Dermatology is a complex and puzzling world of itching bumps, pim ples, and rashes. The multitude of clinically distinct skin diseases, their frequently unresolved pathogenesis, and the exponentially in creasing amount of scientific information add to the confusion about skin diseases. The great prevalence of skin diseases makes them an urgent priority for intensive research effort, and although many scientists and academic clinicians are vigorously trying to uncover we are only at the very brink of understanding the etiol their secrets, ogy of most dermatoses. The principle mechanisms of general organ pathology (physical, chemical, microbial, ischemic, degenerative, and neoplastic disturb ances) are believed to be relatively well understood. In contrast to skin pathomorphology, however little is known regarding the bio chemistry and physiology of dermatoses. The difficulty in under standing skin diseases may be overcome partially by finding biome dical simplifications, and the concept of "oxidative injury in dermatopathology" is just such a simplification. It should, of course, always be kept in mind that no single mechanism alone can explain the pathogenesis of a disease and that there may be a danger of over looking other important biological determinants.

1 History of a Concept

2 The Skin and Oxidative Stress
A. Introduction
B. Biological Oxidants
C. Production Sites of Reactive Oxidants in Skin
D. Targets of Reactive Oxidants in Skin
E. The Antioxidant System of the Skin
XI. Antioxidant Capacity of Skin
F. Biological Models for Studying Oxygen Toxicity
3 Reactive Oxidants and Antioxidants in Skin Pathophysiology
A. Electromagnetic Radiation
B. Mechanical and Thermal Skin Trauma
C. Skin Ischemia
D. Microbial Skin Diseases
E. Skin Aging
F. Skin Immunology
G. Skin Inflammation
H. Oxidative Injury in Skin Diseases
4 Dermatopharmacology
A. Chemotherapy
B. Photochemotherapy
5 Dermatotoxicology
A. Irritant Contact Dermatitis and Skin Necrosis
B. Allergic Contact Dermatitis
C. Chemical-Induced Skin Sclerosis
D. Chemical Leukoderma
E. Chemical-Induced Comedogenesis
Synopsis
References.