Dermatology Books

This is Dr. Seibold's introduction in the ISN's Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2, the second book in this series. Dr. Seibold is Chair of the ISN Medical Advisory Board. He is Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

We welcome you to Voices of Scleroderma, a major contribution from the International Scleroderma Network (ISN). Scleroderma occurs in only around thirty people per million per year. Therefore, since it is so uncommon, patients have great difficulty finding access to expert care or even another similarly afflicted patient with whom they can share their experience.

Access to high quality reliable modern information is crucial to patient well-being and outcomes. The realization that "you ARE NOT alone" has therapeutic value in its own right.

I am Chair of the ISN Medical Advisory, a scleroderma researcher, and a member of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium. The SCTC is an international charitable organization of academic centers dedicated to elevating the pace and quality of scleroderma research. The SCTC works closely with the ISN in the education of both patients and caregivers.

I have been interacting with the ISN on a variety of fronts, most notably in our shared goal of providing up to date and accurate information to the scleroderma community on a worldwide basis. Over the past six years, I have watched the amazing development of the site that Shelley Ensz created at www.sclero.org. I have seen it evolve from her personal site of one page to become the ISN site, now encompassing over one thousand pages in eighteen languages.

The ISN site has brought together both the medical and patient communities from throughout the world. According to the recent TrustGauge Report of Internet traffic, it is in the top one hundred thousand of all Web sites, far ahead of all other scleroderma-related sites.

In my view, the primary reason for this stellar success is the high quality of site content, as well as the multilingual, international reach, which is also an important driving force.

Remarkably, the ISN has a small team of committed, dedicated volunteers who have seized the amazing capabilities of the Internet to provide exceptional, worldwide service and assistance to patients with scleroderma.

More notably, from this enterprising site, the ISN has in turn developed into a thriving nonprofit organization. It is really a classic example of reversing the order of development. Rather than an established organization simply developing a Web site, a remarkably effective Web site developed into a full-service charitable organization.

The ISN expands upon its cyberspace outreach by publishing Voices of Scleroderma. Every volume in this book series features articles from esteemed scleroderma researchers as well as over one hundred patient and caregiver stories, from sixteen countries, and in five languages.

The ISN enjoys a well-deserved reputation for top-notch medical and support information and services from both the patient and medical organizations throughout the world. Today, over five dozen dedicated volunteers, including many doctors and translators, operate the ISN.

Our ISN Medical Advisory Board includes illustrious experts in this field, such as Dr. Luis Catoggio of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr. Marco Mattucci-Cerinic of Florence, Italy; Dr. C. Stephen Foster of Boston, Massachusetts; Dr. Janet Pope of London, Ontario; Dr. Frank van den Hoogen of The Netherlands; and Dr. Shinichi Sato of Kanazawa, Japan.

Dozens of other renowned leaders in their field also generously lend their expertise to the ISN, primarily as contributing authors, medical editors, scientific advisors, and translators. All of our ISN volunteers met and work only through the Internet. Their efforts have made quality medical and support information on this rare disease available worldwide.

I hope you find this book of value, and that you also consider offering support to the ISN. It is only with a partnership of patients and scientists in a concerted worldwide effort that we will solve the riddle of scleroderma.

This book was intended for medical students and doctors, but it was very helpful in understanding some clinical views and treatments.

I recommend it highly.

There is no other book available today which covers the new field of Regenerative Biology in such a comprehensive manner. The author writes well, the scholarship is thorough, the book is well-illustrated, referenced and organized. The content is useful for clinicians, basic scientists and interested readers with a good basic biology background. The topics covered include wound healing, tissue and organ regeneration and artificial organs. This is a book that needs to be more widely available.

This book was surprisingly an easy read given the topic. It has changed my eating habits forever. The principles are easy to implement. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Finally I readable book with understandable advice on looking better and yonger without the hype.

lose

Dr. Pagano has written a great account of the true cause of Psoriasis, a detailed a thorough plan of action for treatment, and a long-term view on the way to prevent recurrence. Though some supplements, such as herbal teas, are needed, these are not very expensive and can save you hundreds of dollars compared to pharmaceutical products and steroids.

Best of all, you will not have any side effects from following the regimen (other than going to the bathroom more often, which is actually a good thing). In general, you will feel better and gain confidence from knowing you are in control of your own skin.

Please do not go try harmful pharmaceuticals like Enbrel that kill your immune system and can cause death from a minor infection, at least give an alternative approach before having to shell over the big bucks (around $1,000 per month) for the killer drugs. With the alternative approach, once your body and immune system are in balance again, you will not have to continue to take a lot of supplements to keep your skin looking clear, rather than a temporary fix to suppress the systems while creating other, more severe issues.

This diet got me on the road to healing, and gave me hope where the doctors gave me only despair and cream with a black cancer warning label.

