Skin Cancer Prevention by U. Ringborg, Y. Brandberg, E. Breibart and R. Greinert. ISBN: 0 84939 889 4. Hardcover. 480 pages. Price: £100. Informa Healthcare, 2006.

The incidence of skin cancer, including both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, is increasing worldwide, especially in Caucasian populations. Prevention is important and necessary to reduce this problem. The editors of this book are members of the European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention (EUROSKIN), an organization with the mission of harmonizing cancer prevention in Europe. According to the preface, the book aims to be: “a comprehensive review of skin cancer prevention”, but in fact it is more than that; it is an almost complete manual on skin cancer. The 23 chapters, written by well-reputed international authors, cover a wide field from basic research to more practical matters. The first chapters deal with fundamental issues, such as photobiology of photocarcinogenesis, aetiology and histopathology of the different kinds of skin cancer, and epidemiology and molecular epidemiology. The role of sun exposure in the maintenance of normal levels of vitamin D is discussed thoroughly, and ultraviolet radiation risks to the eye are described. The last part of the book covers different aspects of prevention, including sun protection of children, artificial tanning devices, risk groups, screening, behavioural aspects and a periods-of-life programme. A critical discussion of the usefulness of sunscreens expresses the view that their role in the prevention of skin cancer appears to be rather limited. The difficulty of “communicating the incalculable” is described in an interesting chapter and, finally, the important issue of health economy is covered.

On the whole the book is well written, but a significant overlap exists between some of the chapters, mostly in the introductory parts, where general statements about skin cancer are repeated. There are also two chapters with the title “Screening for melanoma”.

Most chapters have a comprehensive conclusion, thereby making the book easy to read. This book is recommended to all those with an interest in skin cancer, and in the next edition we anticipate a comprehensive summary of the continued harmonization work of EUROSKIN and a practical programme of action.

Berit Berne MD PhD

Department of Dermatology

University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden