ECZEMAS

Eczema is a common final cutaneous reaction to a variety of environmen tal insults to the skin. The patient's immunoregulatory system may be normal as in classic delayed-type hypersensitivity or dysfunctional as in atopic dermatitis, A more complete understanding of etiologic agen ts (i.e., Pityrosporum ovale in seborrheic dermatitis and fibrin leak as a result of venous hypertension in stasis dermatitis) has led to im proved treatments for these diseases. Likewise, explanation of the abn ormal immune response in atopic dermatitis has resulted in new approac hes to therapy. Here we review the ''state of eczema.''