How do corticosteroids affect wound healing?

Corticosteroids are known to have a significant impact on the inflammatory response in the body. They work primarily by suppressing various components of the immune system, which includes the inflammatory response that is essential for wound healing. In the initial stages of healing, inflammation is a crucial process that helps to clean the wound, control infection, and initiate the repair process. By impairing this inflammatory response, corticosteroids can indeed slow down the overall healing process.

This suppression can lead to several consequences, such as delayed epithelialization, reduced collagen synthesis, and an impaired formation of granulation tissue. As a result, wounds may take longer to heal when corticosteroids are used. In clinical practice, this understanding is critical when managing patients who are receiving corticosteroid therapy, as it necessitates careful monitoring of their wound healing status and possibly adjusting treatment plans to promote optimal recovery.