LAUSR

Significance The skin is the crucial first-line barrier against foreign pathogens. Compromise of this barrier presents in the context of inflammatory skin conditions and in chronic wounds. Skin conditions arising from dysfunctional inflammatory pathways severely compromise the quality of life of patients and have a high economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Development of a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that can disrupt skin inflammation is imperative to successfully modulate this inflammation with therapies. Recent advances Many advances in the understanding of skin inflammation have occurred during the last decade including the development of multiple new pharmaceuticals. Mechanical force application has been greatly advanced clinically. Bioscaffolds also promote healing, while reducing scarring. Critical issues Various skin inflammatory conditions provide a framework for analysis of our understanding of the phases of successful wound healing. The large burden of chronic wounds on our society continues to focus attention on the chronic inflammatory state induced in many of these skin conditions. Future directions Better pre-clinical models of disease states such as chronic wounds, coupled with enhanced diagnostic abilities of human skin will allow a better understanding of the mechanism of action. This will lead to improved treatments with biologics and other modalities such as the strategic application of mechanical forces and scaffolds to ultimately result in better outcomes for our patients.