The relation between wound contraction, scar formation and regeneration

Introduction Healing of deep skin wounds in the adult mammal takes place by the processes of wound contraction and scar formation. There is evidence that scar formation is secondary to contraction. Efforts to block scar formation can therefore benefit from strategies for blocking contraction. In this review we provide a semiquantitative description of healing outcomes based on the wound closure rule. Processes of wound contraction, scar formation and induced regeneration are then summarized with emphasis on the description of mechanisms. The discussion below follows reasoning developed in detail in a monograph where a comprehensive list of references prior to 2001 can also be found (Yannas, 2001).