Foreword_EUDerma.qxp 21/5/09 5:26 pm Page 6
Foreword
Marco Romanelli is President and a Council Member of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA). He is a
Consultant Dermatologist in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pisa and Director of the Wound Healing
Research Unit within the University of Pisa, and leads a research group actively involved in clinical and educational activities.
Dr Romanelli is a founding member and Past President of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), a Board
Member of the European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) and Past President of the Italian Association for Cutaneous Ulcer (AIUC).
He received his PhD in experimental dermatology from the University of Naples.
I
t gives me great pleasure to bring you this edition of European Dermatology, which contains articles on topics relevant to
dermatologists. The articles evaluate topics that are common in clinical practice, but also review aspects that are frequently seen
in hospital-based clinics.
Over the last few years there has been a rapid proliferation of new techniques in aesthetic dermatology. Examples include new fillers,
innovative lasers and radiofrequency devices. The level of expertise in cosmetic procedures has improved greatly over the last few
years, and this is mainly due to the increasing number of requests from patients for prevention and correction of photodamage or
facial and bodily rejuvenation. The role of dermatologists will be to look for maximal results with minimal downtime, but also to
minimise complications and increase patient satisfaction.
We classify a wide range of dermatological disorders under the term dermatitis. These disorders are characterised by an intensely
itchy, chronic maculo- and papulo-vesicular eruption that is usually distributed symmetrically over the trunk and extremities. The main
role of the dermatologist is to gather the best information on the interface dermatitis and its aetiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis
among different disorders. In this area, better knowledge of the prevalence of and sources of exposure to the most common allergens
in contact and occupational dermatitis is required.
The management of nail disorders is an important part of the dermatologist’s daily practice. The development of practical and
innovative approaches to diagnose and classify common and uncommon nail problems has also improved treatment options for
patients. Nail cosmetics is another expanding field and must be considered when drugs or surgery cannot provide the ideal solution
to a medical problem. Hyperhidrosis is a socially embarrassing and occupationally disabling disorder. Many individuals with this
condition are limited in their choice of profession because they are unable to manipulate materials sensitive to humidity (paper, etc.)
or are reluctant to shake hands; some patients reach a point where they avoid social contact. Therapeutic modalities include the use
of pharmacological agents, surgical interventions, botulinum toxin and iontophoresis.
Other key topics such as Dupuytren’s contracture, self-inflicted dermatoses and wound management are included in this edition. The
section on Dupuytren’s contracture looks at the importance of needle aponeurotomy as a non-surgical, ambulatory treatment that
relies on the percutanous section of Dupuytren’s cords under local anaesthesia. The section on self-inflicted dermatoses focuses on
diagnosing and treating self-inflicted skin lesions in infancy, and the wound management section includes an article titled
‘Sensitivities in Chronic Wounds and the Need for Hypoallergenic Dressings’.
Finally, the correlation between dermatology and psychiatry is investigated. Definitions of the basic mechanisms of stress and its
effects on dermatological diseases, as well as the recognition of basic neuroimmune networks and mediators such as neuropeptides
and neurotransmitters, must be considered in dermatology in order to provide novel future therapeutic interventions.
European Dermatology would like to thank everyone involved in the preparation of this edition for achieving such an insightful and
thought-provoking collection of articles worthy of debate and attention. We would like to thank all organisations and media partners
for their continued support, and also extend our gratitude to the individual authors for their time and effort, which has resulted in a
selection of excellent articles. ■
6 © TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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