In 2004, the assumed "dioxin intoxication" of the presidential candidate and today's President of the Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, gained considerable attention in the media. The politician exhibited pronounced skin changes compatible with chloracne, a characteristic sequela of an exposure to high doses of dioxin. Although this dermatologic disorder has been known for a long time, it is only during recent years that detailed knowledge regarding possible pathomechanisms has been gained. The probable underlying mechanisms of dioxin toxicity, with special emphasis on the development of chloracne, will be discussed in this review.