Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) describes a multifactorial disease resulting from exposure to occupational irritants. Though often characterized as a localized reaction, there are at least 10 forms of ICD, several of which possess systemic involvement. The exact mode of irritant action in ICD is not completely understood, but recent literature suggests that an immunologic-like component may be present. The correlation between the morphology, clinical manifestations and chemokines involved in allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis will be discussed and studies indicating an irritant "immunologic-like" response will be reviewed and analyzed.