I found, from a very smart guy named Randall over at alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis on the news groups, that I could "cheat" this diet almost completely except during an outbreak when going to far with alcohol, etc. The simple program I use is to take a table spoon of sweet whey (Bob's Red Mill sells it, it's VERY cheap). This feeds the "good" gut bacteria, which balance the immune system and line the gut.

But you may have to start with a probiotic powder mixed with oil, which keeps the stomach acid from killing the probiotic. Of else you could try Flora Smart probiotics (sold here), they seem to have a special liner that works. If you really want to go after it, try thewholewhey(DOT)com. The sell a probiotic implant system, but be ready for a little surprise how it works!

You can read all about this over at the news group I mentioned. Again, the book was great, but with the additional knowledge, I have been able to go back to a nearly normal diet for 2 years and keep the P totally clear, except for a few times when I drank a beer every day or two for a while.

Good Luck!

FOR EVERYONE READING THE TESTIMONIALS, JOHN PAGANO'S METHODS
DO WORK, NATURAL HEALING IS NOT LIKE CONVENTIONAL DRUGS.. THEIR IS NO
MAGIC PILL THAT WILL HEAL PSORIASIS, ECZEMA, OR ANY OTHER CHRONIC SKIN DISEASE., THESE SKIN DISEASES BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ARE A RESULT OF TOXINS GETTING INTO THE BLOODSTREAM, AS PAGANO MENTIONS IN HIS BOOK LEAKY GUT SYNDROME, IS AT THE ROOT.. YOU CAN ALSO TRACE PAGANO'S WORK BACK TO EDGAR CAYCE.. EDGAR CAYCE IS A WORLD RENOWNED NATUROPATH WHO HAS HIS OWN LINE OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS THRU [...] (PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT ATTEMPTING TO ADVERTISE THEM FOR ANY PROFIT) I AM NOT CONNECTED WITH THEM, I HAVE MERELY BEEN A USER OF THE PRODUCTS. GETTING BACK TO THE CORE MESSAGE.. DETOXIFYING YOUR SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WITH A CHRONIC DISEASE..
TAKES TIME, AND YOUR SYMPTOMS DO ACTUALLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER, THIS IS CALLED A "HEALING CRISIS" IN THE NATURAL WORLD, YOUR BODY HAS TO ELIMINATE THE TOXINS, BECAUSE YOUR LIVER, KIDNEY AND OTHER DIGESTIVE ORGANS ARE NOT DOING IT EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE THEIR OVERLOADED WITH TOXINS! IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO SOME SERIOUS RESEARCH ON CLEANSING YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT.. THIS ONE THING ALONE IS LINKED WITH A MULTITUDE OF DISEASES. ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS SAID THEY DID EVERYTHING BUT THE ENEMAS AND COLONICS, AND WANDERED WHY THEY DID NOT GET ANY RESULTS..

PEOPLE BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO DO WHILE ON PAGANO'S DIET OR ANYONE'S DIET IS COLONICS.. AND OR ENEMAS.. THIS IS WHAT WILL ELIMNATE THE MAJORITY OF TOXINS BUILT UP IN YOUR SYSTEM, UNTIL YOUR SKIN IS WELL ENOUGH TO DO IT.. (YES YOUR SKIN WHICH IS THE LARGEST ORGAN IN YOUR BODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ELIMINATING TOXINS.

COLONICS, CAN PREVENT COLON CANCERS, PROSTATE CANCER, AND A HOST OF OTHER DIESEASES.. THE PROBLEM IS OUR SOCIETY IS EATING SO MANY PROCESSED FOODS, THAT ARE CAUSING ALLERGIES, AND DISRUPTING THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM..WE ARE NOT GETTING LIVE ENZYMES, DIGESTING CORRECTLY..
THE OTHER PART OF THE EQUATION IS YOUR DIET.. RED MEATS, HIGH FAT, FOODS
YOUR ASKING FOR IT!!

MY WIFE HAS HAD ECZEMA ALL HER LIFE AND IT RECENTLY, SHE HAD
OUR LAST CHILD IN 2005.. THE DOCTORS GAVE HER ALL TYPES OF PAIN MEDICATION
FOR A C-SECTION DELIVERY.. THE MEDICATIONS SOMEHOW INTERACTED WITH HER
SKIN(THEIR HIGHLY TOXIC) AND SHE FROM THAT POINT HAD PSORIASIS
WE TRIED EVERYTHING LIKE MOST OF YOU.. FROM THE STEROID CREAMS
TO THE SHOTS.. ALL THAT DID WAS HAMPER THE SYMPTOMS.. BUT THEY COME BACK MUCH STRONGER. MY WIFE STARTED GOING FOR THE COLONICS.. HER SKIN STARTED CLEARING INSIDE OF ABOUT 2 MONTHS OR SO.. WE ALSO DECIDED TO CUT OUT MEAT ALTOGETHER EVEN THOUGH PAGANO, DOES SUGGEST CERTAIN MEAT(NOT RED)

I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND, BENTONITE CLAY BATHS, OR AVEENO ECZEMA BATHS
I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND BLOOD CLEANSING HERBS, LIKE RED CLOVER LEAF, AND BURDOCK ROOT..

