A method for promoting wound healing and preventing scar formation in a variety of wounds in skin, mucosa, and cornea. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a histone deacetylase inhibitor or a hyperacetylating agent. The histone deacetylase inhibitor or hyperacetylating agent is capable of stimulating multiple cytokines/growth factors in the early phase of wound healing, and suppressing fibrogenic cytokines/growth factors in the late phase of tissue remodeling in the wound site, and is useful in promoting epithelial cell re-growth and reducing excessive collagen accumulation, which results in rapid wound closure with reduced scaring.