Use of new "barrier socks" in contact allergic dermatitis.

We present the case of a fifty-year-old construction worker with contact allergic dermatitis in his feet. Given the limited results obtained with a costly topical therapy, we tried, for first time, using completely breathable "barrier socks", which solved the persistent problem in a matter of days. In addition to the improvement in the patient's quality of life and the renewed possibility of his wearing protective shoes, a net reduction in the costs incurred with topical therapy was also obtained.