An artificial, biodegradable skin scaffold includes a biodegradable polysaccharide hydrogel composition having a Youngs modulus of at least about 10 MPa and, preferably, includes an additional biodegradable polysaccharide hydrogel composition with the two biodegradable polysaccharide hydrogel compositions contacting one another and the additional biodegradable polysaccharide hydrogel composition preferably having a Youngs modulus of less than about 10 MPa.