[Skin substitutes--the present and the future].

Full-thickness skin deficits are indications to autologic skin graft. In extensive skin injuries an employment of skin substitutes is sometimes necessary. In this study we presented the classification of skin substitutes (permanent, temporary, biological, synthetic). The different kinds of skin substitutes approved to commercial production were described (epidermal substitutes, dermal substitutes, composite dermo-epidermal substitutes). The possibilities of clinical applications of skin equivalents and results obtained by many authors after employment of artificial skin were also presented. Still existing limitations in possibilities of recovery of all skin functions were emphasized and the directions of future development of the studies were presented.