**6. Conclusions**

Murine models of allergic and irritant skin inflammation have shed light into the pathogenesis of human contact dermatitis. They have highlighted the role of innate and adaptive immunity in allergic reactions to epicutaneously introduced allergens. More importantly, they allowed an in-depth dissection of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the disease and will hopefully lead to new therapeutic interventions for this common dermatologic disorder.
