Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Spongiotic Dermatitis

Inclusion Criteria:

Atopic Dermatitis: Subjects will be identified based on the Hanifin criteria of atopic dermatitis. Subjects will be adults with a history of atopic dermatitis since childhood, who continue to have symptoms and signs of atopic dermatitis. They must have active lesions and should not be on systemic therapy.
Contact Dermatitis: Subjects will be adults with history of contact dermatitis to common allergens. They will undergo patch testing to common allergens and the sites of positive reactions will be considered as lesional skin.
Psoriasis: Subjects will be adults with chronic disease, who have active skin lesions with a characteristic morphology.

Subjects will be asked to discontinue topical medications at least to parts of the skin where biopsies will be taken, one week prior to biopsy.

-

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients on systemic treatment of their skin diseases within the past one month.
A history of significant neurologic, hepatic, renal, endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, or metabolic diseases.
Abnormal hepatic function or renal function (creatinine or BUN is > 1.2 times the upper level of the normal range for the laboratory where the testing is done).
Abnormal blood counts (WBC < 4 x 103/mm3; platelet < 100 x 103/mm3; hemoglobin < 11g/dl).
History of alcohol or drug abuse.
Known hepatitis or HIV.
Pregnant women (as determined by serum pregnancy test).
Significant allergic or adverse reaction to local anesthetics.
Blood clotting disorder.
Faintness or vasovagal reaction with blood draws or procedures.