Papulosquamous disorders: trichoscopy in 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 · Papulosquamous disorders: trichoscopy in alopecia areata

Sample item

A child has a smooth round patch of hair loss without scarring. On trichoscopy, which finding is the most common in alopecia areata?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Yellow dots

Yellow dots, black dots, short vellus hairs, exclamation-mark hairs and broken hairs are the trichoscopic signs of alopecia areata, with yellow dots the most frequently reported. Perifollicular scale suggests lichen planopilaris, hair diameter variation suggests androgenetic alopecia, and the V sign suggests trichotillomania.

Option by option

  • A. Perifollicular scaling and erythema

    Perifollicular scale and erythema point to lichen planopilaris, a scarring alopecia.

  • B. Yellow dots (correct)

    Correct. Yellow dots are the most frequently seen trichoscopic sign in alopecia areata.

  • C. Marked variation in hair shaft thickness

    Variation in shaft thickness characterises androgenetic alopecia.

  • D. V-shaped sign

    A V sign, where two hairs emerge together but one is broken, points to trichotillomania.

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, Yellow dots. Yellow dots, black dots, short vellus hairs, exclamation-mark hairs and broken hairs are the trichoscopic signs of alopecia areata, with yellow dots the most frequently reported.

Why is "Perifollicular scaling and erythema" not the answer?

Perifollicular scale and erythema point to lichen planopilaris, a scarring alopecia.

Why is "Marked variation in hair shaft thickness" not the answer?

Variation in shaft thickness characterises androgenetic alopecia.

Why is "V-shaped sign" not the answer?

A V sign, where two hairs emerge together but one is broken, points to trichotillomania.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: trichoscopy in alopecia areata in Dermatology. Perifollicular scale suggests lichen planopilaris, hair diameter variation suggests androgenetic alopecia, and the V sign suggests trichotillomania.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: trichoscopy in 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.