The main categories of cutaneous histiocytoses include Langerhans cell histiocytosis, indeterminate cell histiocytosis, juvenile or adult xanthogranuloma, Erdheim-Chester disease, Rosai-Dorfman disease, ALK-positive histiocytosis and malignant histiocytic neoplasms. A minimum immunohistochemical panel including CD68 or CD163, S100, CD1a, langerin, and BRAF V600E, combined with morphologic features can establish a histologic diagnosis. Because these disorders may be limited to the skin or be a manifestation of a systemic histiocytic neoplasm, correlation with clinical features is essential. Molecular genetic analysis to identify mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway should be considered to provide options for targeted therapy.