Psychological Stress Impairs Wound Healing and Collagen Production, New Review Confirms
A recent narrative review published in *Dermatology Times* highlights the significant impact of psychological stress on delayed wound healing and impaired collagen synthesis. The review consolidates evidence from multiple preclinical and clinical studies indicating that chronic stress dysregulates immune responses and inhibits essential tissue repair mechanisms.
Key Insights:
- Delayed Healing: Psychological stress disrupts normal inflammatory signaling, impairs fibroblast migration, and reduces re-epithelialization, leading to slower wound closure.
- Reduced Collagen Production: Stress hormones such as cortisol suppress collagen synthesis and fibroblast function, weakening the structural matrix of healing tissue.
- Immune Suppression: Chronic stress diminishes neutrophil and macrophage activity, impairing microbial defense and increasing infection risk in wounds.
- Clinical Relevance: The findings emphasize the importance of holistic patient care that includes psychological support for individuals with chronic or complex wounds.
Conclusion: This review underscores a growing body of evidence linking psychological stress to impaired wound healing, suggesting that clinicians should consider mental health as part of comprehensive wound management strategies.
Keywords: psychological stress, wound healing, collagen production, cortisol, immune suppression, fibroblasts