Smoking and its effects on the healing process of chronic wounds

Br J Community Nurs. 2013 Mar:Suppl:S18, S20-3. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2013.18.sup3.s18.

Abstract

Smoking has a negative impact on skin health. Numerous studies have effectively linked smoking with delayed wound healing and healing complications. Research has identified cigarette smoking affects wound healing at a cellular level. Reducing fibroblast activity and keratinocyte migration. Such is the concern around the affects that smoking has on wound healing that some question whether smoking abstinence should be a pre requisite before some surgical procedures. This article will discuss current research and clinical studies that have investigated impaired wound healing as a result of cigarette smoking.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Humans
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Wound Healing / physiology*