Put simply, exudate is the fluid that leaks from the capillaries during the healing process. It helps to create a moist wound environment and assists with healing by removing devitalised tissue, repairing damaged cells and providing nourishment to assist with epithelialisation. Exudate is produced in the initial wound-healing process as part of the inflammation stage.
Exudate is created in response to injury as neutrophils migrate to the wound site and cytokine messengers instruct the surrounding blood vessels to become more porous and leak protein-rich fluid into the wound bed. Exudate is full of nutrients and growth factors and, when produced in the right amount, ensures that there is a moist wound environment, which is essential for timely healing.
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