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Sauer’s Manual of Skin Diseases

Sauer’s Manual of Skin Diseases Edited by Brian J. Hall and John C. Hall 10th ed, 546 pp, $84.95 Philadelphia, PA, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010 ISBN-13: 978-1-6054-7077-1 Diseases of the skin, hair, and nails are common, and the majority are treated by nondermatologists. While most of these diseases are not life threatening, they can be a source of considerable embarrassment and consternation to affected patients. Astute clinicians can not only improve a patient's appearance and self-esteem but can often make a diagnosis of cutaneous malignancy or, occasionally, a serious systemic disease. Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases, edited by Brian Hall and John Hall, is slightly different from many other dermatology texts in that it clearly is geared for nondermatologists. In fact, Gordon Sauer explicitly proclaimed in his preface to the first edition that this work is directed toward medical students and general practitioners and that the information should be presented as simply, clearly, and concisely as possible. If that was his stated goal, then the authors have manifestly succeeded. The editors have assembled an impressive yet eclectic list of authors—many are the most highly regarded members of the dermatology community, whereas several are less far along in their careers: dermatology residents, fellows, and nonphysicians. Not only are chapters well written, but this edition is replete with high-quality clinical photographs as well as instructive illustrations and some rudimentary introductory histology and histopathology. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that each chapter contains a small bulleted text box, “Sauer's Notes,” which are rather unconventional in that they contain “practice pearls,” aphorisms, and experiential wisdom gleaned from years of clinical practice. These unmistakably supplement the fact-filled and concise chapters and have the potential to shape practice as opposed to solely improving the reader's knowledge base. For example, the chapter dedicated to technological advances in dermatology presents a skeptical admonition: “New technologies in all fields of medicine are driven not only for the betterment of man but for financial gain. . . . In promoting these technologies, photos of the best results and data highlighting the positive results are featured.” Other helpful tips not commonly found in most other dermatology textbooks include: “If a prescription is going to be relatively expensive, explain this fact to the patient”; “Fluorinated corticosteroid prescriptions rarely should be written for refills”; “If cosmetic questions are not answered by the physician, then they will be answered by someone whose interest lies beyond giving the cheapest, safest, and most practical answers”; “The skin as a source of symptoms is easily recognized by the patient, sometimes correctly and sometimes incorrectly”; and “The primary factor in the management of an ulcer is to not let it happen.” While the editors' stated audience is medical students and general practitioners, the book is different from another excellent book I have previously reviewed for JAMA, Goodheart's Photoguide to Common Skin Disorders: Diagnosis and Management. That book is geared for those who want to recognize and treat common skin disorders, while this text is much more ambitious. Even though the majority of Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases is dedicated to common clinical entities, the book also includes chapters on topics not often found in these types of texts, such as dermatologic reactions to UV radiation and visible light, cutaneous signs of bioterrorism, sports medicine dermatology, technologic applications in dermatology, and cosmetics for the physician. Readers will come away exposed to a broader array of topics than is covered in most texts; not only will they be able to better care for patients but they will potentially be more interesting conversationalists at social gatherings and better able to give advice to inquisitive relatives at family reunions. One potential small limitation is that readers looking for specific therapeutic recommendations might be disappointed. For example, recommendations for broad groups of medicines, such as antihistamines, or for specific medications without dose ranges are common in many chapters. However, it appears that the authors consciously and intentionally decided to avoid specifics and to rather include a valuable 2-page chapter, “Where to Look for More Information About a Skin Disease,” with specific print and online resources. A plethora of excellent textbooks cater to readers interested in diseases of the skin. However, I highly recommend Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases for those seeking more than the traditional dermatology textbook. Back to top Article Information Financial Disclosures: None reported. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Sauer’s Manual of Skin Diseases

Federman, Daniel G.
JAMA , Volume 304 (10) – Sep 8, 2010
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.2010.1307
Publisher site
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Abstract

Edited by Brian J. Hall and John C. Hall 10th ed, 546 pp, $84.95 Philadelphia, PA, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010 ISBN-13: 978-1-6054-7077-1 Diseases of the skin, hair, and nails are common, and the majority are treated by nondermatologists. While most of these diseases are not life threatening, they can be a source of considerable embarrassment and consternation to affected patients. Astute clinicians can not only improve a patient's appearance and self-esteem but can often make a diagnosis of cutaneous malignancy or, occasionally, a serious systemic disease. Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases, edited by Brian Hall and John Hall, is slightly different from many other dermatology texts in that it clearly is geared for nondermatologists. In fact, Gordon Sauer explicitly proclaimed in his preface to the first edition that this work is directed toward medical students and general practitioners and that the information should be presented as simply, clearly, and concisely as possible. If that was his stated goal, then the authors have manifestly succeeded. The editors have assembled an impressive yet eclectic list of authors—many are the most highly regarded members of the dermatology community, whereas several are less far along in their careers: dermatology residents, fellows, and nonphysicians. Not only are chapters well written, but this edition is replete with high-quality clinical photographs as well as instructive illustrations and some rudimentary introductory histology and histopathology. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that each chapter contains a small bulleted text box, “Sauer's Notes,” which are rather unconventional in that they contain “practice pearls,” aphorisms, and experiential wisdom gleaned from years of clinical practice. These unmistakably supplement the fact-filled and concise chapters and have the potential to shape practice as opposed to solely improving the reader's knowledge base. For example, the chapter dedicated to technological advances in dermatology presents a skeptical admonition: “New technologies in all fields of medicine are driven not only for the betterment of man but for financial gain. . . . In promoting these technologies, photos of the best results and data highlighting the positive results are featured.” Other helpful tips not commonly found in most other dermatology textbooks include: “If a prescription is going to be relatively expensive, explain this fact to the patient”; “Fluorinated corticosteroid prescriptions rarely should be written for refills”; “If cosmetic questions are not answered by the physician, then they will be answered by someone whose interest lies beyond giving the cheapest, safest, and most practical answers”; “The skin as a source of symptoms is easily recognized by the patient, sometimes correctly and sometimes incorrectly”; and “The primary factor in the management of an ulcer is to not let it happen.” While the editors' stated audience is medical students and general practitioners, the book is different from another excellent book I have previously reviewed for JAMA, Goodheart's Photoguide to Common Skin Disorders: Diagnosis and Management. That book is geared for those who want to recognize and treat common skin disorders, while this text is much more ambitious. Even though the majority of Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases is dedicated to common clinical entities, the book also includes chapters on topics not often found in these types of texts, such as dermatologic reactions to UV radiation and visible light, cutaneous signs of bioterrorism, sports medicine dermatology, technologic applications in dermatology, and cosmetics for the physician. Readers will come away exposed to a broader array of topics than is covered in most texts; not only will they be able to better care for patients but they will potentially be more interesting conversationalists at social gatherings and better able to give advice to inquisitive relatives at family reunions. One potential small limitation is that readers looking for specific therapeutic recommendations might be disappointed. For example, recommendations for broad groups of medicines, such as antihistamines, or for specific medications without dose ranges are common in many chapters. However, it appears that the authors consciously and intentionally decided to avoid specifics and to rather include a valuable 2-page chapter, “Where to Look for More Information About a Skin Disease,” with specific print and online resources. A plethora of excellent textbooks cater to readers interested in diseases of the skin. However, I highly recommend Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases for those seeking more than the traditional dermatology textbook. Back to top Article Information Financial Disclosures: None reported.

Journal

JAMA – American Medical Association

Published: Sep 8, 2010

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