What makes an inflammatory disease inflammatory? An overview of inflammatory mechanisms of allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Inflammatory response in the skin is important for host defence against a broad spectrum of insults including microorganisms, chemicals, radiation and physical trauma. When the inflammatory process becomes prolonged and self-perpetuating, illness occurs. In this review, we discuss recent findings regarding the complex inflammatory mechanisms in allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.