The article deals with factors causative of high social-economic importance of occupational skin diseases, presents parameters of occupational skin diseases prevalence, exogenous and endogenous risk factors of occupational skin diseases. This conditions appear to have negative influence on everyday life and occupational activities of the patients, induce lower quality of life and work performance. Pathogenesis and clinical signs, laboratory values characterizing atopic and allergic dermatitis are discussed. The authors necessitated a search of signs or complex of signs, that can point to predisposition for sensitization of individuals exposed to occupational hazards.