Wound healing and the itching dilemma

Why does a wound itch when it is about to heal and is it true that if it does not itch it will not heal? Bashir

Dear Basir
Many injured people will find that when the wound is about to heal, it gets noticeably itchier. Unfortunately, with children and invalids, scratching or even chewing away the healing wound’s protective scab may create a more gaping wound with a likelihood of infection and delayed healing.
Immediately after one incurs skin injury, there may be a swelling due to bleeding into the injured tissues. If there is external bleeding, then the body may mobilise blood elements to stop bleeding by forming a clot. The clot also helps seal off the area to protect it from entry of sickening substances or infection-causing germs.
Later, the injured tissues may swell resulting from an increased movement of fluid, chemical substances and white blood cells into the area of injury for further protection.
The release of chemicals (into the injured area) and the compression of nerves in the area of injury causes pain. Chemicals usually help the small blood vessels to become more porous and bring in more fluid and cells to protect the area but some of the chemicals can both contribute to pain (kinins) and itching (histamines).
When healing is almost complete, the swelling contributing to pain due to compression of nerves at the site goes down. However, with substances such as histamine still lingering around, one’s healing wound may then feel more itchy than painful.
Therefore, one should not worry about the itching unless it is very serious or a child or an invalid is likely to scratch or chew into the healing wound, creating a fresh wound.