Clinical Contact Dermatitis: A Practical Approach

This book is intended as a manual and offers an essential tool for practicing and occupational dermatologists, for postgraduates training in dermatology and allergo-immunology, and for allergologists and occupational physicians. Moreover, the authors include information from the world literature, addressing the needs of those who work in industrial fields and are concerned about the dermatological safety of products. The book provides a handy update on this complex, rapidly evolving research area, and in particular, an in-depth analysis of its clinical aspects. It will enable dermatologists to recognize the various clinical manifestations of the condition, make a prompt diagnosis and choose the most effective treatment.

Contact dermatitis, a vast and fascinating field of study, has a high frequency of occurrence worldwide in both children and adults of both sexes, and during their daily routine, dermatologists invariably encounter many patients with this disease. To ensure the proper management of these patients it is necessary first of all to formulate a clinical diagnosis on accurate morphological grounds, since it is the most clinically polymorphic disease in dermatology and hence very demanding in terms of differential diagnosis. Then, to achieve properly targeted prevention for each patient, it is essential to isolate the causes among the numerous etiological chemical agents present in both working and leisure time activities and environments. The aim of this book is therefore two-fold: firstly to provide information on the various clinical features of contact dermatitis and review their differential diagnosis, and secondly to provide a comprehensive etiological overview. 

Particular attention has been paid to the methodologies and importance of patch tests and other diagnostic tools, as well as to the principles of prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation, together with considerations on some preventive aspects underlying contact dermatitis. A wealth of color clinical images, as well as tables and explanatory diagrams, round out the book. 

Giovanni Angelini is a Full Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Head of the Division Unit of Dermatology at the University of Bari, Italy, specialising in dermatology and venereal diseases. He retired as a Full Professor of Dermatology in the Clinic Dermatology of Bari in 2011. He is a former member of the editorial boards of various international and Italian dermatological journals, and Past President of the Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology. He is the author of over 600 scientific publications, including books on general dermatology, allergological and occupational dermatology, aquatic dermatology, mycobacterial skin infections, and chapters in volumes on dermatology, immunology and occupational medicine. His main research interests include the areas of immunological, allergic and environmental diseases.

Domenico Bonamonte holds an honors degree in Medicine and Surgery and a specialist qualification in dermatology and venereology. He holds a PhD in Allergological Sciences and is a Research Fellow and, since 2013, an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Venereology at the University of Bari. He is the author of several scientific publications, including monographs and book chapters. His research focuses on experimental, clinico-experimental and clinical studies investigating various fields in dermatology, particularly etiopathogenetic aspects. He has also conducted in-depth studies in the areas of contact dermatitis, both occupational and non occupational dermatoses, aquatic dermatitis (mainly of marine origin), dermatitis in the sports environment, inherited bullous epidermolysis and pediatric dermatology.

Caterina Foti holds an honors degree in Medicine and Surgery, and a specialist qualification in dermatology and venereology. From 1998 to 2012, she was an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Venereology at the University of Bari, Italy. Since 2013, she has been Head of the Dermatological Department at Policlinico of Bari. She is Past President of the Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, and is a member of the European Environmental and Contact Dermatitis Research Group. Her research interests include various fields of dermatology, particularly allergological dermatology, and she is the author of over 300 publications in international journals, monographs and book chapters.