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Our skin is exposed to many dangers - bruises, cuts, scratches and other wounds can accur quite easily.
But have you ever asked yourself how the body manages to heal those wounds - by itself?
Of course I don't mean a serious injury, but a wound on the skin's surface - the body is able to close up those wounds and renew the skin, all by itself.

Structure of the Skin

Our skin is made up of several different layers that protect the sensitive tissue and nerves underneath.
The top layer is called Epidermis, which provides the most protection.
It consists mostly of hardened cells, and it's quite easy and quickly for the body to repair it, since it sheds and renews constantly anyway.
Below the Epidermis lays the layer called Dermis - this is where all the functions of our skin operate.
Our skin can regulate the temperature, emit sweat, grow hair, sense touch, etc.
So this layer contains many blood vessels, nerve endings and glands that provide the skin with these functions.

Regenerative Process

When we experience a cut or wound, a regenerative process takes place. This can be divided into different steps:

1.) Hemostasis

When our skin is damaged, it's the body's first priority to stop the bleeding, so we don't loose too much blood. Also, it's crucial to replace the epidermis protection temporarily, until new skin tissue can be generated later.
To achieve this, blood cells start clumping together, creating a clot that closes the wound and hinders blood from flowing out.
A protein called fibrin also helps to keep the clot in place, as it forms cross-links on top of the skin, so no bacteria can get in and no more blood can get out.
These clots later turn into scabs as they've dried out, and fall out if the tissue underneath has renewed.

2.) Inflammation

Once the immediate threat of blood loss is under control, the healing process starts.
The previously contracted blood vessels now open again to let nutrients, oxygen and specialized cells flow to the wound.
The most important of these cells are white blood cells, which devour any bacteria that might have gotten in through the wound, as well as encourage healing and produce growth factors.
Blood-borne oxygen is also a crucial part of this stage, which stimulates further healing.

3). Proliferation

After 2-3 days, the healing processes even further and new tissue is being created.
The so-called fibroblast cells produce collagen and new skin tissue, which now connect to the makeshift barrier of fibrin from before, and replace it in the end.
The dermis narrows again to close up the wound, while the epidermis cells form a new, protective layer over the wound by cell division.

4.) Restoring and Strengthening

This last step can actually take up to several years, depending on the initial severeness of the wound, but most of it will be completed within a few months for a light injury.
The skin is now completely recovering, new collagen is being converted into different types that give the skin its functions back, the strength and flexibility of the skin is being improved, while blood vessels and other connections are being strengthened as well.
During this process, the skin might itch, which is always a sign that new tissue is being grown or remodeled.
If the wound was critical, the skin might never fully recover, and a scar might remain as a result!