BOOK

Fitzpatricks color atlas & synopsis of clinical

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