In India, unlike the West, almost all varieties of drugs are available, and this book discusses them in a prescribed format, which the reader can refer to depending on his/her needs (See How to Use the Book).

As no one can be an expert in all drugs, I have tried to involve experts in their fields. Some chapters are totally contributed by my brilliant contributors like the one on biological drugs. The chapters range in size depending on the controversies and importance attached to them. Thus, the chapter on immunosuppressants and steroids are long as they are probably the most commonly prescribed agents by dermatologists. The same is true of the chapter on antibiotics. The chapter on nutrition and skin is long only because there is so much data on it. Though I daresay not all of the drugs deliver results consistently, but as so many health supplements are consumed by the patient, a knowledge of these is important. A few chapters like the one on psychotropic drugs might seem an overkill, but a lot of our patients can be handled better, if we know how to use these drugs correctly. The miscellaneous drugs is probably wrongly titled but has many commonly used drugs.

A book of this nature was not easy to write and has been in progress for three years now! It went through a lot of hitches and I thank the publisher for tolerating them. I thank Shri Jitendar P Vij (Group Chairman), Mr Ankit Vij (Group President), Mr Tarun Duneja (Director-Publishing), Mr PN Venkatraman (Director, International Marketing) and the entire production team of M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., New Delhi, for their constant support and guidance in bringing out this book.

Though I have tried to make the book comprehensive and easy to refer and read, there may be drug or topics that I may have missed out. The reader can jot them down and maybe mail them to me for their incorporation in the next edition. We do plan to take out a handy drug book with the bare essentials and the readers suggestions are pertinent in this respect.

Thats, when family and God, or the mystical force steps in. I could and would pen down my first hand experience in this regard, but for now I am fortunate to have seen the invisible hand of God, doing miracles, through the innumerable friends, that he sent along to help me along the way. This book is dedicated to them, some of whom may never read this book.

To my source of strength, my life partner and fellow dermatologist, Dr Supriya Mahajan who is always there for me even though I may not be able to reciprocate suitably.

My daughter Zoya

My Parents, Amba Sardana and Maj. Gen. KN Sardana in Dehradun

All my Teachers, Students

and Dermatologists, specially Dr RP Gupta and Dr HK Kar.