Dermatology Exam Master 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
Nummular dermatitis is characterized by chronic coin-shaped, crusted lesions, which are usually
pruritic. They commonly appear on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the extremities, especially
the pretibial areas.
Pompholyx is characterized by scaling and deep-seated vesicles on the palms, fingers, and soles,
which are pruritic. There may also be erythema and scaling.
Case
A 7-year-old boy presents with a 3-day history of intense pruritus on his wrists, fingers, and
antecubital fossae. It began on his fingers and has moved proximally. According to his mother,
they are raised red eruptions and some have scabbed over. She states he has never had this before
and it is keeping him up at night. He recently started at a new school.
Question
What procedure would be most helpful in confirming your diagnosis?
A) Skin scraping with immersion oil
B) Woods lamp inspection
C) Skin scraping with KOH
D) Punch biopsy
E) Skin culture and gram stain - Correct answer:
Skin scraping with immersion oil
Explanation
,Skin scraping with immersion oil is the confirmatory test for scabies, which is the most likely
diagnosis.
Wood lamp inspection consists of shining ultraviolet light on the skin, looking for fluorescence
indicative of such diseases as erythrasma, fungal infections, and sclerosis. Skin scraping with
KOH is helpful in diagnosing fungal infections of the skin. Punch biopsies are more invasive,
and they are used for deeper skin lesions. Skin culture and Gram stain are not helpful in the
diagnosis of scabies; they are used for suspected bacterial or fungal infections.
Question
A 23-year-old man presents with unbearable itching in his genital area. The itching increases in
intensity at night. He admits to several recent sexual encounters with different people in the past
month. Skin exam reveals multiple excoriated papules and burrows with surrounding
inflammation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Tinea cruris
B) Pediculosis pubis
C) Scabies
D) Molluscum contagiosum - Correct answer:
Scabies
Explanation
The correct answer is scabies because intense pruritis, especially at night, with excoriated
papules and characteristic burrows or raised tunnels under the skin are a typical presentation.
Tinea cruris is a fungal infection and can also be intensely pruritic but does not cause the
dermatologic manifestations noted above.
Pediculosis pubis, an arthropod, is another cause of pruritis but does not cause the dermatologic
manifestations noted above, and typically the lice and their nits are seen on examination.
,Molluscum contagiosum and HPV are caused by viruses, are not pruritic lesions, and do not
present as excoriated papules with burrows.
Question
A 15-year-old boy presents to the office with his mother with a complaint of constant itching and
burning on his arms and thighs for 2 weeks. His mother admits to giving him acetaminophen
without relief. The patient is taking no other medications. On clinical exam, there are multiple 2-
cm wheals with a few small papules on his thighs and forearms. They are red and slightly raised.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Erythema nodosa
B) Erythema multiforme
C) Urticaria
D) Erythema ab igne
E) Nummular eczema - Correct answer:
Urticaria
Explanation
Urticaria is chronic or acute and is characterized by wheals and papules. Itching and prickling
sensations are constant. Both sexes are affected equally, and it's often seen in childhood or teen
years. The presenting areas are the arms, legs, thighs, and waist. The most common cause is an
allergy to medications, foods, or physical agents. The symptoms usually disappear within 6
months (acute), but they can last longer (chronic).
Erythema nodosa is an acute inflammatory condition characterized by painful nodules on the
anterior aspect of the legs. It is often symptomatic of a bacterial, viral, or fungal disease or drug
eruption. This occurs most often in women and between the ages of 20 - 30 years. Clinical
features include acute fever, malaise, and joint pain. Lesions are nodular, painful, red, and shiny.
The symptoms last 2 weeks, and the lesions heal without scarring.
Erythema multiforme is characterized by macules, papules, vesicles, and bullae. It occurs
secondary to a toxic influence. There may or may not be a prodromal period with a sore throat,
, diarrhea, and fever. The lesions are red macules or papules and are seen on the sides of the neck,
face, legs, genitalia, and mucosa membranes. A typical lesion is a "target" or "iris" lesion. The
course is generally 3 - 4 weeks.
Erythema ab igne, often called toasted skin syndrome, occurs secondary to exposure to heat from
flames or heating appliances. The course is generally benign, but may have a potential for
malignant changes. The lesions are red, mottled skin with hypo- or hyperpigmentation. After
many years of constant exposure, hyperkeratotic papules, plaques, and ulcers may occur.
Nummular eczema has round, coin-like (nummular) lesions with a distribution on the extensor
surface of the extremities as well as the poster
Case
A 23-year-old woman comes to the office for a gynecologic examination. This is her first visit,
and she has no complaints. She tells you that she has not had a Pap smear in several years. Her
menarche was at 12 years, and she has had regular cycles since then. She has had several sexual
partners in the past, but has been with her current partner in a monogamous relationship for 1
year. She reports that she had a chlamydial infection that was treated several years ago, but she
denies a history of other sexually transmitted diseases. She has never been pregnant. On physical
examination, her cervix appears friable with a slight area of ulceration. There are several perineal
and vaginal lesions, which appear as small cauliflower-like projections. The results of the Pap
smear, which return in 1 week, show a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (mild
dysplasia, CIN I).
