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.

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Dermatology · Hair disorders

Sample item

Which description best fits alopecia areata?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Smooth patchy nonscarring hair loss

Alopecia areata produces smooth, well-defined patches of nonscarring hair loss and may show exclamation-mark hairs at the margins.

Option by option

  • A. Smooth patchy nonscarring hair loss (correct)

    Correct: smooth patchy nonscarring loss is typical.

  • B. Painful pustules in all scalp cases

    Pustules are not present in every case.

  • C. Diffuse scaling from fungal infection only

    Fungal scale suggests tinea capitis instead.

  • D. Permanent hair loss after every haircut

    Haircuts do not cause permanent patterned loss.

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 A, Smooth patchy nonscarring hair loss. Alopecia areata produces smooth, well-defined patches of nonscarring hair loss and may show exclamation-mark hairs at the margins.

Why is "Painful pustules in all scalp cases" not the answer?

Pustules are not present in every case.

Why is "Diffuse scaling from fungal infection only" not the answer?

Fungal scale suggests tinea capitis instead.

Why is "Permanent hair loss after every haircut" not the answer?

Haircuts do not cause permanent patterned loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: smooth patchy nonscarring loss is typical.

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.