A wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.

Open wounds can be classified according to the object that caused the wound. The types of open wound are:

Closed wounds have fewer categories, but are just as dangerous as open wounds. The types of closed wounds are:

An open wound

A laceration to the leg

A lacerated knee

An infected puncture wound to the bottom of the forefoot.

A puncture wound from playing darts.

To heal a wound, the body undertakes a series of actions collectively known as the wound healing process.

The overall treatment depends on the type, cause, and depth of the wound as well as whether or not other structures beyond the skin (dermis) are involved. Treatment of recent lacerations involves examining, cleaning, and closing the wound. If there is a delay in treatment and the laceration occurred more than 6-24 hours before evaluation, it may be preferable to heal by secondary intention, due to the high rate of infection associated with delayed closure. Minor wounds, like bruises, will heal on their own, with skin discoloration usually disappearing in 1–2 weeks. Abrasions, which are wounds with intact skin (non-penetration through dermis to subcutaneous fat), usually require no active treatment except keeping the area clean, initially with soap and water. Most abrasions tend to have an overall better appearance post-healing when kept moist for about a week with an ointment, such as aquaphor healing ointment or vasoline. Puncture wounds may be prone to infection depending on the depth of penetration. The entry of puncture wound is left open to allow for bacteria or debris to be removed from inside.