Which skin change associated with aging has the GREATEST effect on wound healing?

Which skin change associated with aging has the GREATEST effect on wound healing?

• A. Reduction in sensation
• B. Decrease elasticity of the skin
• C. Decrease epidermal proliferation
• D. Change in pigmentation

Answer: (C)

Epidermal re-epithelialization is what closes a wound, and it depends on epidermal cell proliferation and migration. In aging skin, keratinocytes proliferate and move to cover the wound more slowly, so epithelial closure takes longer. That slower re-epithelialization means the wound healing process is most impaired by a decrease in epidermal proliferation. Reduction in sensation can delay recognition and protection of wounds, but it doesn’t directly slow the cellular repair rate. Decreased skin elasticity affects mechanical properties and the tissue’s ability to tolerate stretch, which can influence healing outcomes but not the speed of the initial epithelial closure as much. Changes in pigmentation are cosmetic and have little direct effect on the wound-healing process.

Epidermal re-epithelialization is what closes a wound, and it depends on epidermal cell proliferation and migration. In aging skin, keratinocytes proliferate and move to cover the wound more slowly, so epithelial closure takes longer. That slower re-epithelialization means the wound healing process is most impaired by a decrease in epidermal proliferation.

Reduction in sensation can delay recognition and protection of wounds, but it doesn’t directly slow the cellular repair rate. Decreased skin elasticity affects mechanical properties and the tissue’s ability to tolerate stretch, which can influence healing outcomes but not the speed of the initial epithelial closure as much. Changes in pigmentation are cosmetic and have little direct effect on the wound-healing process.