PEOPLE THE DISEASE CAN BE BEAT.. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
AND BE WILLING TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WITH CONVENTIONAL MEDS..(MEANING YOU NEED TO USE NATURAL HERBS, COLONICS AND EAT THE RIGHT FOODS.
NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL YOU THIS, BECAUSE OF THE U.S. MEDICAL MONOPOLY
HERE IN THE U.S.

I am so grateful for this book. my road with "THE RASH", as I call it, began just 10 months ago. ten frustrating and frightening (just how much of my body is going to be covered with this disfiguring and insanely itchy RASH? forever?) my dermatologist was completely unhelpful and does not believe there is a connection between what one eats and their skin...hello?!? my doctor, who does understand the connection, could only advise stopping all dairy. I found reference to this book while reading in curezone.com and purchased it right away from amazon. I have followed almost all of the protocol - and it is extensive - and less than 3 weeks later I am 98% free from THE RASH. the program is for those who are willing to do everything it takes. there are no pharmaceutical magic-bullets. there are thoroughly explained and detailed instructions for following this health program. also good photographs of before and afters to generate enthusiasm to get yourself up for this. try not to be daunted, just start. as I said, I am grateful beyond words for john pagano.

I've read this book twice. I followed it as close as I possibly could. I evidently wasn't totally committed because I went back to my old ways. I tried it again later. I did see much improvement in my skin & I lost 35 pounds also (a major plus). Then, on 3-17-08, I read Dr. Peter Gott's column. He always provides "natural" cures to problems. Try rubbing banana skins on your skin?? What? Yes, the inside of the banana skin! After two days (applying morning only), my skin is almost clear on my hands..a place that I couldn't cover up & I was always very embarrassed about. Sounds strange, I know. And I am almost in disbelief...something as common as bananas. I eat them every week..almost daily. I've just never rubbed them on my skin. It supposedly has something to do with the fatty acids in banana skins. Go figure! Here's the article from Dr. Gott's column dated 3-17-08: Question: I have used several of your home remedies with success. The "drunken raisin" for gout, the soap under the sheets for leg cramps, castor oil for arthritis and more. My husband thought I had finally "gone off the deep end" when I went after him with a handful of banana peels. We had been using a prescription medication on his psoriasis every day for more than two years. It has had very little effect. I rubbed the inside of the banana peels on the affected patches (his head, neck, face and back) once a day. After three days, the psoriasis had nearly cleared up (about 90 percent was gone). My husband now uses the peels once a week to keep his skin clear. Thank you, from both of us, for passing along all these helpful hints.
Answer: Other readers have had marvelous success treating their psoriasis with the banana-peel therapy. It is cheap, easy, safe and -- apparently --effective. For those unfamiliar with this therapy, all you do is rub the inside of the banana peel on the affected patches of skin once a day. Remember not to waste the banana. It is nutritious and delicious. End of column.
If you suffer from Psoriasis like I have, try rubbing the banana peel on your skin. What do you have to lose. Bananas are cheap & you were going to throw away the peeling anyway, right? I don't know longterm how this will work for me, only time will tell. In the meantime, I try to eat right and I've begun to exercise. It all plays a part in your overall health. Blessings to you all!

I really like this book. The descriptions and pictures are very helpful. Also includes differential diagnoses, course and prognosis, and management. A favorite in our ER.

As a medical student just entering clinic, I have found this book to the the perfect resource. Reccomended by a Dermatologist on faculty, it is easy to navigate, has tons of useful pictures and is small enough to carry to clinic in my backpack. I've already used it to make a diagnosis or two and know for sure that it has earned it's place on my bookshelf.

I was in search of a dermatological reference and found a great one. Clear descriptions of derm. conditions. Photos are exceptional. Good reference for new or experienced advanced nurse practitioner.

Quick and assured reference for everyday use in dermatology clinic. However, does not substitute Fitzpatrick's 2 vol. compendium if you're looking to broaden your knowledge in the area.

This is a must have book, well written coincised, straight to the point and good for medical students,residents and attendings interested in dermatology.

