title: The Cochrane Skin Group: promoting the best evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The international Cochrane Skin group, established in 1997, organizes, writes and disseminates systematic reviews of therapeutic interventions in dermatology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the Cochrane Skin Group and what it offers to cutaneous medicine and surgery providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive review of the structure and output of the Cochrane Collaboration Library and the Cochrane Skin Group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials produced through the Cochrane Skin Group provide a benchmark for evidence summaries for informing clinical decisions in dermatology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The work performed by the Cochrane Skin Group is an important component for informing the evidence base for the clinical practice of cutaneous and surgical dermatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Avanta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Kathryn R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Finola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delamere
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
authors.forename: Hywel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*