The work is focused on increasing our knowledge of the effect the environment has on the skin, and particularly with regard to contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis. About 30% of the adult population has contact allergy. The allergic contact dermatitis can affect any part of the body but most often it affects the hands. Clinically it is impossible to differentiate a dermatitis caused by exogenous or endogenous factors. In order to get a proper aetiology of a dermatitis an epicutanous testing needs to be performed. Hand dermatitis is common and about 10% of the working population suffer from the disease. Hand dermatitis is a disease of the younger population and especially females. Dermatitis patients have poor quality of life and hand dermatitis is a costly disease. By identifying the culprit agent not only the patient can be helped but research attached to finding the allergens and knowledge on exposure will also enable legislative measures to take place.