Does Yellow Mean a Wound Is Healing? Decoding Wound Bed Color Signals
Does yellow mean a wound is healing?
The Quick Answer
Yellow **slough indicates stalled healing**, not progress. Healthy healing shows beefy red granulation tissue. However, *clear-to-light-yellow fluid* (serous drainage) is normal during proliferation. Critical distinction: yellow *tissue* = pathological barrier requiring debridement; yellow *fluid* = physiological exudate supporting repair when not excessive.
Why We Ask This
Patients interpret any yellow hue as 'healing scab' based on superficial wound experiences, failing to recognize that chronic wounds with slough represent pathological states requiring intervention—not natural progression.
The Practical Science
Granulation tissue appears red due to capillary formation; yellow slough reflects absent vascularization and accumulated debris. Studies correlate persistent slough beyond day 7 with 3.2× higher risk of chronic non-healing wounds due to sustained inflammatory cytokines.
In Clinical Practice
A wound transitioning from yellow slough to red granulation after debridement signals healing resumption—documented clinically as 'reduction in slough from 60% to 10% coverage with new granulation at wound edges' during weekly assessments.
References & Context
What Your Wound Color Means—and When to Call the Doctor"A yellow wound can indicate improper healing If you notice yellow granulation tissue, yellow skin around your wound or stitches, or a yellow layer across the surface of your wound, slough tissue may be delaying your wound healing process. Slough tissue is an early sign of infection.Apr 18, 2019"