Geriatric dermatology

Abstract

Norman RA, ed. Geriatric dermatology . New York : The Parthenon Publishing Group , 2001 . Geriatric dermatology is a very easy to read introductory book about ailments that affect the skin of elderly patients. There is no mention of cosmetic dermatology issues or photoaging. The book is geared towards primary-care physicians and dermatology residents. The editor admits that Geriatric dermatology is an overview and not intended to be a comprehensive textbook. The book begins with a general outlook of the aging population. The second chapter pertains to people requiring long-term care and the dermatological ailments that they acquire. There is a chapter dedicated to scalp and hair disorders. There is also a chapter concerning the dermal manifestations of diabetes. Another chapter deals with leg, foot and nail disease. Other chapters include leg ulcers, blistering diseases, scabies and pediculosis, and superficial mycoses. There are 11 chapters in all and the chapters are not arranged in the order described above. Recognized leaders in dermatology write the individual chapters. The individual chapters are consistent and well organized. The important information is given in each chapter. There is not much trivial knowledge presented in the book. This makes the book very practical and easy to carry along for hospital and nursing home consultations. Again, the book is very reader friendly. By way of illustration, the chapter about adverse drug reactions on the skin is arranged in alphabetical order according to drug reaction. Also, individual drugs that are the most common culprits are listed at the end of each section. The blistering diseases chapter is organized by disease entity with sections on clinical features, pathology and treatment. Some of the chapters have a “Concluding remarks” section, which recount the important points. The book is ideal for those who perform nursing home dermatology consults. There are 164 pages. This includes a very in-depth well-organized index. There are many good quality color photos, which is always a bonus with dermatology books. There are also an impressive number of tables, graphs and charts. For example, there is a protocol for performing nursing home dermatology consultations. There is also a systematic ulcer management chart. As an aside, a great portion of the book is geared to various skin ulcers. This is expected since many elderly patients unfortunately procure breakdown and ulceration of their skin.