Clinical Dermatology

In the current health care climate, many nondermatologists are required to provide skin care. A good introductory text is essential to assure competence in dermatology. Clinical Dermatology is one such text. The practice of didactics aimed at beginners is often complicated by jargon and details. The book should be commended for its simplicity in structure and lucidity of language. The book starts with an excellent excursion into the basics of skin function and immunology. Research findings in these fields have grown exponentially over the past two decades, and for clinicians, ignorance of the science may soon become malpractice rather than a mere inconvenience. Many cartooned diagrams simplify difficult concepts, although the occasional "happy-faced" cell takes the reduction a step too far. The bulk of the text is a standard sojourn through all varieties of skin disease-disorders of keratinization, psoriasis, papulosquamous lesions, hair and nails, eczema and dermatitis, reactive erythema and