top of page
Search

MRCP Part 1 Dermatology MCQs & Explanations

TL;DR

This article covers MRCP Part 1 Dermatology — 25 practice MCQs with explanations, highlighting the most frequently tested inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune skin conditions. You’ll find a focused list of high-yield patterns, a practice-style MCQ with reasoning, and a clear checklist to improve accuracy. Dermatology makes up a small but scoring-efficient component of MRCP Part 1, so targeted revision pays off. Use this guide alongside our MRCP Part 1 overview and Free MRCP MCQs pages to practise systematically.


Why this matters

Dermatology questions in MRCP Part 1 present classic pattern-recognition scenarios—erythematous plaques, tense vs flaccid bullae, drug eruptions, or vasculitic rashes—and expect you to select the single most likely diagnosis or the next best step. According to MRCP(UK) exam guidance (https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/part-1-examination), Dermatology knowledge is embedded within Clinical Sciences, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases. Getting these “short factual” questions right improves your margin significantly.

This article highlights high-yield subtopics, exam traps, and a model question with detailed reasoning. It supports the main MRCP Part 1 overview and complements practice on the Free MRCP MCQs (/qbank/) page.


Core high-yield Dermatology topics (10–12 essentials)

  1. Psoriasis

    • Chronic plaques on extensor surfaces; Auspitz sign.

    • Nail pitting, onycholysis, psoriatic arthritis associations.

  2. Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis

  3. Drug Eruptions

    • Morbilliform rash = most common.

    • Severe reactions: SJS/TEN, DRESS → must recognise red flags.

  4. Blistering Disorders

    • Pemphigus vulgaris: flaccid bullae, mucosal involvement, positive Nikolsky.

    • Bullous pemphigoid: elderly, tense bullae, minimal mucosal disease.

  5. Skin Signs in Connective Tissue Disease

    • SLE butterfly rash, discoid lesions.

    • Dermatomyositis: heliotrope rash, Gottron papules.

  6. Infections

  7. Vasculitis & Purpura

    • Palpable purpura suggests small-vessel vasculitis.

    • Meningococcal rash recognition is essential.

  8. Skin Cancers

  9. Erythroderma

    • Drug-induced, eczema, psoriasis; risk of fluid/temperature imbalance.

  10. Papulosquamous Disorders

    • Lichen planus (Wickham striae), pityriasis rosea (herald patch).

Five most-tested subtopics

1) Psoriasis

  • Patterns: extensor plaques; scalp involvement is common.

  • Nail signs strongly weighted in exam questions.

  • Avoid systemic steroids (risk of pustular rebound).

2) Drug eruptions

  • Start with a timeline: most exanthematous rashes appear after day 5–14.

  • SJS/TEN: mucosal involvement + systemic unwellness = emergency.

3) Eczema & dermatitis

  • Distribution and history of atopy are key.

  • Secondary bacterial infection clues: honey-coloured crusting.

4) Pemphigus vs pemphigoid

  • Age matters: pemphigoid is typically elderly.

  • Examination: flaccid vs tense bullae often gives the diagnosis.

5) Vasculitis rashes

  • Palpable purpura → think small-vessel (e.g., IgA vasculitis).

  • Systemic symptoms guide further investigation.

Study-tip checklist (evidence-informed)

  • Learn pattern-recognition descriptors (tense, flaccid, vesicular, annular).

  • Memorise drug associations:

    • SJS/TEN → allopurinol, sulphonamides, antiepileptics.

  • Use 10–15 question blocks in timed mode on your QBank (/qbank/).

  • Keep a “look-alike list” of conditions (eczema vs psoriasis, cellulitis vs erysipelas).

  • Schedule one full mock every 10–14 days (/mock-tests/).

  • Review images from authoritative sources such as BAD: https://www.bad.org.uk


A sample from “MRCP Part 1 Dermatology — 25 Practice MCQs with Explanations”

MCQ Example

A 72-year-old man presents with tense bullae on an erythematous base, mainly on the abdomen and thighs. There is no mucosal involvement. He is mildly pruritic but otherwise well. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Pemphigus vulgarisB. Bullous pemphigoidC. Dermatitis herpetiformisD. Stevens–Johnson syndromeE. Linear IgA disease

Correct answer: B. Bullous pemphigoid

Explanation

The combination of elderly patient, tense bullae, and no mucosal involvement is classic for bullous pemphigoid.

  • Pemphigus vulgaris has flaccid bullae + mucosal erosions.

  • DH presents with grouped vesicles + severe itch.

  • SJS has mucosal involvement + systemic illness.

  • Linear IgA can mimic DH but usually affects children or medication-associated cases.

This reasoning approach—pattern → age → mucosa—can be applied across

many Dermatology SBAs.


A compact table: “Dermatology Look-Alikes for MRCP Part 1”

Condition

Key Clues

Distinguishing Feature

Pemphigus vulgaris

Flaccid bullae, oral ulcers

Positive Nikolsky sign

Bullous pemphigoid

Elderly, tense bullae

Minimal mucosal disease

SJS/TEN

Drug trigger, systemic illness

≥10% body surface sloughing

Pityriasis rosea

Herald patch

Christmas-tree distribution

Lichen planus

Pruritic purple papules

Wickham striae


Medical textbooks and tablet showing dermatology diagrams used for MRCP Part 1 revision.

Practical examples / mini-cases

Here are short “rapid recall” prompts similar to those found in the full 25-MCQ set:

  1. Purple polygonal papules on wrists → Think lichen planus.

  2. Silvery scale + nail pitting → Psoriasis.

  3. Palpable purpura + abdominal pain → IgA vasculitis.

  4. Target lesions after Mycoplasma infection → Erythema multiforme.

  5. Honey-coloured crusting in a child → Non-bullous impetigo.

Common pitfalls (5 bullets)

  • Confusing eczema with psoriasis based on poor attention to distribution.

  • Over-calling drug rash without assessing timing and systemic features.

  • Forgetting mucosal involvement as the key discriminator in blistering disorders.

  • Misidentifying purpura as “bruising”—palpability matters.

  • Underestimating dermatology questions and skipping image-based cues.


FAQs (People Also Ask)

1. How much Dermatology appears in MRCP Part 1?

Dermatology contributes a small but steady portion of the clinical science questions. Its predictable pattern recognition makes it high-yield for scoring marks efficiently.

2. What Dermatology topics are most common?

Psoriasis, eczema, drug reactions, blistering diseases, infections, vasculitis, and melanoma/BCC/SCC usually feature in rotations.

3. How should I practise Dermatology for the exam?

Use a mix of timed MCQ blocks (/qbank/) and full mocks (/mock-tests/), plus visual exposure from authoritative sources such as BAD.

4. Do I need to memorise treatments?

Yes—but only at a high level. First-line management, contraindications (e.g., steroids in psoriasis), and red flags are tested.

5. Is Dermatology image-heavy in MRCP Part 1?

Current delivery formats can include image descriptions or static images. Even without images, wording is usually sufficient for diagnosis.


Ready to start?

If you want structured, exam-focused practise, explore our Free MRCP MCQs (/qbank/) and start a timed mock test (/mock-tests/).For deeper clinical reasoning, subscribe to our MRCP teaching videos and lectures at Crack Medicine (/lectures/).You’ll find Dermatology easier once you master pattern recognition and practise using high-quality explanations.


Sources

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page