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. 

Preface

1 Introduction and epidemiology
2 Eczematous dermatoses
3 Mechanisms in irritant contact dermatitis (Cavani A)
4 Mechanisms in allergic contact dermatitis (Girolomoni G)
5 Mechanisms in phototoxic and photoallergic contact dermatitis
6 Molecular aspects of allergic contact dermatitis (Lepoittevin J-P)
7 Histology and ultrastructure
8 Clinical aspects of irritant contact dermatitis
9 Clinical aspects of allergic contact dermatitis
10 Regional contact dermatitis
11 Non eczematous  contact dermatitis
12 Airborne contact dermatitis
13 Phototoxic and photoallergic contact dermatitis
14 Systemic contact dermatitis
15 Contact leukoderma, hyperpigmentation and discolorations from contactants
16 Contact dermatitis in atopic individuals
17 Contact dermatitis in children
18 Occupational contact dermatitis
19 Plant contact dermatitis
20 Contact dermatitis due to cosmetics (Bruze M)
21 Drug induced Contact dermatitis
22 Protein contact dermatitis (Gonçalo M)
23 Contact urticaria (Gallo R)
24 Common irritants
25 Common allergens
26 Patch testing
27 Photopatch testing (Pigatto P)
28 Spot tests, noninvasive techniques and other diagnostic tests (Goosens A)
29 Prognosis, therapy and rehabilitation
30 Prevention and legal aspects
Appendix 1 List of patch test allergens with concentrations and vehicles
Appendix 2. Specific instructions for patients with common contact allergens.