[en] A comparison of β-ray dose to the skin due to I-131 contamination has been investigated using the empirical infinite-plane thin-source model of Loevinger and the MIRD method utilizing the S factors for β-rays and electrons. The Loevinger model, which was originally developed for the calculation of dose as a function of distance from a plane source, was extended to a uniform activity distribution throughout the skin such that comparisons could be made between the two methods. The results are in close agreement. The advantage of the extended Loevinger model in the present investigation is that one is able to compute a distribution of dose throughout the skin. The model has also been extended to linear and exponential activity distributions. All distributions were used with a modified reference man incorporating the recommendations made by the ICRP for the evaluation of skin dose