New epithelial tissue is a pink / white colour. As the epithelia at the wound margins start to divide rapidly, the margin becomes slightly raised and has a slightly blue colour. As the epithelia spread across the wound surface the margin flattens. In shallow wounds with a large surface area, islets of epithelialization may be apparent. The progress of epithelialization may be seen as the new cells being a different colour from those of the surrounding tissue.
The wound colour is red. Tops of the capillary loops cause the surface to look granular, hence the name. The walls of the capillary loops are thin and easily damaged and consequently may bleed. Reduction in wound volume will occur as the cavity fills with new tissue and contracts inwards as part of the healing process.
Slough is typically a white / yellow colour. It can be found in patches or it can cover large areas of the wound. It is made up of dead cells which have accumulated in the exudate. It may be related to the end of the inflammatory stage in the healing process, and for healing to take place it is advised that slough is removed.
An infected wound is characterised by a green / yellow discharge (purulent) and may have an offensive smell. Usually there is localised redness (erythema). There may be localized pain and a raised temperature.
This tissue is usually black in appearance and forms a hard scab on the tissue which becomes ischaemic and dead. The scab (eschar) may mask the true size of the wound below. Unless the necrotic tissue is removed the wound will continue to increase in size.
