Readily visible alterations of the skin surface have been recognized since the dawn of history, with some being treated, and some not. One of the earliest known sources documenting skin ailments is the Ebers Papyrus, a medical document from ancient Egypt dating to around 1500 BC. It describes various skin diseases, including ulcers, rashes, and tumors, and prescribes surgery and ointments to treat the ailments.[1]

In 1572, Geronimo Mercuriali of Forlì, Italy, completed De morbis cutaneis (translated "On the diseases of the skin"), and is known as the first scientific work to be dedicated to dermatology. One source lists Jean Astruc (1684-1766) as the founder of modern dermatology.[2] In 1799, Francesco Bianchi wrote the book Dermatologia which is the first comprehensive textbook of modern dermatology written for the students of medicine.[3]

In 1801 the first great school of dermatology became a reality at the famous Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris, while the first textbooks (Willan's, 1798–1808) and atlases (Alibert's, 1806–1814) appeared in print during the same period of time.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Hartmann, Anke (April 2016). "Back to the roots – dermatology in ancient Egyptian medicine". Journal of the German Society of Dermatology. 14 (4): 389–396. doi:10.1111/ddg.12947. PMID 27027749.
  2. ^ Ravenel, Mazÿck P. (April 1933). "The History of Dermatology". American Journal of Public Health and the Nation's Health. 23 (4): 394–395. doi:10.2105/AJPH.23.4.394. PMC 1558306. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  3. ^ William Allen Pusey (1979). History of Dermatology. AMS Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-404-13360-3.
  4. ^ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. Page 3. ISBN 0-07-138076-0.

References

External links


History of medicine
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