Domenico Bonamonte – författare

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. 

The terminology, classification, diagnosis and treatment of dermatological factitious disorders, falling within the broad scope of self-induced dermatological diseases, are the subject of open debate. The complexity of the topic is also linked to the involvement of different health professions who often refer to different classifications, whereas patients with these conditions need a consistent multidisciplinary approach. The purpose of this work, resulting in decades of field experience and of the joint efforts of both dermatologists and psychiatrists, is to clarify the terminology of these disorders and, above all, to analyze their clinical characteristics in detail, the first and pivotal sign of suspicion and diagnosis.

Artificial dermatitis are self-induced diseases caused by various means and for diverse purposes. Illness can be mimicked with unlawful purposes, or to take advantage of professional situations (obtaining extension of illness, recognition of the condition as an occupational disease, reaching a higher class of invalidity). In these cases, the simulators are aware of their own action and its purposes. Conversely, there are cases of self-induced dermatitis dictated by psychiatric problems, such as psychosis, intellectual disability and personality disorders. Intrinsic motivation of such lesions is different: patient intends to draw attention, reacts to difficult environmental situations by involuntary somatization of the skin. Skin artifacts of illicit intent are true "simulations", while the lesions caused unconsciously by subjects with psychological disorders are "pathomimies". In addition to the groups of true simulation and “pathomimia”, another group of self-provoked dermatoses is due to coercive habits (excoriations, tics) in conscious subjects who recognize the urgency of a self-harming action. Psychocutaneous Diseases leaves room to the clinic features and motivations of artifacts, both perpetuated on oneself and on other people ("by proxy" factitious disorders). The topic is completed by the addition of chapters by psychiatric specialists, in order to address pathogenetic problems and therapeutic guidelines, as well as contributions that integrate the approach with medico-legal expertise. 

This unique work will support diagnosis by dermatologists, but also psychiatrists, psychologists, internists, forensic doctors and general practitioners.

This well-illustrated quick reference book, now in its second edition, is a comprehensive guide to the aquatic skin diseases caused by biotic and non-biotic noxae. It will assist the dermatologist in recognizing and treating a host of unfamiliar conditions that are nevertheless steadily increasing in prevalence owing to wider use of the hydrosphere for holiday, sport, and occupational activities throughout the year. Beyond the thorough examination of the dermatoses caused by a wide range of organisms such as jellyfish, sea anemones, echinoderms, molluscs, algae, aquatic worms, and fish, attention is drawn to potential systemic reactions, which can be serious or even fatal. In addition, the entire spectrum of wound infections and reactions due to microscopic organisms populating the aquatic environment, e.g., mycobacteria, streptococci, Aeromonas, and vibrios, is considered. Finally, detailed attention is paid to the many other conditions linked to salt or freshwater contact, including aquagenic urticaria and pruritus, chlorine irritation, contact dermatitis from swimming or diving equipment, surfer’s nodules, and chemical conjunctivitis. Aquatic Dermatology will be a quick reference to improve knowledge of the aquatic environment and its risks, and a useful tool to clinicians and professionals practicing in coastal and marine areas.

This well-illustrated book is a comprehensive guide to the cutaneous clinical presentations of mycobacterial infections. The Mycobacterium genus includes over 170 species, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) having been added to the obligate human pathogens such as M. tuberculosis and M. leprae. NTM are widely distributed in the environment with high isolation rates worldwide; the skin is a major target with variable clinical manifestations. A current  resurgence in tuberculosis is aggravated by the synergy with human immunodeficiency virus, the breakdown of health care systems, and the rise in multidrug-resistant disease, as the incidence of leprosy remains stable, at around 250,000 new cases annually, regardless of effective antibiotic therapy. Presentations  of various cutaneous infections caused by mycobacteria may be overlooked by clinicians owing the lack of familiarity with tuberculosis, leprosy, and the related  NTM clinical features. This handy guide willhelp  the dermatologist to spot the different clinical manifestations, make a prompt diagnosis, and apply effective treatment.