Williams, Bigby, Diepgen, Herxheimer, Naldi, and Rzany have produced an exciting new book. A wide international group of dermato-epidemiologists that was involved in writing the 54 chapters is acknowledged. The book, which is accompanied by a CD-ROM, is divided into 4 parts—part 1, the concept of evidence-based dermatology; part 2, the critical appraisal toolbox; part 3, the evidence; and part 4, the future of evidence-based dermatology.
Evidence-based medicine represents the best way of linking and integrating clinical research with clinical practice. Evidence-based dermatology does not tell dermatologists what to do, but practicing evidence-based medicine is an essential skill that is as basic to being a doctor as the ability to examine and diagnose as formulated by Williams in chapter 2.