Skin Secrets

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Contending that ``the skin, as the body's barometer, can predict health and illness far in advance,'' Bark supplies an informative guide to interpreting symptoms and also offers preventive and curative measures. In a comprehensible question-and-answer mode, he dispenses practical advice that ranges from healing diaper rash (``keep the child out of diapers whenever possible'') and avoiding acne (``washing too vigorously or too frequently can even cause new acne'') to understanding aging skin (a severe case of shingles in an elderly person can indicate the presence of an internal malignancy). With an extensive assessment of treatments for various skin diseases (the three different types of surgery for squamous cell carcinoma; massive doses of the amino acid L-lysine for herpes), Bark clearly explains the scientific basis for each suggestion and its applied success. The personal case histories add to the readability of this intelligent manual. Author tour. (May 18)