NURS 5463: Skin, Hair, and Nail Assessment
Review – Chapter 9 Exam Questions on
Pediatric to Geriatric Dermatology Complete
Verified Questions Provided with A+ Graded
Rationales LATEST UPDATED 2026
In which age group are milia an expected finding?
A. Newborns
B. Young children
C. Adolescents
D. Older adults
A. Newborns
Milia are small, whitish, discrete papules on the face; they are commonly found during the first
2 to 3 months of life. The sebaceous glands function in an immature fashion at this age and are
easily plugged by sebum. Answers b, c, and d are incorrect.
Mr. Babson is a 74-year-old man who presents to your office with a complaint of a "spot" on his
chin and wants to know whether it is cancerous. Which of the following signs or symptoms
indicates a need for further medical investigation?
A. The "spot" is a reddish brown color.
B. The "spot" has been on his chin for 20 years.
C. The "spot" bleeds easily when it is touched.
D. The "spot" is slightly raised and circumscribed.
C. The "spot" bleeds easily when it is touched.
A "spot" that bleeds easily when it is touched may be indicative of a more serious condition like
basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
A 6-year-old girl has freckles over her nose and cheeks. The examiner will recall that freckles are
a type of:
A. macule.
B. papule.
,C. nodule.
D. patch.
A. macule.
A macule is a flat, circumscribed area that is a change in the color of the skin usually less than 1
cm in diameter. Freckles, flat moles, petechiae, and measles are examples of macules.
Mrs. Tomberg brings her 4-day-old infant to your office with a concern of a yellowish skin tone.
Which of the following statements best describes the rationale for the skin tone?
A. Increased formation of subcutaneous tissue causes a yellow hue.
B. Capillaries broken during the birth process turn the skin slightly yellow as bruises heal.
C. The yellowish color results from increased fat metabolism and heat production.
D. The infant has hyperbilirubinemia.
D. The infant has hyperbilirubinemia.
Hyperbilirubinemia, or physiologic jaundice, is present to a mild degree in many newborn
infants. It usually starts after the first day of life and disappears by the eighth to tenth day but
may persist for as long as 3 to 4 weeks. Intense and persistent jaundice suggests liver disease, a
hemolytic process, or severe, overwhelming infection.
Mr. Russel is a 17-year-old adolescent patient who presents with a complaint of acne. He asks
the examiner why teens have more problems with acne than children. Which of the following
would be an appropriate response?
A. Children have better hygiene habits than adolescents because of parental guidance."
B. "Adolescents have reduced blood flow to the epidermal layer of the skin, making them more
prone to infections."
C. "At puberty, adolescents begin to secrete more oil from sebaceous glands."
D. "Children have very little skin mass, which prevents development of acne."
C. "At puberty, adolescents begin to secrete more oil from sebaceous glands."
During adolescence, the apocrine glands enlarge and become active, causing increased axillary
sweating and sometimes body odor. Sebaceous glands increase sebum production in response
to increased hormone levels, primarily androgen, giving the skin an oily appearance and
predisposing the individual to acne.
While examining the skin of an 87-year-old woman, the nurse observes significant tenting.
Which of the following best explains that finding?
, A. Small tags of skin form on the neck.
B. The skin becomes thin and takes on a parchment-like appearance.
C. The skin becomes dry with significant flaking.
D. There is a loss of adipose tissue and elasticity.
D. There is a loss of adipose tissue and elasticity.
Tenting occurs in the older adult as a result of loss of adipose tissue and elasticity. The skin often
appears to hang loosely on the bony frame as a result of a general loss of elasticity, loss of
underlying adipose tissue, and years of gravitational pull.
Mr. Allen is a 66-year-old man who presents to your clinic for follow-up for his chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When assessing for the presence of clubbing, the
examiner specifically examines:
A. the width of the nail base.
B. the angle of the nail base.
C. the thickness of the nail.
D. the color of the nail.
B. the angle of the nail base.
The average nail base angle should measure 160 degrees. In clubbing, the nail base is boggy and
the angle increases and approaches or exceeds 180 degrees. Another method of assessment is
the Schamroth technique. Clubbing is associated with a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases, cirrhosis, colitis, and thyroid disease.
Mrs. Jones presents with a complaint of a spot on her skin. Which type of lesion can develop in
an already present nevi?
A. Malignant melanoma
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
C. Basal cell carcinoma
D. Kaposi sarcoma
A. Malignant melanoma
Malignant melonoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes.
Squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Kaposi sarcoma rarely develop in an already
existing nevi.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Review – Chapter 9 Exam Questions on
Pediatric to Geriatric Dermatology Complete
Verified Questions Provided with A+ Graded
Rationales LATEST UPDATED 2026
In which age group are milia an expected finding?
A. Newborns
B. Young children
C. Adolescents
D. Older adults
A. Newborns
Milia are small, whitish, discrete papules on the face; they are commonly found during the first
2 to 3 months of life. The sebaceous glands function in an immature fashion at this age and are
easily plugged by sebum. Answers b, c, and d are incorrect.
Mr. Babson is a 74-year-old man who presents to your office with a complaint of a "spot" on his
chin and wants to know whether it is cancerous. Which of the following signs or symptoms
indicates a need for further medical investigation?
A. The "spot" is a reddish brown color.
B. The "spot" has been on his chin for 20 years.
C. The "spot" bleeds easily when it is touched.
D. The "spot" is slightly raised and circumscribed.
C. The "spot" bleeds easily when it is touched.
A "spot" that bleeds easily when it is touched may be indicative of a more serious condition like
basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
A 6-year-old girl has freckles over her nose and cheeks. The examiner will recall that freckles are
a type of:
A. macule.
B. papule.
,C. nodule.
D. patch.
A. macule.
A macule is a flat, circumscribed area that is a change in the color of the skin usually less than 1
cm in diameter. Freckles, flat moles, petechiae, and measles are examples of macules.
Mrs. Tomberg brings her 4-day-old infant to your office with a concern of a yellowish skin tone.
Which of the following statements best describes the rationale for the skin tone?
A. Increased formation of subcutaneous tissue causes a yellow hue.
B. Capillaries broken during the birth process turn the skin slightly yellow as bruises heal.
C. The yellowish color results from increased fat metabolism and heat production.
D. The infant has hyperbilirubinemia.
D. The infant has hyperbilirubinemia.
Hyperbilirubinemia, or physiologic jaundice, is present to a mild degree in many newborn
infants. It usually starts after the first day of life and disappears by the eighth to tenth day but
may persist for as long as 3 to 4 weeks. Intense and persistent jaundice suggests liver disease, a
hemolytic process, or severe, overwhelming infection.
Mr. Russel is a 17-year-old adolescent patient who presents with a complaint of acne. He asks
the examiner why teens have more problems with acne than children. Which of the following
would be an appropriate response?
A. Children have better hygiene habits than adolescents because of parental guidance."
B. "Adolescents have reduced blood flow to the epidermal layer of the skin, making them more
prone to infections."
C. "At puberty, adolescents begin to secrete more oil from sebaceous glands."
D. "Children have very little skin mass, which prevents development of acne."
C. "At puberty, adolescents begin to secrete more oil from sebaceous glands."
During adolescence, the apocrine glands enlarge and become active, causing increased axillary
sweating and sometimes body odor. Sebaceous glands increase sebum production in response
to increased hormone levels, primarily androgen, giving the skin an oily appearance and
predisposing the individual to acne.
While examining the skin of an 87-year-old woman, the nurse observes significant tenting.
Which of the following best explains that finding?
, A. Small tags of skin form on the neck.
B. The skin becomes thin and takes on a parchment-like appearance.
C. The skin becomes dry with significant flaking.
D. There is a loss of adipose tissue and elasticity.
D. There is a loss of adipose tissue and elasticity.
Tenting occurs in the older adult as a result of loss of adipose tissue and elasticity. The skin often
appears to hang loosely on the bony frame as a result of a general loss of elasticity, loss of
underlying adipose tissue, and years of gravitational pull.
Mr. Allen is a 66-year-old man who presents to your clinic for follow-up for his chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When assessing for the presence of clubbing, the
examiner specifically examines:
A. the width of the nail base.
B. the angle of the nail base.
C. the thickness of the nail.
D. the color of the nail.
B. the angle of the nail base.
The average nail base angle should measure 160 degrees. In clubbing, the nail base is boggy and
the angle increases and approaches or exceeds 180 degrees. Another method of assessment is
the Schamroth technique. Clubbing is associated with a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases, cirrhosis, colitis, and thyroid disease.
Mrs. Jones presents with a complaint of a spot on her skin. Which type of lesion can develop in
an already present nevi?
A. Malignant melanoma
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
C. Basal cell carcinoma
D. Kaposi sarcoma
A. Malignant melanoma
Malignant melonoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes.
Squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Kaposi sarcoma rarely develop in an already
existing nevi.
Squamous cell carcinoma
