Final answer:
The healing of large areas of skin loss is most successfully achieved through a graft of fibrous tissue to the area, as this allows for the replacement of collagen and extracellular materials and the restoration of the skin's barrier function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The healing of large areas of skin loss that includes both the dermis and epidermis typically requires a graft of fibrous tissue to the area. This is because the skin fails to regenerate the original skin structure on its own when there's extensive damage. During the tissue repair phase, fibroblasts deposit collagen to replace the damaged extracellular material, forming a structure known as granulation tissue. Over time, this area may develop into scar tissue, which is collagen-rich skin that differs from normal skin.
The repair also involves angiogenesis, where new blood vessels form, increasing vascularization of the new tissue.
However, the regenerated tissue tends not to allow for the return of accessory structures such as hair follicles or sweat glands, which normal skin would contain. For effective healing of significant skin injuries, a surgical approach involving skin grafts is typically necessary to restore the integrity of the skin barrier and to prevent complications like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and infection.