Burgdorf, Plewig, Wolff, Landthaler (eds): Braun-Falco’s dermatology

Excerpt

Skin diseases are very frequent, and although they are rarely life-threatening, they might not only limit the quality of life, but as well affect the ability to work and to be employed. In accordance with the German “Occupational Preventive Medical Care Ordinance” (ArbMedVV), the company physician has to examine the skin in order to prevent occupationally induced skin diseases. During this examination, he might come across skin disorders which have to be medically assessed. In case of skin diseases totally or partially induced by occupation, it has to be decided whether the preventive measures within the company (substitution of working material, changes in working processes, consequent implementation of protective measures, skin cleansing, and skin care) can easily be realized and whether they are sufficient for healing. During the medical assessment, the company physician sometimes has to give his opinion on existing, non-occupational induced skin diseases as well. If a patient is already under medical treatment with regard to a rare skin disease, the company physician generally has to take this diagnosis into consideration during the preventive occupational examination. For the evaluation of such cases, it is extremely helpful to be up to date with the knowledge of classification, diagnosis, and therapy in dermatology. …