Evidence-based thinking in clinical medicine has impacted greatly on the physician's approach to clinical care. The last decade has seen a major shift in the emphasis of decision-making from qualitative testimonial observations to highly quantitative information. The goal of Evidence-Based Dermatology is to introduce and encourage the concept of evidence-based patient care in dermatology. Incorporating a text that is much more than merely the summary of trial data, the authors have worked to explore disease mechanisms and treatments in greater depth and detail in order to provide more insight for the reader.

In addition to promoting the understanding of the evidence-based philosophy, the authors have focused on some of the fundamentals in dermatology that need to be approached differently. Issues such as the interpretation of clinical research, disease-oriented evidence versus patient-care evidence, and the use of placebo are examined.

The contributors to Evidence-Based Dermatology have used the best available clinical evidence. The results show that all dermatologists can be evidence-based dermatologists

1. Introduction to Evidence-Based Health Care: Principles and Practice

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

2. Therapy, Prevention and Control, and Quality Improvement

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

3. Diagnosis and Screening

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

4. Etiology, Causation, and Harm

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

5. Natural History and Prognosis

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

6. Secondary Publications: Systematic Review Articles, Clinical Practice Guidelines, and Economic Analyses

   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS
   Angela Eady, BA, MLS

7. Qualitative Studies

   Susan Marks, BA, MLS
   Ann McKibbon, BSc, MLS

8. Placebo in Evidence-Based Dermatology

   Toke Seierøe Barfod, MD

9. Clinical Trial Measuring Systems in Dermatology

   John R. Gibson, MB, ChB, FRCP (Glas)
   Paula M. van Schie, PhD

10. Atopic Dermatitis

    G. Martinovsky,MD
    Elina Jerschow, MD
    Howard I. Maibach, MD

11. Corticosteroids of Clinical Value in Acute and Cumulative Experimental Irritant Dermatitis in Humans?

    Cheryl Levin
    Howard I. Maibach, MD

12. Evidence-Based Patch Testing

    S. Iris Ale, MD
    Howard I. Maibach, MD

13. Acne in Adult Females

    Joseph Greenberg, MD

14. Laser Resurfacing of the Skin for the Improvement of Facial Acne Scarring: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

    Rachel Jordan, BA, MPH
    Carole Cummins, BA, MSc, PhD
    Amanda Burls, BA, MSc, MBBS, MFPHM

15. Systemic Antifungals for Nails

    Ernst Epstein, MD

16. Dressings for Chronic Wounds

    Markéta Límová, MD

17. Moisturizers: Evidence for Efficacy?

    Tove Agner, MD, PhD
    Elizabeth Held, MD

18. Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Evidence-Based Diagnosis

    Renhua Na, MD, PhD,
    Gregor B. E. Jemec, MD, Dr Sci

19. A Role for Photodynamic Therapy?

    Habib A. Kurwa, MBBCh, MRCP
    Richard J. Barlow, MBBCh, FRCP, MD

20. Evidence-Based Dermatologic Pharmacology: Antihistamines in Urticaria

    Ernest E. Lee, BA
    Howard I. Maibach, MD