I disagree with the author. First, Propecia grows hair in one area at the expense of another. Spironolactone has been proven to stop the growth of hair. DHT does not cause hair loss. Spencer does not even mention the nutrient theory of baldness and how many people have been regrowing scalp hair by removing body hair, allowing nutrients to get to the scalp. Can you tell me what it takes to grow scalp hair if not androgens? Ernie

If you have to choose between this book and the women's hair loss, choose this one. This book covered much more ( maybe that is because so much research is done for men rather that women at this point).
I still think many resources are in your best interest, and this book should be added to the list of were you get your information.
I have decided to go natural at this time, because I would want any future children of mine not to be born with defects. I am currently using the herbal supplements and a DHT blocking shampoo from eBay. I have not noticed hair growth, but slowed hair loss I have noticed. I do see hair shafts coming back which I take as a good sign(using supplements 3 weeks and the shampoo 2 weeks). The book does bring up herbs and shampoos you can use.
Diabetes is brought up just a little which is better than most. The Internet will expand on the subject, that hair loss is generally one of the first signs.

This book is largely a regurgitation of the very limited information that is already widely available. Reading it was superfluous. Most of what Kobren covers is cosmetic management of the problem; the advice on diet applies only to the worst lifestyle offenders, and he paints finasteride (Propecia) as a panacea, which it definitely isn't. The book is thin, both physically and in terms of content.

The irony is that Kobren claims to be a debunker and "consumer advocate", and this book is supposed to be his vehicle. To an experienced eye, it just looks like he is joining the rush to make money from male insecurities about hair loss.

The answers to male pattern baldness will come, eventually, but they won't be found in this book. Save your money, do your own research, talk to a dermatologist, take care of your health (good advice anyway), and you'll be further ahead than you will be after reading this.

This is a very well researched source of information on various types of hair-loss treatment. The author speaks from experience with successfully combating hair loss after extensive research on various products. I think that makes the book more credible than the self-promoting product sites out there. The author covers virtually all of the effective methods of hair loss treatment, including Propecia, herbal suppliments, topical solutions (monoxidil etc), hair transplants, and more. A must buy for all those interested in knowing pretty much all there is to know about hair loss treatment options, their effectiveness, pros and cons, etc.

I got this book 2 weeks ago and could read end to end in few hours. I would say all the info available in this book is very easily available on the internet from pretty authentic websites. As I have been browsing on this topic for last few weeks I knew most of the content. On Rogaine the book covers hardly one page, where I would have liked statistics, growth charts, intial shedding details, pictures etc. On propecia this book is pretty extensive as like many it recommends propecia as primary defence.

On diet it was just average, i would have liked references (authentic) to how diet changes like EFA (essential fatty acids), linolic acid has impacted DHT in animal and lab test's, linseed usage in DHT/SHBG impact etc.

On sugar level's and T levels there is an nice chapter.

For herbal also though saw palmetto is refered by many as good, i know equal number of skeptic doctors. So we need concrete proof and links to medical publications.

This book is not updated i think in few years so, no mention about
lasercomb, newer products. Product reviews of tricomin, revivogen etc
are missing. Author could have atleast identified which are snake oils
and which have some good science behind it.

For those who would not like propecia either it being a pill/cost based
on minoxidil author should have given a clear alround attactk, including if retin-A/spirno has any impact on DHT, if nizoral/ketaconzole has any antiandrogen properties etc.

Overall for those who are very begining stages of this topic I would recommend this book as it touches all the fortes so that you can explore each further. But we need something lot more comprehensive.

A great source for the individual who has just been diagnosed with melanoma and wants to know where to begin for information on diagnosis, possible treatments, and questions to ask one's doctors. This is also a good resource for friends and loved ones of those who have been recently diagnosed with melanoma. The information is very elementary and somewhat basic, but everyone needs to start somewhere. This book is a better resource for those who have either stage I or II melanoma. Individuals with advanced stages of melanoma, or who have been battling this dread disease for some time, will probably not find this book as useful or informative.

Written in a laypersons terms it makes this book so much easier to understand and get a grasp of it all. EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!

This books is the best out there on melanoma. It has great photos, and the explanations are so easy to understand. It also makes the diagnosis a lot less scary with factual answers that seem caring.

As the managing editor of the popular online family health magazine Pinksunrise I had the opportunity to both read Ms. Poole's book and to interview her. Melanoma is not only a personal issue for Ms. Poole but also a national warning in the fight to prevent the deadly cancer melanoma. Ms. Poole spends a great deal of time talking about the prevention, early detection, and the latest treatments for melanoma. In addition, she has written a book that is comprehensive, yet written for everyone to understand. Early detection is the real key to warding off melanoma and escaping invasive and potentially dangerous cancer. She includes many excellent photos of what "normal" skin marks and moles look like and what "abnormal" or dangerous marks and moles look like. This is an invaluable resource for the whole family.

This book was very useful in understanding melanoma. My mother had the disease and I have many moles that on occasion worry me. THe photos and text dispelled many of the myths I had heard about getting melanoma and now I know what to look for when I worry about a mole changing. I don't panic about my moles as much and now I'm armed to discuss anything with my doctor in an intelligent manner.