Hair disorders: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Hair disorders

Sample item

Which trichoscopic feature supports alopecia areata at the edge of a smooth patch of hair loss?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Exclamation-mark hairs

Alopecia areata can show tapered exclamation-mark hairs at the margin of smooth nonscarring alopecia, reflecting immune-mediated injury to growing hairs.

Option by option

  • A. Exclamation-mark hairs (correct)

    Correct: tapering near the scalp produces characteristic exclamation-mark hairs.

  • B. Thick yellow subungual debris

    Subungual debris is a finding of nail fungal infection.

  • C. A fixed dermatomal vesicular rash

    Dermatomal vesicles suggest herpes zoster.

  • D. Greasy adherent scalp scale

    Greasy scale suggests seborrhoeic dermatitis.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Exclamation-mark hairs. Alopecia areata can show tapered exclamation-mark hairs at the margin of smooth nonscarring alopecia, reflecting immune-mediated injury to growing hairs.

Why is "Thick yellow subungual debris" not the answer?

Subungual debris is a finding of nail fungal infection.

Why is "A fixed dermatomal vesicular rash" not the answer?

Dermatomal vesicles suggest herpes zoster.

Why is "Greasy adherent scalp scale" not the answer?

Greasy scale suggests seborrhoeic dermatitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: tapering near the scalp produces characteristic exclamation-mark hairs.

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 Hair disorders?

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.