In a model of toxic contact eczema induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, the CREB-induced expression of IL-10, and dual specificity protein phosphatase 1/MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (DUSP1/MKP-1) inhibited the expression of proinflammatory genes associated with M1 macrophage activation, thus supporting a link between p38/MAPK-1 and CREB in macrophage polarization. Here, DUSP1 is linked to contact dermatitis.