Introduction

The immuneImmune system’s influence on the skin knows no bounds. The impact on the barrier, the microbiomeMicrobiome, the ability to heal wounds, and the manifestations of disease among other consequences are commonly the result of immune dysfunction or immunosuppression. In addition, the range of immunological influences from cellular and humoral immunity can be characterized by many clinical signs and symptoms. The modification of immune processes by therapeutic intervention is meant to modify a disease and, in a sense, “turn off the faucet” that makes a disease rather than simply “mop up the mess” of inflammationInflammation that is often a temporary bandage. The individual chapters of this book will review and discuss pathogenesis of diseases and immune mechanisms influencing the skin, as well as multiple topical and systemic approaches to immunomodulationImmunomodulation that will match the mechanisms of diseases to the mechanisms of action of therapies.