Deeper than the skin: Genetic Skin Disorders

Abstract

The second edition of ‘Genetic Skin Disorders' was long awaited. The book is well-illustrated with colour photographs and provides easily accessible information on inherited skin disorders. It has a very useful section on differential diagnosis by skin signs. It does not aim to be a comprehensive text book of Dermatology, but an aid to the clinician in establishing the diagnosis, inheritance pattern and syndromic associations of inherited skin disorders. It succeeds admirably in the task it sets out to accomplish. Skin manifestations occur in many genetic disorders, which may involve other organ systems. In some ways, the title of the book is as understated as Gorlin's ‘Syndromes of the Head and Neck'. The annotated bibliography is very helpful and Dr Sybert's comments make interesting reading. The book is available only in hardback. It would be good to have the book in electronic format, which would make it more portable and easier to search. ‘Genetic Skin disorders' is reasonably priced for a text book of this kind. It is recommended for Clinical Geneticists, Dermatologists, Paediatricians and Physicians in Internal Medicine▪