Dr. Militello is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He joined the faculty in 2006. Dr. Militello received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency training in dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Militello has conducted research and published several articles and reviews in the field of contact dermatitis. His research interests include occupational skin disease and allergic contact dermatitis.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a common dermatological condition and accounts for a significant number of visits to primary care physicians and dermatologists. It is lso a major cause of occupational skin disease. 

There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic.  Irritant reactions are caused by the direct effects on the skin and the subsequent disruption of the skin barrier. Allergic contact dermatitis results from a specific hypersensitivity reaction to a substance or chemical. A typical example of allergic contact dermatitis would be the reaction one sees to poison ivy. There are several thousand potential allergens in the environment, but only a small percentage account for the majority of reactions. Typical allergens are preservatives and fragrances in cosmetic products, textile dyes, rubber additives, and topical medicaments.

Clinical manifestations of contact dermatitis are varied and may present as hand, peri-orbital, or oral dermatitis. At times, it may mimic a diffuse eczema. The  best way to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis is patch testing. Patch testing involves placing low concentrations of specific allergens on a patient's back and observing the area for an allergic reaction. This is not the same as scratch or prick testing, which is used to diagnose an urticarial (hives) type of allergic reaction. 

The Department of Dermatology at Columbia University offers a wide range of services for the diagnosis and management of contact dermatitis in children and adults. Each patient will receive detailed evaluations regarding environmental and occupational exposure, and a full selection of common and occupational allergens are available for patch testing.