Hair disorders: telogen effluvium: 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: telogen effluvium

Sample item

A 29-year-old woman notices heavy diffuse hair shedding three months after childbirth. The scalp looks normal without scarring, and a gentle pull test removes more than six hairs from each area. What is the diagnosis and the outlook?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Telogen effluvium, which usually recovers spontaneously within about 6 months

Telogen effluvium is diffuse shedding that follows a physiological stress such as childbirth, high fever, surgery, crash dieting or certain drugs, by synchronising follicles into the resting phase. Shedding begins about 2 to 3 months later and recovers over several months once the trigger passes. Iron, thyroid and nutritional causes are checked.

Option by option

  • A. Scarring alopecia, which needs biopsy and immunosuppression

    Scarring alopecias show loss of follicular openings.

  • B. Telogen effluvium, which usually recovers spontaneously within about 6 months (correct)

    Correct. Diffuse non-scarring shedding after a trigger is typical and usually resolves.

  • C. Trichotillomania, which needs surgery

    Trichotillomania causes irregular patchy loss with broken hairs from pulling.

  • D. Alopecia areata, which is permanent

    Alopecia areata causes sharply defined round patches, with exclamation-mark hairs.

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, Telogen effluvium, which usually recovers spontaneously within about 6 months. Telogen effluvium is diffuse shedding that follows a physiological stress such as childbirth, high fever, surgery, crash dieting or certain drugs, by synchronising follicles into the resting phase.

Why is "Scarring alopecia, which needs biopsy and immunosuppression" not the answer?

Scarring alopecias show loss of follicular openings.

Why is "Trichotillomania, which needs surgery" not the answer?

Trichotillomania causes irregular patchy loss with broken hairs from pulling.

Why is "Alopecia areata, which is permanent" not the answer?

Alopecia areata causes sharply defined round patches, with exclamation-mark hairs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders: telogen effluvium in Dermatology. Shedding begins about 2 to 3 months later and recovers over several months once the trigger passes. Iron, thyroid and nutritional causes are checked.

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: telogen effluvium?

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.