[International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF). Basis for cutaneous rehabilitation management].

Functioning and health are central issues in medical rehabilitation. With the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the World Health Organization implemented in 2001 a system for the description and classification of functioning that is accepted worldwide. Applying the bio-psycho-social perspective, this model based on interdependencies, comprises the components Body Function, Body Structure and Activity and Participation as well as contextual influences of health: the Environmental and Personal factors. The ICF is of prime importance in clinical practice, teaching, and research. It provides a universal language to be used in health care permitting the characterization of the specific functional problems of individuals. The rehabilitation of skin diseases takes advantage on the ICF in rehabilitation management. In this paper we describe the philosophy of the ICF and its implementation in rehabilitation of patients with chronic skin problems on the basis of a case study.