title: Skin simulators for dermatological procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A variety of skin simulators are available on which to practice procedures; however, choice of a suboptimal substitute compromises realism and productive practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Skin simulators for basic dermatological procedures are reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors' anecdotal experience with various skin simulators for different procedures is shared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following simulators are suggested:  an unripe banana for elliptical excision, pork belly for undermining, pork belly for simple interrupted and buried suture, capped needle on a human shoulder for intramuscular injection, ripe tomato or hotdog with skin for intradermal injection, eggplant for shave biopsy, pork belly for punch biopsy, plastic tape over a dark surface for cryosurgery, and beef liver for electrosurgery.  Flaps are best practiced with foam sandwiched between foam tape or artificial anatomical models created specifically for this purpose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The utility of one simulator over another was not compared in a controlled study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efficient, realistic skin simulators are readily available for practice, which should enhance the safety of the practitioner and improve outcomes of novices.
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Albahrani
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. jacoblevittmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans