Effective tissue repair is essential for the survival of all multicellular organism. Skin plays a vital role in protecting body from harsh external environments. Upon injury, skin wound heals by a dynamic biological process that involves complex interaction of multiple cell lineages, extracellular matrix molecules and soluble mediators. The compromised or aberrant tissue repair response can lead to unhealing wounds, scarring and even malignancy conversion. In this review, we highlight current concepts in cutaneous wound healing and propose the central mechanisms that regulate wound healing.