Wound healing is a complex process in which inflammation, followed by tissue regeneration, and then remodeling takes place. Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from Curcuma longa, presents antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which can help wound healing. However, its poor aqueous solubility, lack of stability and poor skin penetration limit its therapeutic use. To address these limitations, nanoemulsion based topical drug delivery systems are emerging as a promising alternative, with the aim to improve drug solubilisation, facilitate topical delivery and potentially improve the therapeutic performance. The formulation strategies required to prepare curcumin loaded nanoemulsions including the selection of oil phases, surfactants, co-surfactant and preparation methods is discussed in the review. It also points out some key parameters for evaluation which include globule size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH, drug content, in-vitro drug release, skin permeation, and stability. In addition, published preclinical studies on the wound healing ability of curcumin loaded nanoemulsions and nanoemulgels are discussed. While the findings have been promising, additional work needs to be done to determine the long-term stability, formulation safety, reproducibility and clinical efficacy. In general, the use of curcumin loaded nanoemulsions is a promising formulation approach for topical wound treatment, but needs more clinical assessment studies.