Numerous individuals suffer from impaired wound healing, such as chronic ulcers, severe burns and immune disorders, resulting in both public health and economic burdens. Skin is the first line of defense and the largest organ of the human body, however, an incomplete understanding of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of dermal repair leads to a lack of effective therapy for healing impaired wounds. There are strong clinical and social needs for improved therapeutic approaches to enhance endogenous tissue repair and regenerative capacity. The purpose of this review is to illuminate the cellular and molecular aspects of the healing process and highlight potential therapeutic strategies to accelerate translational research and the development of clinical therapies in dermal wounds.