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DNB Dermatology Previous Year Questions

These are the DNB Dermatology (Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy) theory questions asked by NBEMS in the December 2025 and June 2025 exams, listed paper by paper as they appeared. The Prep DNB app has all 22 DNB sessions from June 2014 to December 2025 — 837 questions in total — with repeat-question tracking, examiner keywords and MCQs.

Jump to: December 2025 · June 2025 · Important topics · Older papers

DNB Dermatology December 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Discuss normal flora of skin with regards to specific sites. [10]
  2. a) Innate immunity and skin. [5] b) Collagen synthesis. [5]
  3. Role of skin as an endocrine organ. [10]
  4. Stages of cutaneous wound healing. [10]
  5. a) Hair follicle bulge cells. [5] b) Eumelanin. [5]
  6. Define granuloma. Discuss palisading granuloma. [2+8]
  7. a) Mediators of itch. [6] b) Principles of NB-UVB therapy. [4]
  8. a) Grenz zone. [5] b) Sun protection factor. [5]
  9. a) Spongiotic dermatitis. [5] b) PAS stain and its role in dermatology. [5]
  10. a) Cutaneous mosaicism. [5] b) Plasma cells in dermatology. [5]

Paper 2

  1. Describe following in relation to dexamethasone pulse therapy: a) Mechanism of action. [3] b) Standard DCP phases. [3] c) Efficacy. [2] d) Side effects. [2]
  2. a) Lichenoid drug eruptions. [6] b) Keratosis lichenoides chronica. [4]
  3. a) Tests for diagnosis of chronic urticaria. [4] b) Treatment of urticaria in pregnancy. [3] c) Cholinergic urticaria. [3]
  4. Mucocutaneous manifestations of Behcets disease. [10]
  5. a) SAPHO syndrome. [5] b) Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis. [5]
  6. a) Laboratory investigations in a suspected case of hyperandrogenism. [6] b) Gram negative folliculitis. [4]
  7. Orofacial granulomatosis: diagnosis and management. [10]
  8. a) Delusion of parasitosis. [5] b) Papulonecrotic tuberculid. [5]
  9. a) Frontal fibrosing alopecia. [5] b) Lupus panniculitis. [5]
  10. Discuss the treatment of: a) Persistent erythema in rosacea. [5] b) Calcinosis cutis in dermatomyositis. [5]

Paper 3

  1. a) POCSO. [5] b) Complications of gonorrhoea. [5]
  2. Anorectal discharge syndrome. [10]
  3. Advantages and limitations of syndromic case management. [10]
  4. a) Bowenoid papulosis. [4] b) Serofast syphilis. [3] c) Clue cell. [3]
  5. a) Herpes in pregnancy. [5] b) Neonatal herpes. [5]
  6. a) Atypical presentations in leprosy. [5] b) Effects of pregnancy on leprosy. [5]
  7. a) Systemic involvement in Type 2 reaction in leprosy. [5] b) Role of thalidomide in leprosy. [5]
  8. a) Facial deformities in leprosy. [5] b) Differential diagnosis of nodular lesions in leprosy. [5]
  9. a) Nerve biopsy in leprosy. [5] b) Epidemiological indicators in leprosy. [5]
  10. a) Management of recalcitrant ENL. [5] b) Venereophobia. [5]

Paper 4

  1. a) Demodex and skin. [5] b) Oral minoxidil in dermatology. [5]
  2. a) Nemolizumab. [5] b) Upadacitinib. [5]
  3. a) Topical pirfenidone. [3] b) LepVax. [3] c) Cytolytic vaginitis. [4]
  4. Air pollution and skin. [10]
  5. a) Cutaneous manifestations of obesity. [5] b) mTOR inhibitors. [5]
  6. a) Vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girl. [5] b) Lipschutz ulcer. [5]
  7. a) Picolaser in dermatology. [5] b) Tinea indotineae. [5]
  8. a) Skin lightening agents. [5] b) STIs in MSM. [5]
  9. a) Microneedling radiofrequency (MNRF). [5] b) Drug induced nail changes. [5]
  10. a) Topical steroid dependent facies. [5] b) Apremilast in dermatology. [5]

