This overview of the current state of skin wound healing includes in vitro and in vivo approaches along with some recent clinical trials. From an introduction to wound healing, to tissue engineering as applied to the skin, we cover the basis for the current wound care techniques as well as novel and promising approaches. Special emphasis is given to refractory wounds which include wounds in diabetic patients. Natural compounds have been ever present in wound healing, and so we devote a section to highlighting current attempts to understand their mechanisms and to use them in novel ways.