Requirements for Alternative In Vitro and In Silico Skin Models of Irritant and Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory disease characterised by skin redness and swelling, oozing of fluid or pus and pain, caused by direct skin contact with an irritant or allergen. Its prevalence has skyrocketed worldwide, probably because human skin is in daily contact with an increasing gamut of irritants and allergens, which should require systematic surveillance. Large-scale testing is feasible by using organotypic and in silico skin models, which are becoming commonplace in industry and academic labs. In this work, we summarise the literature on models of contact dermatitis and provide insights on advantages, limitations and options for improvement.