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Skin consists of three main layers. On top is the epidermis - a thin protective layer made of dead cells that constantly flake off. Beneath it is the dermis, where blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, and sweat glands are located. And the deepest layer is the subcutaneous tissue, which serves as thermal insulation and absorbs impacts. Skin also contains collagen and elastin, which give it elasticity and strength.
Skin regenerates thanks to constant cell renewal. In the basal layer of the epidermis are stem cells that divide and create new cells. These young cells gradually move upward, die, and become part of the protective horny layer. The entire process from a cell's birth to its shedding takes approximately 2-4 weeks. That's why we're constantly losing tons of dead skin while new skin grows to replace it.
If the skin is damaged deeper than the epidermis, recovery becomes more complicated. A scar tissue immediately starts forming in the wound, blood clots, and an inflammatory process kicks in. Then fibroblasts come into play - dermis cells that synthesize new collagen. Over time the wound closes, though complete scar maturation can take months. On the face, healed wounds are often more noticeable because the skin there is thinner and there's more tension.
The structure was already described correctly above! I'll add my two cents - I call the dermis the skin's "engine" because that's where all the magic of restoration happens! Epidermal cells constantly divide in the lower layers and slowly move upward, turning into dead cells that we then shed (that's roughly a full cycle every 28-30 days). Blood vessels in the dermis fuel this process, and collagen and elastin keep skin elastic - when there's damage, the dermis "sends out" fibroblasts to patch up the holes! That's why serious wounds can leave scars - if the dermis is damaged deep enough, the repair goes on a totally different scheme, less "neat."
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