title: The external microenvironment of healing skin wounds.
abstract: The skin wound microenvironment can be divided into two main components that influence healing: the external wound microenvironment, which is outside the wound surface; and the internal wound microenvironment, underneath the surface, to which the cells within the wound are exposed. Treatment methods that directly alter the features of the external wound microenvironment indirectly affect the internal wound microenvironment due to the exchange between the two compartments. In this review, we focus on the effects of temperature, pressure (positive and negative), hydration, gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), pH, and anti-microbial treatment on the wound. These factors are well described in the literature and can be modified with treatment methods available in the clinic. Understanding the roles of these factors in wound pathophysiology is of central importance in wound treatment.
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors: Carla R
authors: CR
authors: Kruse
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Kristo
authors: K
authors: Nuutila
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Cameron C Y
authors: CC
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Kiwanuka
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Mansher
authors: M
authors: Singh
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Edward J
authors: EJ
authors: Caterson
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Elof
authors: E
authors: Eriksson
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors: Jens A
authors: JA
authors: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013696:Temperature; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases
keywords: wound healing; wound microenvironment; wound pathophysiology