proliferative phase where new tissue forms. Understanding that the inflammatory phase is relatively brief helps clarify the overall dynamics of wound healing, as it focuses on controlling infection and preparing the wound for the next steps toward healing.

Other ranges, such as 2-5 days and 3-24 days, may encompass the inflammatory phase but lack the precision associated with the most commonly accepted time frame. The option suggesting more than a year is inconsistent with the typical healing processes in acute wounds, where the inflammatory response resolves long before that timeframe.