A wound is a break in the body’s tissues. During healing, the body repairs damaged areas, but sometimes non-viable, or dead, tissue can form, complicating recovery. Understanding what dead tissue looks like is important for wound management.
Visual Cues of Dead Tissue
Dead tissue on a wound appears in distinct forms, primarily eschar and slough. Eschar is typically dark, often black or brownish-black, and dry. It can be thick, leathery, and firmly attached, resembling a crust or scab. This necrotic tissue often indicates a deeper wound. It may also be tan or brown, hard or soft, and firmly or loosely attached.
Slough, in contrast, is usually softer and can range in color from yellow, tan, gray, or green to brown. It often has a moist, stringy, or slimy consistency and may be loosely or firmly attached to the wound surface. Slough is composed of dead cells, fibrin, white blood cells, and other debris that accumulate during the inflammatory phase of healing. Healthy, viable tissue within a wound appears pink or red, is moist, and may have a bumpy, granular texture, indicating new blood vessel formation. Dead tissue generally lacks sensation and may sometimes be associated with a foul odor due to bacterial presence or tissue degradation.
The Impact of Dead Tissue on Wound Healing
The presence of dead tissue significantly hinders wound healing. Non-viable tissue creates a physical barrier that obstructs the body’s ability to form new, healthy granulation tissue. This means the wound cannot effectively close or repair itself, making it susceptible to further complications.
Dead tissue provides a favorable environment for bacteria to multiply, substantially increasing the risk of infection. This bacterial growth can lead to an unpleasant odor and prolong the inflammatory phase of healing. Furthermore, dead tissue can conceal the true depth and extent of a wound or mask an underlying infection, making proper assessment and treatment challenging.
Guidance for Managing Wounds with Dead Tissue
If dead tissue is observed on a wound, avoid attempting to remove it yourself. Picking, cutting, or forcefully removing it at home can cause pain, bleeding, damage healthy tissue, and introduce bacteria, increasing infection risk. Gentle cleaning of the wound area surrounding the non-viable tissue is appropriate to maintain hygiene.
Monitor the wound for any signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, throbbing pain, or the presence of pus or foul-smelling discharge. If significant black eschar or yellow/green slough is present, or if there are signs of infection, professional medical attention is necessary. Wounds that are large, deep, not showing signs of improvement within a few days, or those in individuals with underlying health conditions like diabetes or compromised immune systems, also warrant medical evaluation. Healthcare professionals, such as doctors or wound care specialists, have safe and effective methods to remove dead tissue, a process known as debridement, which is crucial for promoting proper wound healing.