Systems and methods for monitoring wound closure are described herein. The systems include a dressing for applying to a wound. The dressing includes an elasticized membrane having a first side and a second side and a reference object disposed on the first side. The elasticized membrane is movable between a relaxed state where the reference object has a first configuration and a stretched state where the reference object has a second configuration, the second configuration corresponding to an amount of swelling of an area of skin around the wound. The systems also include a camera for capturing an image of the reference object in the second configuration and a processor for comparing the image to a stored image of the reference object in the first configuration and determining a degree of swelling of the area of skin around the wound based on the comparison.