Skin alterations related to inflammation following a state of acute or chronic hypomagnesemia are well documented. Among diverse pathogenic factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in contact dermatitis (CD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). With this in mind, serum-Mg was examined in controls and in patients with CD (diagnosed by physical examination and by patch test) and AD (diagnosed by Hanifin and Rajka's criteria). There were n = 30/per group, aged 26 39 years, the ratio of females to males being similar to 4 : 1. The frequency of hypomagnesemia was 0% in controls, 10% in CD, and 16.7% in AD. Similar results were reported in the literature for allergic rhinitis and asthma. In view of the presented data, atopic patients should be routinely checked for lowered Mg levels as candidates for targeted Mg supplementation
