This website is designed for use by the 5th and 6th year medical students of the University of Natal, whom I am entrusted to teach.
However, medical students from other universities, general practitioners, physicians and anyone with an interest in dermatology are all more than welcome to use this site.
Students are often lost for notes relevant to their own environment. Prescribed textbooks are often written in Europe and USA and concentrate on dermatological conditions relevant to their own setting.
Hopefully, these notes will help to present the South African perspective of dermatology.
Dermatology is a visual descipline and has to do with pattern recognition. No amount of verbal description can substitute for seeing a rash on a live patient.
These notes are not intended to be read in isolation from the patient. The best way of using the notes is to see a patient with a particular skin problem and then to read the appropriate notes. Alternatively, read the notes relating to a skin condition and then see a patient with
that problem.
Your comments, suggestions and input will be most valuable in making these notes relavant to you. Please feel free to
e-mail me if you have any suggestions
or fill our guest book.
The notes are presented in point format and not in the form of an essay. You could supplement your reading by referring to your standard prescribed textbook.
Topics covered are those which we consider to be most common. A good knowledge of common skin diseases is essential to enable you to confidently practice medicine. It will probably not surprise you to know that
about 20% of general medicine is made up of dermatology. Why not enjoy it.
I certainly hope that you will enjoy your stint in dermatology and who knows, one day you may even take up dermatology as a hobby and a livelihood.
Best of luck
Noufal Raboobee
Consultant Dermatologist
King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, SA
Senior lecturer,
University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Examiner for the
College of Medicine of South Africa
Member American Academy of Dermatology
Member International Society of Dermatology
