Photodermatology, edited by James Ferguson and Jeffrey S. Dover

Abstract

Manson Publishing Ltd . 2006 . 160 pages . This new book on photodermatology provides complete coverage of photodermatology, as it includes basic photophysics and photobiology, photodermatoses, and the various modalities of phototherapy. Most of the 15 contributing authors are from Scotland. This reflects well the manifold and important contributions of the British Photodermatology Group, and of their Scottish members in particular, to photodermatology for many years. Only two of the contributors are not from Scotland, including one of the editors. They bring in their expertise on various laser treatments. To include laser and photodynamic therapy is very welcome and necessary, as laser dermatologists sometimes do not feel at home in photodermatology, yet use ultraviolet and/or visible light for treatment. The book is richly illustrated with many useful clinical photographs and diagrams. Several photographs of technical equipment in its clinical setting are not only useful, but also charming, as they demonstrate that photodermatologists often have to improvise and individually invent the arrangement of their technical equipment, in particular of that used for photodiagnostic purposes. Despite its brevity, most chapters provides more in-depth coverage of photodermatology than what most standard dermatology textbooks provide. It can therefore be recommended to dermatology residents and dermatologists with a special interest in photodermatology, to nurses and staff of photodermatologic clinical units, and to scientists in the fields of photobiology or photophysics, who need insights into medical aspects of their field. Even an experienced photodermatologist can find plenty of very useful specific advise. This would be even more useful, if the cross-referencing between the chapters were better. E.g., several authors mention the usefulness of UV-protective adhesive window films in their clinical chapters, but do not refer to the very helpful list of different products and manufacturers of such films in the chapter on photoprotection.