Book excerpt: A comprehensive review of the range of biomaterials for treating skin loss, this book begins with a discussion of the basics of skin replacement with chapters on such topics as markets and regulation, biomechanics and the biological environment of skin. It then reviews epidermal and dermal replacement technology with chapters on such topics as alternative delivery of keratinocytes, collagen-based and human origin-based dermal replacement, and lyophilized xenogenic products. The book closes with an exploration of combined dermis and epidermal replacement technologies and provides a round-up of skin replacement principles.