Infections: pityriasis amiantacea: 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 · Infections: pityriasis amiantacea

Sample item

An 8-year-old has thick, silvery, adherent scale in patches on the scalp that glues bundles of hair together. Hair loss is minimal and regrows. What is this called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pityriasis amiantacea

Pityriasis amiantacea has asbestos-like thick scale binding hair shafts, and it is a reaction pattern linked to psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis or tinea. Treatment uses keratolytics such as salicylic acid with tar or a steroid. Hair usually regrows.

Option by option

  • A. Trichotillomania

    Trichotillomania shows broken hairs of varying lengths.

  • B. Lichen planopilaris

    Lichen planopilaris causes scarring alopecia with perifollicular scale.

  • C. Favus

    Favus has yellow cup-shaped scutula with scarring alopecia.

  • D. Pityriasis amiantacea (correct)

    Correct. Thick adherent scale cementing hair is pityriasis amiantacea.

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.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Pityriasis amiantacea. Pityriasis amiantacea has asbestos-like thick scale binding hair shafts, and it is a reaction pattern linked to psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis or tinea.

Why is "Trichotillomania" not the answer?

Trichotillomania shows broken hairs of varying lengths.

Why is "Lichen planopilaris" not the answer?

Lichen planopilaris causes scarring alopecia with perifollicular scale.

Why is "Favus" not the answer?

Favus has yellow cup-shaped scutula with scarring alopecia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: pityriasis amiantacea in Dermatology. Treatment uses keratolytics such as salicylic acid with tar or a steroid. Hair usually regrows.

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 Infections: pityriasis amiantacea?

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.