Hair disorders: trichotillomania: 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: trichotillomania

Sample item

A teenager has irregularly shaped scalp patches with hairs broken at varying lengths, no scaling or inflammation, and a negative pull test. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair-pulling disorder giving irregular patches with broken hairs of different lengths, and trichoscopy shows broken hairs and black dots. Behavioural therapy and SSRIs help.

Option by option

  • A. Telogen effluvium

    Telogen effluvium gives diffuse shedding with a positive pull test.

  • B. Tinea capitis

    Tinea capitis shows scaling and inflammation.

  • C. Alopecia areata

    Alopecia areata gives smooth round patches with exclamation mark hairs.

  • D. Trichotillomania (correct)

    Correct. Varied-length broken hairs without inflammation indicate pulling.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair-pulling disorder giving irregular patches with broken hairs of different lengths, and trichoscopy shows broken hairs and black dots.

Why is "Telogen effluvium" not the answer?

Telogen effluvium gives diffuse shedding with a positive pull test.

Why is "Tinea capitis" not the answer?

Tinea capitis shows scaling and inflammation.

Why is "Alopecia areata" not the answer?

Alopecia areata gives smooth round patches with exclamation mark hairs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders: trichotillomania in Dermatology. Behavioural therapy and SSRIs help.

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: trichotillomania?

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.