Question
What factor in this patient's - Correct answer:
Condyloma acuminata
Explanation
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
Nummular dermatitis is characterized by chronic coin-shaped, crusted lesions, which are usually
pruritic. They commonly appear on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the extremities, especially
the pretibial areas.
Pompholyx is characterized by scaling and deep-seated vesicles on the palms, fingers, and soles,
which are pruritic. There may also be erythema and scaling.
Case
A 7-year-old boy presents with a 3-day history of intense pruritus on his wrists, fingers, and
antecubital fossae. It began on his fingers and has moved proximally. According to his mother,
they are raised red eruptions and some have scabbed over. She states he has never had this before
and it is keeping him up at night. He recently started at a new school.
Question
What procedure would be most helpful in confirming your diagnosis?
A) Skin scraping with immersion oil
B) Woods lamp inspection
C) Skin scraping with KOH
D) Punch biopsy
E) Skin culture and gram stain - Correct answer:
Skin scraping with immersion oil
Explanation
,Skin scraping with immersion oil is the confirmatory test for scabies, which is the most likely
diagnosis.
Wood lamp inspection consists of shining ultraviolet light on the skin, looking for fluorescence
indicative of such diseases as erythrasma, fungal infections, and sclerosis. Skin scraping with
KOH is helpful in diagnosing fungal infections of the skin. Punch biopsies are more invasive,
and they are used for deeper skin lesions. Skin culture and Gram stain are not helpful in the
diagnosis of scabies; they are used for suspected bacterial or fungal infections.
Question
A 23-year-old man presents with unbearable itching in his genital area. The itching increases in
intensity at night. He admits to several recent sexual encounters with different people in the past
month. Skin exam reveals multiple excoriated papules and burrows with surrounding
inflammation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Tinea cruris
B) Pediculosis pubis
C) Scabies
D) Molluscum contagiosum - Correct answer:
Scabies
Explanation
The correct answer is scabies because intense pruritis, especially at night, with excoriated
papules and characteristic burrows or raised tunnels under the skin are a typical presentation.
Tinea cruris is a fungal infection and can also be intensely pruritic but does not cause the
dermatologic manifestations noted above.
Pediculosis pubis, an arthropod, is another cause of pruritis but does not cause the dermatologic
manifestations noted above, and typically the lice and their nits are seen on examination.
,Molluscum contagiosum and HPV are caused by viruses, are not pruritic lesions, and do not
present as excoriated papules with burrows.
Question
A 15-year-old boy presents to the office with his mother with a complaint of constant itching and
burning on his arms and thighs for 2 weeks. His mother admits to giving him acetaminophen
without relief. The patient is taking no other medications. On clinical exam, there are multiple 2-
cm wheals with a few small papules on his thighs and forearms. They are red and slightly raised.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Erythema nodosa
B) Erythema multiforme
C) Urticaria
D) Erythema ab igne
E) Nummular eczema - Correct answer:
Urticaria
Explanation
Urticaria is chronic or acute and is characterized by wheals and papules. Itching and prickling
sensations are constant. Both sexes are affected equally, and it's often seen in childhood or teen
years. The presenting areas are the arms, legs, thighs, and waist. The most common cause is an
allergy to medications, foods, or physical agents. The symptoms usually disappear within 6
months (acute), but they can last longer (chronic).
Erythema nodosa is an acute inflammatory condition characterized by painful nodules on the
anterior aspect of the legs. It is often symptomatic of a bacterial, viral, or fungal disease or drug
eruption. This occurs most often in women and between the ages of 20 - 30 years. Clinical
features include acute fever, malaise, and joint pain. Lesions are nodular, painful, red, and shiny.
The symptoms last 2 weeks, and the lesions heal without scarring.
Erythema multiforme is characterized by macules, papules, vesicles, and bullae. It occurs
secondary to a toxic influence. There may or may not be a prodromal period with a sore throat,
, diarrhea, and fever. The lesions are red macules or papules and are seen on the sides of the neck,
face, legs, genitalia, and mucosa membranes. A typical lesion is a "target" or "iris" lesion. The
course is generally 3 - 4 weeks.
Erythema ab igne, often called toasted skin syndrome, occurs secondary to exposure to heat from
flames or heating appliances. The course is generally benign, but may have a potential for
malignant changes. The lesions are red, mottled skin with hypo- or hyperpigmentation. After
many years of constant exposure, hyperkeratotic papules, plaques, and ulcers may occur.
Nummular eczema has round, coin-like (nummular) lesions with a distribution on the extensor
surface of the extremities as well as the poster
Case
A 23-year-old woman comes to the office for a gynecologic examination. This is her first visit,
and she has no complaints. She tells you that she has not had a Pap smear in several years. Her
menarche was at 12 years, and she has had regular cycles since then. She has had several sexual
partners in the past, but has been with her current partner in a monogamous relationship for 1
year. She reports that she had a chlamydial infection that was treated several years ago, but she
denies a history of other sexually transmitted diseases. She has never been pregnant. On physical
examination, her cervix appears friable with a slight area of ulceration. There are several perineal
and vaginal lesions, which appear as small cauliflower-like projections. The results of the Pap
smear, which return in 1 week, show a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (mild
dysplasia, CIN I).
Question
What factor in this patient's - Correct answer:
Condyloma acuminata
Explanation
