ABSTRACT
OVERVIEW OF THE BIOLOGY OF SKIN SENSITIZATION Skin sensitization is a type IV, cell-mediated (delayed-type) hypersensitivity response caused by haptens, small molecular weight chemicals that must be linked to a protein carrier to induce an immune cell response. The clinical manifestation of skin sensitization, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common occupational and environmental health problem. The disease state, which occurs when a sensitized individual is reexposed to the inducing substance, is characterized by erythema, edema, puritis, and possibly vesicles at the site of skin contact.
