Mechanisms in Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Abstract

Irritant contact dermatitis is the consequence of direct toxic effects of chemical or physical stimuli contacting the skin and perturbing skin homeostasis. Acute or repeated exposure to irritants determines the activation of the innate immune system with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by keratinocytes and other skin resident cells. The local release of IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 activates endothelial cells and promotes the recruitment of migrating cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes and T lymphocytes that are involved in the amplification of the inflammatory reaction. Susceptibility to develop an irritant contact dermatitis depends on several intrinsic factors which ranges from the age and sex of the individual, to the integrity of the skin barrier, and, finally, to the genetic polymorphism in cytokine genes.