Advances in wound healing: physiology, complications, the role of oxygen and innovative treatment strategies enhancing oxygenation

The skin is an important organ of our bodies, and its ability to restore its function after injury is crucial. Wound healing is a complex, multi-stage process that restores the integrity and function of damaged tissues. Unfortunately, due to the process’s complexity, there is no ideal treatment to enhance the process and reduce scarring. Oxygen is essential for various energy-dependent cellular activities involved in repair, such as immune responses, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis. Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers, often result from an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand at the wound site. Understanding the role of oxygen in wound healing is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies to address hypoxia-related impairments in the healing process. This article highlights the informaftion, including (i) the function of the skin, (ii) the skin tissue wound healing process, (iii) the role of oxygen in wound healing, and (iv) strategies to improve oxygenation. We highlight the advances in wound treatment therapies and the potential benefits and limitations of supplemental oxygen strategies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and oxygen-releasing dressings.