Ateneo - UPO

The course provides the fundamental knowledge of clinical dermatology required for the recognition, diagnostic evaluation, and management of the major skin diseases. It introduces the basic principles of skin anatomy, histology, and pathophysiology, together with the fundamentals of dermatological semiology necessary for the identification of elementary skin lesions and the clinical approach to dermatological disorders.Lectures will cover the major infectious, inflammatory, immune-mediated, and neoplastic skin diseases, with particular emphasis on their epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Special attention will be devoted to skin cancer and precancerous lesions, including the principles of primary and secondary prevention, early diagnosis, and patient follow-up.The course will also provide an overview of the principles of topical and systemic dermatological therapies, as well as the indications for the most common surgical treatment options.Theoretical knowledge will be reinforced during supervised clinical training through practical sessions focused on dermatological examination, dermoscopy, the principal diagnostic techniques (direct microscopic examination, microbiological cultures, and skin biopsy), differential diagnosis, and the medical and surgical management of the most common dermatological conditions.

Dermatologia e Malattie Sessualmente Trasmissibili - M. Pippione e al. - Ed. Minerva Medica
Atlas of Clinic Dermatology – T.B. Fitzpatrick, R.A. Johnson, K Wolff, M. K. Polano, D. Saavedra – Ed. Piccin
Manuale di Dermatologia Medica e Chirurgica – T. Cainelli, A. Giannetti, A. Rebora – Mc Graw Hill Education
Core Curriculum Dermatologia – A. Rebora, S. Veraldi – Mc Graw Hill Education

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and clinical knowledge required for the recognition, diagnostic evaluation, management, and prevention of the major dermatological diseases.Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:recognize the principal clinical manifestations of skin diseases and develop an appropriate diagnostic approach by integrating medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic investigations;understand the principles of the medical and surgical management of the most common dermatological conditions, as well as the main strategies for primary and secondary prevention;identify dermatological emergencies and potentially severe skin disorders, understanding the principles of their initial management and the criteria for timely referral to specialist care;apply an evidence-based clinical approach to the assessment of patients with skin diseases, demonstrating differential diagnostic reasoning and the ability to integrate clinical findings into multidisciplinary patient management.

Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, histopathology, microbiology, immunology and oncology.

The course is delivered through face-to-face lectures supplemented by the extensive use of clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological images. These visual materials are intended to enhance students' ability to recognize the main dermatological diseases, develop diagnostic reasoning skills, and perform an appropriate differential diagnosis.Clinical images represent a fundamental educational tool in dermatology, enabling students to become familiar with the morphological characteristics and the broad spectrum of clinical presentations of skin disorders.Teaching is further enriched by clinical exposure during hospital and outpatient rotations in the Dermatology Department. These practical experiences allow students to correlate theoretical knowledge with real-life clinical practice, consolidate their diagnostic skills, improve their clinical observation abilities, and gain experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of common dermatological conditions.

Students can have optional periods of attendance at the SCDU of Dermatology with the assignment of credits.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Students' learning is assessed through an oral examination designed to evaluate the achievement of the course learning objectives. During the examination, students are expected to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the main dermatological diseases, cutaneous semiology, diagnostic approaches, and the fundamental principles of therapeutic management.Assessment is based not only on the accuracy and completeness of the knowledge acquired but also on the student's clinical reasoning skills, ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis, correct use of medical terminology, and capacity to integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.The final grade, expressed on a 30-point scale, is determined according to the student's overall performance, taking into account the accuracy of the answers, clarity of presentation, ability to establish connections between topics, and level of independence in clinical reasoning. Honors (cum laude) may be awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding knowledge, excellent mastery of the subject, and exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills.

The course will cover the following topics:Anatomy and histology of the skin and skin appendages.Primary and secondary skin lesions and the fundamentals of dermatological semiology.Major infectious skin diseases, including parasitic, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.Common inflammatory skin diseases, including acne, atopic dermatitis, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen disorders, and urticaria.Cutaneous adverse drug reactions.Autoimmune blistering diseases.Major connective tissue diseases with cutaneous involvement, including lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and dermatomyositis.Benign melanocytic lesions and melanocytic neoplasms, with particular emphasis on melanoma.Benign and malignant epithelial skin tumors and the main precancerous lesions.Principles of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of skin cancer, including the basic surgical techniques used for the complete excision of epithelial and melanocytic tumors.General principles of dermatological therapy, including an overview of the most commonly used topical and systemic treatments.Basic principles of diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, as well as follow-up strategies for patients with malignant skin tumors.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:Describe the basic anatomy, histology, and physiology of the skin and its appendages.Correctly identify and describe primary and secondary skin lesions using appropriate dermatological terminology.Recognize the main clinical features of the most common infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic skin diseases.Apply clinical reasoning to establish a differential diagnosis based on the patient's history and dermatological examination.Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of prevention, diagnosis, and management of the most common dermatological disorders, with particular emphasis on skin cancer.Identify dermatological conditions requiring specialist referral or urgent management.Integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical experience gained during practical teaching activities and clinical rotations, developing a patient-centered approach to dermatological care.