Hair disorders: alopecia areata: 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: alopecia areata

Sample item

A patient develops a smooth round patch of nonscarring hair loss with exclamation-mark hairs at the margin. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune nonscarring alopecia causing smooth patches of hair loss and characteristic exclamation-mark hairs. Nail pitting and other autoimmune disease may coexist.

Option by option

  • A. Cicatricial alopecia

    Cicatricial alopecia destroys follicles and leaves scarring.

  • B. Alopecia areata (correct)

    Correct. Smooth patchy hair loss with exclamation-mark hairs is classic.

  • C. Androgenetic alopecia

    Androgenetic alopecia has patterned gradual thinning.

  • D. Tinea capitis

    Tinea capitis causes scale, broken hairs, and sometimes lymphadenopathy.

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 B, Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune nonscarring alopecia causing smooth patches of hair loss and characteristic exclamation-mark hairs.

Why is "Cicatricial alopecia" not the answer?

Cicatricial alopecia destroys follicles and leaves scarring.

Why is "Androgenetic alopecia" not the answer?

Androgenetic alopecia has patterned gradual thinning.

Why is "Tinea capitis" not the answer?

Tinea capitis causes scale, broken hairs, and sometimes lymphadenopathy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders: alopecia areata in Dermatology. Nail pitting and other autoimmune disease may coexist.

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: alopecia areata?

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.