Editorial Allergies and the skin, an interdisciplinary approach in GA 2 LEN and EAACI activities Dermatology and allergy in Europe The skin, as the largest organ of the human being, is frequently involved or at least partly involved in the majority of allergic reactions. This is not only evident in the easily visible signs like a macular papular exanthema in drug allergy, eczema in contact hypersensitivity, atopic eczema or wheals and angioedema. Also the more subtle, probably genetically determined changes associated with atopy in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma such as Dennie Morgan fold, the Hertoghe´ sign or the increased dryness and sensitivity of the skin, are important to note. It is well known that in Europe the field of allergy in practice and in science is very diverse because of the heterogeneity of the medical systems. Whereas in many southern European countries, allergology is a specialty of its own, in many, especially of the northern European countries, this is not the case. In the German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, allergology is frequently closely linked to dermatology with a broad spectrum of topics. This is also reflected in this issue of Allergy where a variety of subjects is covered starting from experimental research in eosinophils as well as clinical research, epidemiological research and the active participation in the development of position papers. The interdisciplinary approach While the diversity in the clinical and scientific world of allergy in Europe can be regarded as a problem, it also offers a very high chance of tackling the problem by bringing together this broad range of expertise. Both the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA 2 LEN), are on the road to successfully meeting this challenge (1). EAACI, organized in the different sections, clearly encourages the collaboration and exchange between these sections and the position paper written by Kristiina Turjanmaa on atopy patch testing (2) in this issue is a good example of collaboration between the section of dermatology and paediatrics, which has also been earlier demonstrated in joint allergy schools (http://www.ga2- len.net; accessed 19 October 2006). In GA 2 LEN it is one of the central aims to support intense collaboration of the various participating partners and collaborating centres not only in research but also in harmonizing the clinical routine (3). Jointly, GA 2 LEN and EAACI have decided to work in the field of position papers to increase the impact, and the paper on atopy patch test is already the third in a short time (4, 5). Experimental allergy, the effector cells Manns et al. (6) have identified a possible new tool in inactivating chemokine receptors in human eosinophils. A close look at the molecular mechanisms in allergy will surely bring new possibilities in research and later therapeutics in the future and may lead into the field of biologics. A window which has until now only been opened for IgE-mediated respiratory allergy with anti-IgE (7–10), but as IgE also represents an important mechanism in atopic dermatitis (11) and T. Zuberbier, M. Worm Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergy Centre CharitØ, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Torsten Zuberbier Allergy Centre CharitØ Department of Dermatology and Allergy CharitØ Universitätsmedizin Berlin CharitØplatz 1/D-10117 Berlin Accepted for publication 19 October 2006 Allergy 2006: 61: 1373–1376 Ó 2006 The Authors Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Munksgaard DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01266.x 1373