DNB Dermatology June 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. a) Dendritic epidermal cells. [5] b) Merkel cells. [5]
  2. a) What are the indications of skin biopsy? [3] b) Mention various skin biopsy techniques with their merits and demerits. [4] c) List the fixatives and transport media for skin biopsy specimen. [3]
  3. Describe configuration and distribution pattern of skin lesions with examples. [10]
  4. a) Development of nail. [3] b) Functions of nail apparatus. [3] c) Pathogenesis of nail changes in psoriasis and lichen planus. [4]
  5. a) Indications of oral steroids in dermatology. [5] b) Classification of topical steroids. [5]
  6. a) Discuss pathophysiology of skin aging. [5] b) Pathogenesis and clinical presentation of any two premature aging syndromes. [5]
  7. a) Describe factors affecting topical absorption of drugs. [4] b) Foam drug delivery in dermatology. [3] c) Microsphere drug delivery. [3]
  8. a) Differentiate between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. [5] b) Photopatch test. [5]
  9. a) Sources of ultraviolet radiation and its measurement. [5] b) Describe the effects of ultraviolet radiation on skin. [5]
  10. a) Iontophoresis in dermatology. [5] b) Mode of action of IVIG in autoimmune and inflammatory dermatoses. [5]

Paper 2

  1. a) Discuss briefly, gender and dermatology. [5] b) Common transient neonatal dermatoses. [5]
  2. a) Role of dermoscopy in disorders of hyperpigmentation. [6] b) Frictional melanosis. [2] c) Maturational hyperpigmentation. [2]
  3. a) Perioral dermatitis. [3] b) Peri-orbital dermatitis. [4] c) Scrotal dermatitis. [3]
  4. a) Role of diet in dermatology. [5] b) PCOS and acne management. [5]
  5. a) Define MDR and XDR tuberculosis. [4] b) Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. [6]
  6. a) Discuss the complications of hidradenitis suppurativa. [5] b) Describe treatment modalities for refractory hidradenitis suppurativa. [5]
  7. a) Cutaneous manifestations of intravenous drug abuse. [5] b) Nicotine effects on skin. [5]
  8. a) Clinical variants of sweet syndrome. [3] b) Clinical variants of pyoderma gangrenosum. [3] c) Systemic associations of above two disorders. [4]
  9. a) Drug induced angioedema. [4] b) Drug induced autoimmune bullous diseases. [6]
  10. a) Define the terms vasculitis and vasculopathy. [3] b) Livedoid vasculopathy. [4] c) Lichen aureus. [3]

Paper 3

  1. a) Assessment of nerve function in leprosy. [5] b) Serodiagnosis of leprosy. [5]
  2. a) Pure neuritic leprosy. [5] b) Childhood leprosy. [5]
  3. a) Nugent score verses Amsels criteria in bacterial vaginosis. [5] b) Syndromic approach to vaginal discharge. [5]
  4. Systemic involvement in leprosy: a) Renal. [5] b) Ocular. [5]
  5. WHO MDT for leprosy: a) In a defaulter. [2] b) In pregnancy. [3] c) In tuberculosis patient. [3] d) In HIV. [2]
  6. a) Lucio phenomenon. [3] b) Adverse effects of clofazimine. [4] c) Importance of morphological index. [3]
  7. a) Treatment of anogenital warts in pediatric population. [5] b) Persisters in leprosy. [3] c) Autoaggressive leprosy. [2]
  8. a) Mycoplasma genitalium urethritis. [5] b) Non venereal vulvar dermatoses. [5]
  9. a) Reverse algorithm for diagnosis of syphilis. [3] b) Laboratory diagnosis of congenital syphilis. [4] c) Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. [3]
  10. a) Partner management approach in sexually transmitted infections. [4] b) Approach to a child of sexual abuse. [6]

