It has been said that dermatology is the most inclusive specialty because it deals not only with the skin but also with everything that the skin contains and touches. There's some truth to that. For instance, where else can you find the editors of a medical textbook, as in Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, waxing proudly in the preface about including fresh material on anthrax, smallpox, and Botox? In other words, the field considers its domain to range from the war on terrorism to our narcissistic culture. Happily, the Botox chapter does not include tips on how to throw a "Botox party."

There is also a new chapter on "Evidence-Based Dermatology." I must admit that when I first heard of the evidence-based approach, I wasn't much impressed with its novelty, seeming to remember at least one old-timer who made a comment about experiment being treacherous and judgment difficult (Hippocrates). But the author does a good job of defending the system, and in an honest self-referential bit of criticism of textbooks, he points out that most tend to "reflect the biases and shortcomings of the experts who write them," are about 2 years out of date by publication, and are "narrative reviews that do not consider the quality of the evidence reported." Evidence itself, of course, is as indisputably wholesome as apple pie—it's how you interpret the evidence that matters.

This edition remains heavily invested in basic science, which is becoming daily more of a misnomer as skin biology reveals an ever increasing complexity. The first part, almost 15%, is given over to anatomy, physiology, immunology, molecular biology, and so forth, and there's much more interspersed throughout the clinical chapters. These chapters have shown the most profound changes over time, with progressive improvement at each turn. Whereas the first edition relegated color clinical photographs to a relatively thin "atlas" section, this edition features them on seemingly every page. Color abounds, and the quality of the illustrations is excellent. Indeed, the difference between the first and latest edition is so great that you'd never guess at the lineage if you did not look at the titles.

With all the new material, I was astonished to discover that something unheard of had apparently occurred in medical publishing: the sixth edition is shorter than the fifth! And not by just a little: hundreds of pages have evaporated. I compared typefaces, considered a gross error in the pagination, had a colleague check my eyesight, and finally contacted the senior editor, who gave me the lowdown: they did it on purpose.

Having decided that the book had grown "too long, too heavy, too redundant," a 2-year effort was launched in which 10% was cut by "rigid editing, eliminating as much duplication as possible, cutting long, long lists of references." Another improvement was making both volumes roughly equal in size (the considerable inequality of which had always annoyed me) and using a thinner but ample stock paper. The overall weight has been reduced from 22 lb to a more portable 17 lb.

All in all, this sixth edition of Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine is the premier textbook of dermatology, a bargain if there ever was one, and a blessing for those of us with derangements in our rotator cuffs.

Michael B. Brodin, MD
Monroe, NY (Journal of American Medical Association )

"The book is well formatted and easy to read. It summarizes all the crucial recent studies that have a major impact in our approach to treatment of hypertension in diabetes mellitus." "4 stars" (Doody's ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

The must-have reference in dermatology-now completely revised and updated!

In no other source but Fitzpatrick's can you find the most comprehensive, current, and authoritative coverage of the entire spectrum of dermatologic science, diagnosis, treatment, and management. Now in a more accessible format, with everything you need to know about skin, skin symptoms, and skin diseases right at your fingertips-from the basic science of the skin as an immunoprotective organ -- to the day-to-day clinical issues of managing skin diseases like psoriasis, acne, and skin cancer.

Encyclopedic in scope, yet skillfully edited so it's easy to read and use every day, this unsurpassed resource delivers a timely look at dermatologic therapeutics as well as dermatologic surgery and cosmetic dermatology. In addition, 3,000 eye-catching full-color photographs and hundreds of time-saving tables encapsulate core concepts, while scores of references facilitate further research.

FEATURES:

NEW Full color design

• “At a glance” overviews give you the key points of every chapter
• Diagnostic and Treatment algorithms guide you through the clinical thought process
• Boxes on differential diagnosis with helpful cross-referencing ensure that you find the content you need when you need it.
• Color clinical photographs and useful diagrams let you see diagnosis and treatment as you read about it.
• Over half the illustrations are NEW to this edition!
• Attention-getting icons lead you to additional content online

NEW organization

• Basic science chapters are grouped with the corresponding clinical chapters.
• Organization of dermatologic disease chapters by location of symptoms and then by causative mechanisms to facilitate comprehension
• More chapters on dermatologic surgery and cosmetic dermatology

NEW CHAPTERS ON: Sweet Syndrome, Paraporiasis, Lichen Sclerosus, Vitiligo, Mechanisms of Autoimmune Disease, Innate and Adaptive Immunity, Diagnostic Procedures and Devices, Body Art, Occupational Skin Disease, Topical Therapy in Ethnically Different Skins, Drug Interactions, Complementary and Alternative Dermatology, Flaps and Grafts, Surgical Complications, Cosmetics and Skin Care in Dermatologic Practice, and more