PURPOSE OF REVIEW Both atopy and diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema are among the most frequent clinical problems worldwide; nevertheless, they are still poorly defined and too frequently misdiagnosed. In the present review, studies pertinent to this topic were systematized and critically assessed with particular attention to definitions of relevant diseases. RECENT FINDINGS ...

68 Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is a common skin condition and a risk factor for allergic contact dermatitis. The prevalence of this disease in the general population varies between 1.7% and 6.3% and is increasing. The role of the patch test in detection of contact sensitivity is of prime importance. Patch tests should be used to identify topical agents that may be responsible for exacerba...

BACKGROUND Over the last few years, changes in cutaneous homoeostasis resulting from sports activities have been reported. In particular, alterations in sweating mechanisms, the hydrolipid barrier, and surface bacterial flora, together with exposure to atmospheric conditions and the need to use medicaments, detergents, and other topical substances, predispose subjects to allergic contact dermat...

Allergic diseases have increased in many developed countries including Japan. Doctors are also at risk for allergic diseases from exposure to allergens in working conditions and hospital environments. We investigated the factors relating to occupational allergy in doctors. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to all doctors (n=895) who had previously graduated from School of Medicine, F...

is more common in women than in men. Conclusions: Approximately 25 chemicals appear to be responsible for as many as one half of all cases of allergic contact dermatitis. These include nickel, preservatives, dyes, and fragrances. in this study Allergic contact dermatitis is more common in women than in men. This predominantly is a result of allergy to nickel, which is much more common in women ...

Herbal medicines have been used in preventing and treating skin disorders for centuries. It has been demonstrated that systemic administration of chrysanthemum extract exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether topical applications of apigenin, a constituent of chrysanthemum extract, influence cutaneous inflammation is still unclear. In the present study, we first tested whether to...