Paper 4

  1. JAK inhibitors in psoriasis: a) Indications. [3] b) Mechanism of action. [3] c) Adverse effects. [4]
  2. a) Doxy-PEP. [3] b) PrEP for HIV. [3] c) PEP for HIV. [4]
  3. a) LASERs for tattoo removal. [5] b) Newer chemical peels. [5]
  4. The role of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and management in dermatology. [5+5]
  5. a) Exogenous growth factors in aesthetic dermatology. [5] b) Exosomes in aesthetic dermatology. [5]
  6. a) Describe techniques of hair transplant. [6] b) Differentiate between FUT and FUE. [4]
  7. a) Berdazimer gel. [3] b) Ozenoxacin. [4] c) Anakinra. [3]
  8. a) CAR T Cell therapy in dermatology. [5] b) Autologous serum therapy in dermatology. [5]
  9. a) Newer anti retroviral drugs. [4] b) EGASP. [2] c) Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibition in dermatological conditions. [4]
  10. a) Ultraviolet fluorescence dermoscopy. [4] b) Surgical interventions for management of acne scars. [6]

High-Yield DNB Dermatology Topics

A selection of 29 of the 44 important topics curated in the app from repeated DNB Dermatology questions.

Leprosy — highest yield in Indian dermatology exams

  • Leprosy: Ridley-Jopling and WHO classification, immunopathology, slit skin smear, nerve assessment
  • Leprosy reactions: Type 1 (reversal) and Type 2 (ENL), Lucio phenomenon, management and steroid dependence
  • Leprosy treatment: WHO MDT, defaulter/pregnancy/HIV-TB co-infection, MDR leprosy, relapse and SDR-PEP

STI and genital dermatology

  • Syphilis: stages, reverse algorithm serology, congenital syphilis, Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
  • Genital herpes, anogenital warts, gonorrhoea (PPNG/resistance), chancroid, LGV
  • STI syndromic management: GUD, urethral discharge, vaginal discharge (Nugent/Amsel criteria), partner notification, POCSO

Common inflammatory dermatoses

  • Psoriasis: pathogenesis, variants, nail changes, PASI scoring, topical/systemic/biologic/JAK inhibitor therapy
  • Atopic dermatitis: pathogenesis, severity scores, stepwise management, dupilumab and JAK inhibitors
  • Contact dermatitis: allergic vs irritant, patch testing, photopatch testing

Autoimmune and bullous disorders

  • Pemphigus vulgaris vs bullous pemphigoid: clinical, DIF findings, management
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, paraneoplastic pemphigus
  • SLE (EULAR criteria), DLE, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, MCTD — cutaneous manifestations

Drug reactions and emergencies

  • SJS/TEN: causative drugs, RegiSCAR/DRESS scoring, management, SCORTEN
  • Erythema multiforme and drug hypersensitivity syndromes

Infections

  • Dermatophyte infections and antifungal resistance; onychomycosis diagnosis and treatment
  • Candidiasis, pityriasis versicolor, deep fungal (mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis)
  • Scabies and pediculosis: diagnosis, treatment, crusted scabies

Neoplasia and pigmentation

  • Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease: diagnosis and management
  • Melanoma: ABCDE, staging, surgical margins, immunotherapy
  • Vitiligo: medical and surgical management (grafting, acrofacial); melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Hair, nail, and paediatric dermatology

  • Alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia (scalp biopsy)
  • Nail disorders: onychomycosis, psoriasis nail changes, onychocryptosis
  • Neonatal dermatoses, atopic dermatitis in children, childhood leprosy differences

Investigations and basics

  • Skin biopsy: types, technique, fixatives, histopathology interpretation
  • Direct and indirect immunofluorescence in autoimmune blistering diseases
  • Dermoscopy/trichoscopy: principles and applications; Woods lamp

Systemic associations and therapy

  • Cutaneous markers of internal malignancy and paraneoplastic syndromes
  • Systemic disease and skin: diabetes, thyroid, RA, sarcoidosis
  • Topical steroids: potency classification, side effects, prescribing guidelines

Older DNB Dermatology Question Papers

The remaining 20 papers are available in the Prep DNB app, organized paper-wise with repeat-question tracking.

Get all 22 papers in the app

Previous Year Questions for Other DNB Subjects