Summary Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is caused by chemical-reactive T cells. A prerequisite for their activation is the induction of skin in¢ammation
by contact allergens. ‘is requires the activation of signaling pathways of the innate immune sys-tem which are also activated in anti-infectious immune responses. ‘e mechanistic basis of the essential innate in¢ammatory response to chemi-cal allergens and its implications for pathogenesis, therapy, and immunotoxicology will be discussed in this minireview.