Contact Dermatitis

Basic Features.- Pathology.- Dermatotoxicology.- Clinical Features.- Diagnostic Tests.- Allergic Contact Dermatitis Related to Specific Exposures.- Therapy, Rehabilitation and Prevention.

The sixth edition of Contact Dermatitis covers in detail every conceivable aspect of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis and its modern-day management. The 1st edition of this book was published in 1992 and has served as the main reference book of contact dermatitis. In this new edition special emphasis is given to immunological mechanisms, molecular aspects of sensitizers, atypical clinical forms, patch test methodology, reactions to medicaments, and occupational and environmental factors. In order to optimize the diagnostic approach, a wide range of information is provided, including a dictionary of contact allergens and detailed information on exposure assessment. Retained chapters from the previous edition have been thoroughly revised to reflect the latest knowledge. Furthermore, completely new chapters have been added on a variety of topics, including contact allergy to medical implants, relevant allergens in gloves and immediate reactions to occupational materials. The editors and authors are all leading practitioners in the field. The comprehensive but approachable text is supplemented by a large number of full colour illustrations and tables. Core messages highlight the most important information and will help the reader to gain a better understanding of the subject and greater competence in everyday practice.

The editors are all leading scientists and practitioners in the field of contact dermatitis. They cover a broad span of expertise and have a vast experience.

Jeanne Duus Johansen is professor in cutaneous allergy, has published more than 400 scientific papers on the subject and is the editor of several books. Vera Mahler is professor of Dermatology at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. At the Department of Dermatology she in charge of the Allergy Unit including the patch test clinics and clinics for occupational skin diseases. She is president of the German Contact Dermatitis Society (DKG) and coordinator of the evidence-based German patch test guideline and member of the Executive Committee of the European Contact Dermatitis Society (ESCD). Her research activities include research on understanding the clinical risk factors, prevention strategies and molecular interactions in (protein) contact dermatitis, contact urticarial and occupational skin diseases.

Jean-Pierre Lepoittevin is professor of organic chemistry at the University of Strasbourg. His research activities include research on understanding the molecular interactions between chemicals present in our environment (cosmetics, preservatives, drugs, natural products etc.) and skin, in relation to toxicological problems such as cutaneous allergy.

Peter Frosch is professor emeritus of dermatology at the Department of Dermatology, Klinikum Dortmund and University of Witten/Herdecke. He is founding editor of this textbook, has edited 4 more monographs in the field of contact dermatitis and recently published a practical guide focusing on occupational dermatitis (in German).