Therapeutics: dithranol in psoriasis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Therapeutics: dithranol in psoriasis

Sample item

A patient with stable chronic plaque psoriasis is prescribed short-contact dithranol therapy. Which advice is correct?

AApply only to plaques and avoid face and flexures because it irritates and stainsBLeave on overnight on the first day at maximum strengthCUse together with systemic retinoid on the faceDApply to the whole body including the face

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Apply only to plaques and avoid face and flexures because it irritates and stains

Dithranol (anthralin) reduces epidermal proliferation and is used for stable plaque psoriasis in the Ingram or short-contact regimens. It irritates normal skin and stains skin, hair and clothing, so it is applied only to plaques and avoided on the face and flexures. Treatment begins with low concentrations.

Option by option

A. Apply only to plaques and avoid face and flexures because it irritates and stains (correct)
Correct. Apply to plaques only, avoiding face and flexures.
B. Leave on overnight on the first day at maximum strength
Treatment starts with low strength and short contact.
C. Use together with systemic retinoid on the face
It is not applied to the face.
D. Apply to the whole body including the face
It is too irritant for the whole body.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Apply only to plaques and avoid face and flexures because it irritates and stains. Dithranol (anthralin) reduces epidermal proliferation and is used for stable plaque psoriasis in the Ingram or short-contact regimens.

Why is "Leave on overnight on the first day at maximum strength" not the answer?

Treatment starts with low strength and short contact.

Why is "Use together with systemic retinoid on the face" not the answer?

It is not applied to the face.

Why is "Apply to the whole body including the face" not the answer?

It is too irritant for the whole body.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Therapeutics: dithranol in psoriasis in Dermatology. It irritates normal skin and stains skin, hair and clothing, so it is applied only to plaques and avoided on the face and flexures. Treatment begins with low concentrations.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Therapeutics: dithranol in psoriasis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.