Common skin problems | |
20 common problems in dermatology. Alan B Fleischer, Steven R Feldman, Aaron S Katz, Beth D Clayton. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000 (303 pp). ISBN: 0 07 022067 0. |
The concept of
addressing 20 common problems in dermatology is a good one and particularly useful to the general practitioner. Reference texts that cover common skin disorders are always a welcome addition to the literature. They are frequently relied upon to supplement the limited experience provided in dermatology during undergraduate training. However, this text, forming part of a series, offers the Australian reader a mixed bag. Each topic is treated in a standardised and, in general, well-ordered format, with short, informative paragraphs. The text is not referenced but an adequate bibliography follows each chapter. Numerous colour clinical photographs are presented, as one would expect in a dermatology text of this type. The selection of topics covers the frequently encountered skin disorders, although some common topics such as drug eruptions and exanthems are not specifically addressed. In general, the clinical description is good and the discussion of management is practical and extensive. The frequent use of US trade names and reference to a number of therapies not available in this country make the text less useful to the Australian practitioner. The authors also provide a number of tables offering specific treatment pathways. This is a useful way to convey treatment protocols, which are mostly simplified and practical. In a number of instances, however, very specific, opinion-based recommendations are given. I found the treatment approach of several conditions open to challenge (eg, the treatment of warts in children). With the exception of one or two chapters, the numerous clinical photographs accompanying the text are of good quality and demonstrate clinical features well. The labelling of figures is unsatisfactory in several areas. In the case of basal cell carcinomas, for example, quite different morphological types are all labelled "typical nodular basal cell carcinomas". There are also several errors in labelling of clinical photographs, and in one instance the same clinical picture appears to be used twice but reversed (see page 164). This text has the foundation for a good general reference on common skin disorders; however, its usefulness is reduced by its deficiencies. Christopher Baker
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