Editorial standards

Health writing can mislead without anyone meaning it to. A rounded number, an old guideline or a confident tone can all do harm, and skin problems are especially easy to over-explain from a photograph. These standards describe how this guide tries to avoid that, so you can judge how far to rely on any note.

How we source

Every note lists its sources at the foot. We prefer public health agencies, professional dermatology bodies, patient organisations with published standards and peer-reviewed reviews. A figure goes into a note only if we have opened the source and found it there. When we cannot confirm a number, we leave it out or describe the idea without it.

We try not to lean on one country. Vaccine schedules, screening advice, approvals and coverage differ between countries and between guidelines, and we say so where it matters.

How we handle medical content

We explain what conditions, tests and procedures are, why they matter and what their general limits are. We do not diagnose from descriptions or photographs, we do not tell readers to start, stop or change a treatment, and we do not interpret individual results. A change in a skin spot, a sore that will not heal or a rash with other symptoms is a reason to be examined by a professional, and the notes say so. What we call typical or common is never a prediction for your own case.

How we write

We use plain words and short paragraphs, and we define a technical term when it first appears. We state exceptions instead of hiding them, and we avoid fear, urgency and promotional language. The notes carry no advertising banners and no product recommendations.

Updates and corrections

Each note shows when it was last updated. We add and revise notes over time, and we recheck a note when a major source changes its guidance. If you find an error, an out-of-date statement or a broken link, tell us through the contact form. We correct factual errors in the note itself and change the date, and we do not leave a known mistake in place.

Independence

This guide is independent of any clinic, hospital, laboratory, manufacturer or professional body. Naming a test, a treatment category or an organisation describes it and does not endorse it. Read more on the about page, and see how clinical studies are described in our note on how dermatology clinical trials work.

The short version

Sources are named and opened, figures are verified or left out, and the guide stays out of diagnosis and personal advice. When something is wrong, it is corrected where you will see it.