Practical Contact Dermatitis

The document provides a review of the book "Practical Contact Dermatitis" by Dr. Jere D. Guin, which is described as a practical resource for dermatologists interested in contact dermatitis. The book is multiauthored, leading to varying strengths across chapters, particularly in the patient-oriented instructions for specific allergens, which are scattered throughout the book rather than centralized. Some instructions may be too technical or confusing for patients, such as those on formaldehyde and mercaptobenzothiazole. Despite these issues, the book contains valuable sections, including a listing of gloves for allergic patients and information on hypoallergenic footwear. The reviewer suggests that the book would be more user-friendly if patient instructions were compiled in an appendix but still recommends it as a practical addition to a dermatologist's library, especially for those with a serious interest in contact dermatitis.