Contact Dermatitis Training: A Joint RSM and BSCA Course for Resident Doctors

Join the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) for this one-day, in-person training course hosted by the RSM Dermatology Section in partnership with the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA). Through a combination of lectures, interactive sessions, and practical workshops, this course revives and expands upon the former Manchester Clinical Course, which ended during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the only UK course specifically designed for resident doctors, it offers a comprehensive overview of contact dermatitis and patch testing. 

Delivered by highly experienced clinicians, this event will provide practical and nuanced advice on the correct procedure for patch testing, whilst providing a unique opportunity for resident doctors to gain hands-on understanding of this important subspecialty. 

Why attend? 

• Gain practical, curriculum-mapped knowledge of patch testing to directly apply to clinical training and future consultancy roles 
• Learn from national experts in contact dermatitis and allergy, including Dr Natalie Stone, Consultant Dermatologist and President of BSCA, Consultant Dermatologists Dr Deirdre Buckley, Dr Pippa Cousen, Dr Graham Johnston, Dr David Orton, Dr Sarah Wakelin, Dr Jason Williams, Specialist Registrar Dr Kate Dear and Specialist Nurse, Dijana Velioniene
• Examine real-world case discussions through hands-on workshops and live demonstrations 
• Explore guidelines on UK and European patch testing, allergen selection, patient selection and skin prick testing for immediate allergies 

Aims: 

• To provide a dedicated national training course in contact dermatitis and patch testing for resident doctors, addressing gaps in curriculum requirements 
• To improve the quality and consistency of patch testing practice across the UK 
• To equip future dermatologists with the knowledge and practical skills to diagnose and manage contact dermatitis effectively 

Learning outcomes: 

By attending this meeting, you will be able to: 

• Recognise the indications for patch testing, contraindications, and guidelines for the best outcomes, including how to select appropriate allergens and how to photopatch test 
• Assess when and how to test non-standardised materials, including patients’ own cosmetics, clothing, toiletries and workplace chemicals to support accurate diagnosis and management 
• Describe the role of skin prick testing in allergy assessment, including aeroallergens and result interpretation in clinical practice 

Who should attend? 

• Dermatology resident doctors at all stages of higher specialist training, pre-accreditation 
• Dermatology resident doctors seeking to develop practical patch testing skills mapped to curriculum requirements 
• Those preparing for or currently undertaking contact dermatitis clinics in their training posts