ARKANSAS DERMATOLOGY SPECIALIST EXAM
70 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES LATEST 2026 TREND
Questions 1–70
1. Which layer of the epidermis contains keratinocytes undergoing active mitosis?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum basale
Answer: D. Stratum basale
Rationale: The stratum basale is the deepest epidermal layer and contains proliferating
keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Merkel cells.
2. Which cell is primarily responsible for producing melanin?
A. Langerhans cell
B. Melanocyte
C. Fibroblast
D. Keratinocyte
Answer: B. Melanocyte
Rationale: Melanocytes synthesize melanin within melanosomes and transfer it to surrounding
keratinocytes.
3. Which skin cancer is most strongly associated with cumulative ultraviolet exposure?
A. Basal cell carcinoma
B. Merkel cell carcinoma
C. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
D. Sebaceous carcinoma
Answer: A. Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Chronic UV exposure is a major risk factor for basal cell carcinoma, particularly on
chronically sun-exposed skin.
,4. What is the most common type of skin cancer?
A. Melanoma
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
C. Basal cell carcinoma
D. Merkel cell carcinoma
Answer: C. Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed skin malignancy.
5. Which feature is most characteristic of melanoma?
A. Symmetric lesion with uniform pigmentation
B. Pearly papule with telangiectasia
C. Asymmetry and irregular borders
D. Honey-colored crust
Answer: C. Asymmetry and irregular borders
Rationale: The ABCDE criteria for melanoma include asymmetry, border irregularity, color
variation, diameter, and evolution.
6. Which organism causes tinea corporis?
A. Candida albicans
B. Dermatophyte
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Herpes simplex virus
Answer: B. Dermatophyte
Rationale: Tinea corporis is a superficial dermatophyte infection involving keratinized tissues.
7. Which finding is typical of psoriasis?
A. Silvery scale over erythematous plaques
B. Vesicles in a dermatomal distribution
C. Honey-colored crust
D. Annular lesion with central clearing caused by Candida
Answer: A. Silvery scale over erythematous plaques
Rationale: Plaque psoriasis typically produces well-demarcated erythematous plaques covered
by silvery-white scale.
, 8. The Koebner phenomenon is classically associated with which condition?
A. Psoriasis
B. Basal cell carcinoma
C. Tinea versicolor
D. Urticaria
Answer: A. Psoriasis
Rationale: The Koebner phenomenon refers to the development of lesions at sites of trauma and
is characteristic of psoriasis.
9. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line topical treatment for mild acne?
A. Topical retinoid
B. Oral prednisone
C. Methotrexate
D. Warfarin
Answer: A. Topical retinoid
Rationale: Topical retinoids such as adapalene or tretinoin help normalize follicular
keratinization and are foundational treatments for acne.
10. Which bacterium is most commonly associated with impetigo?
A. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Treponema pallidum
Answer: B. Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of impetigo, with group A Streptococcus also
contributing.
11. A patient presents with grouped vesicles on an erythematous base along one
dermatome. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Herpes zoster
B. Tinea corporis
C. Psoriasis
D. Impetigo
Answer: A. Herpes zoster
Rationale: Reactivation of varicella-zoster virus produces painful grouped vesicles in a
dermatomal distribution.
70 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES LATEST 2026 TREND
Questions 1–70
1. Which layer of the epidermis contains keratinocytes undergoing active mitosis?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Stratum lucidum
C. Stratum granulosum
D. Stratum basale
Answer: D. Stratum basale
Rationale: The stratum basale is the deepest epidermal layer and contains proliferating
keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Merkel cells.
2. Which cell is primarily responsible for producing melanin?
A. Langerhans cell
B. Melanocyte
C. Fibroblast
D. Keratinocyte
Answer: B. Melanocyte
Rationale: Melanocytes synthesize melanin within melanosomes and transfer it to surrounding
keratinocytes.
3. Which skin cancer is most strongly associated with cumulative ultraviolet exposure?
A. Basal cell carcinoma
B. Merkel cell carcinoma
C. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
D. Sebaceous carcinoma
Answer: A. Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Chronic UV exposure is a major risk factor for basal cell carcinoma, particularly on
chronically sun-exposed skin.
,4. What is the most common type of skin cancer?
A. Melanoma
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
C. Basal cell carcinoma
D. Merkel cell carcinoma
Answer: C. Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed skin malignancy.
5. Which feature is most characteristic of melanoma?
A. Symmetric lesion with uniform pigmentation
B. Pearly papule with telangiectasia
C. Asymmetry and irregular borders
D. Honey-colored crust
Answer: C. Asymmetry and irregular borders
Rationale: The ABCDE criteria for melanoma include asymmetry, border irregularity, color
variation, diameter, and evolution.
6. Which organism causes tinea corporis?
A. Candida albicans
B. Dermatophyte
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Herpes simplex virus
Answer: B. Dermatophyte
Rationale: Tinea corporis is a superficial dermatophyte infection involving keratinized tissues.
7. Which finding is typical of psoriasis?
A. Silvery scale over erythematous plaques
B. Vesicles in a dermatomal distribution
C. Honey-colored crust
D. Annular lesion with central clearing caused by Candida
Answer: A. Silvery scale over erythematous plaques
Rationale: Plaque psoriasis typically produces well-demarcated erythematous plaques covered
by silvery-white scale.
, 8. The Koebner phenomenon is classically associated with which condition?
A. Psoriasis
B. Basal cell carcinoma
C. Tinea versicolor
D. Urticaria
Answer: A. Psoriasis
Rationale: The Koebner phenomenon refers to the development of lesions at sites of trauma and
is characteristic of psoriasis.
9. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line topical treatment for mild acne?
A. Topical retinoid
B. Oral prednisone
C. Methotrexate
D. Warfarin
Answer: A. Topical retinoid
Rationale: Topical retinoids such as adapalene or tretinoin help normalize follicular
keratinization and are foundational treatments for acne.
10. Which bacterium is most commonly associated with impetigo?
A. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Treponema pallidum
Answer: B. Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of impetigo, with group A Streptococcus also
contributing.
11. A patient presents with grouped vesicles on an erythematous base along one
dermatome. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Herpes zoster
B. Tinea corporis
C. Psoriasis
D. Impetigo
Answer: A. Herpes zoster
Rationale: Reactivation of varicella-zoster virus produces painful grouped vesicles in a
dermatomal distribution.
