The skin is the largest immunologic organ in humans,
accounting for approximately 15% of our
body weight, with a surface area of 1-2 square
meters in an adult. Immune dysfunction can affect
this massive organ in several ways, with some of
the more common being atopic dermatitis, contact
dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, psoriasis, and
autoimmune blistering disorders. As surgeons
who often violate the skin and mucosa it is vital
to understand these disease processes and how
they may interact with the expected outcomes of
surgical procedures. This review will focus on the
two allergic skin diseases which are most common
in the world, but the least familiar to Otolaryngologistsatopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.