dermatology, 6th ed Klaus Wolff and Richard Allen Johnson, 2009, New York, McGraw-Hill Professional. 1104 pages. $74.95. ISBN: 978-0-071-59975-7.
REVIEWS
physicians assistants, but it has many features that
will also appeal to practicing dermatologists. Dirk M. Elston, MD Danville, Pennsylvania doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.06.065
The sixth edition of Fitzpatricks Color Atlas &
Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology features good quality images that illustrate a wide range of dermatologic conditions. Klaus Wolff and Richard Allen Johnson are to be congratulated on their effort. In the 26 years since the first edition, the book has evolved to become a solid reference for students of dermatology. The new edition has been largely reillustratedroughly 80% of the old images have been replaced. Icons indicate when additional images are available in the online picture gallery. The introduction provides a good approach to examination of the skin, with an excellent pairing of diagrams and clinical images to illustrate the morphology of primary and secondary skin lesions. The table of contents is well organized, making it easy to find both specific entities and categories of disease. Shaded boxes throughout the text focus on key teaching points, and icons indicate the degree of acuity typically associated with each condition and its frequency in clinical practice. Each set of clinical images is paired with a brief synopsis describing the epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory studies, differential diagnosis, course, and management of the disease. Most of these sections are suitably succinct and balanced. Although most management sections focus on basic options, many of the tables and illustrations are superb and would be helpful to even the most experienced dermatologist. This book makes good use of paired schematics and clinical images, and schematics, such as those explaining desmoglein compensation, make difficult concepts readily accessible to the reader. Well organized tables are a particular strength of the text, especially those that cover the range of drug eruptions and the most likely implicated agents and the table providing a differential diagnosis based on lesion morphology. Tables of organisms and the associated clinical manifestations are also well done, as are those that compare features of similar conditions, such as allergic contact dermatitis and irritant dermatitis. This sixth edition of Fitzpatricks Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology would be a wonderful addition to any medical library. It will be particularly helpful as a resource for medical students, residents, primary care physicians, and 166
JANUARY 2010
Requisites in dermatology: Cosmetic
dermatology Murad Alam, Hayes B. Gladstone, and Rebecca C. Tung, editors, New York, Saunders Ltd, 2008. 368 pages. $119.00. ISBN: 978-0-702-03143-4. It is challenging to learn all of the subspecialties within dermatology, but a discipline like cosmetic dermatology can be especially difficult, with the rapid additions of new laser and light devices, fillers, and ever-evolving techniques. Drs Alam, Gladstone, and Tung have created a textbook that is concise, easy to read, and yet is full of pearls. This textbook is accompanied by an online module that complements the text with video and lecture materials. This innovative use of technology will delight both the beginner and the more seasoned clinician. The book is divided into 12 chapters, starting with the approach to the cosmetic patient and finishing with advanced surgical procedures. The authors have covered cosmeceuticals, botulinum toxin, fillers, chemical peels, vascular and pigmented lasers, ablative devices, nonablative laser and light sources, skin tightening devices, hair transplantation, liposuction, and even blepharoplasty and facelifts. The botulinum toxin chapter includes a review of the different toxins and products that are available, along with general injection techniques. Commonly treated anatomic sites are then discussed, along with dosing suggestions and pearls for the different areas of the face and neck. Tips on preventing and treating complications are also discussed. Likewise, the chapter on fillers has a succinct but excellent review of complications and their treatment algorithms. The chemical peel chapter was exceptionally thorough, covering the different depths of peels and the various agents that can be used alone or in combination. Practical information reviewed how to peel different body areas, prepeel regimens, and the actual peel procedure. I was delighted to see the authors recommendations to keep the concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) below 50% and their section on using TCA to treat ice picketype acne scars. J AM ACAD DERMATOL