MD · Dermatology

Dermatology thesis topics, with the design and feasibility for each

Dermatology has the highest outpatient volume of any medical specialty, so recruitment is rarely the problem; the problem is that a high-volume OPD tempts a resident into a descriptive study of everything, which reads as a tally rather than a thesis. The department's own instruments decide what is possible: a dermatoscope, a Wood's lamp, a KOH bench, a patch test series and a cooperative histopathologist between them cover most good questions, and therapeutic comparisons are genuinely feasible here because the outcome is visible and measurable on the skin. Examiners press on whether severity was scored with a named instrument rather than an impression, on how photographs were standardised, and on whether the assessor of the outcome knew which treatment the patient received.

Topic register · 43 entries · 6 designs^[6]

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ICMR 2017 · ethics

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Study design

Feasibility in a teaching unit

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Showing 43 of 43 topics

The sample figure on each plate is a planning range read off the design, not a calculated answer. Your own number comes from a calculation against your own assumptions — the difference you would call clinically meaningful, the variability in your setting, the power you want — and it belongs in the synopsis with those assumptions written beside it.

Topic 01 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinico-mycological profile of dermatophytosis in a dermatology outpatient department
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with a positive KOH mount and the distribution of species on culture, by clinical type
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 200–300 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a KOH bench in the department with a trained technician
- fungal culture on Sabouraud medium, in house or by a fixed microbiology arrangement
- a standard sampling method for scale collection recorded for each site
What derails it
Patients arrive having applied a topical combination cream for weeks, which turns the KOH and the culture negative while the rash persists, so record prior topical use by brand and duration and analyse yield separately in the untreated.
Topic 02 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinical pattern of steroid-modified tinea and prior topical use in patients attending a dermatology clinic
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with a clinically atypical presentation meeting the stated criteria, with the duration and type of prior topical application recorded
Collection time
9 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
around 200–300 patients with suspected dermatophytosis, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a structured checklist defining atypical morphological features in advance
- a method for identifying the prior product, ideally the tube or strip brought by the patient
- KOH examination for every patient
What derails it
Patients do not know what they applied and name the pharmacy rather than the drug, so ask them to bring the tube to the next visit and record the composition from the packaging; a history based on the word ointment is unusable.
Topic 03 / 43
Link to this entry
Itraconazole compared with terbinafine in tinea corporis and tinea cruris
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion achieving clinical and mycological cure at the pre-specified end of treatment, by a stated definition
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 45–70 per arm, subject to a proper calculation against the cure proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- ethics approval and Clinical Trials Registry of India registration before the first enrolment
- KOH and culture at baseline and at the outcome visit
- an assessor for the clinical outcome who does not know the allocation
What derails it
Mycological cure needs the patient to return for a repeat KOH at the end of treatment, and patients stop attending once the itching settles, so schedule the outcome visit with a telephone reminder and budget for a substantial proportion who will not come back.
Topic 04 / 43
Link to this entry
Acne severity by the Global Acne Grading System and its relation to quality of life
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Dermatology Life Quality Index score across acne grade categories
Collection time
8 to 10 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 150–220 patients, subject to a calculation using the standard deviation of the quality of life score
What your unit must already have
- the quality of life index in a documented local translation with permission
- one examiner grading all patients under consistent lighting
- a private area where adolescents can complete the questionnaire
What derails it
Acne grading depends on lighting and on whether the patient has washed off makeup, so fix the examination room, the lighting and a cleansing step, and have the same person grade throughout, because two observers will differ by a whole grade.
Topic 05 / 43
Link to this entry
Microneedling with platelet-rich plasma compared with microneedling alone for atrophic acne scars
DesignComparative interventionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Change in a stated acne scar grading score from baseline to the end of the treatment schedule, assessed on standardised photographs
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per group, or a split-face design with fewer patients, subject to a proper calculation
What your unit must already have
- a procedure room with a dermaroller or pen and a centrifuge for plasma preparation
- a standardised photography setup with fixed distance, lighting and background
- a blinded assessor grading photographs rather than patients
What derails it
Scar assessment is hopeless without standardised photographs, and a change of camera, distance or room light between visits will dominate any real difference, so build and document the photography rig before the first patient and never alter it.
Topic 06 / 43
Link to this entry
Salicylic acid compared with glycolic acid chemical peel in mild to moderate acne
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Change in lesion counts from baseline to the end of the peel schedule, with adverse effects recorded
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 30–50 per arm, subject to a proper calculation using the standard deviation of lesion count change
What your unit must already have
- peel agents of a stated concentration from a single source for the whole study
- ethics approval and trial registration before the first enrolment
- an assessor counting lesions who does not know which peel was used
What derails it
Lesion counting is tedious and drifts as the counter tires, so fix the counting regions, use the same assessor, and have a second person recount a subsample to document agreement, otherwise the difference you report may be counting fatigue.
Topic 07 / 43
Link to this entry
Melasma severity by the MASI score and pigment distribution on Wood's lamp examination
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Distribution of epidermal, dermal and mixed patterns on Wood's lamp, with the mean MASI score in each
Collection time
8 to 10 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 120–180 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a Wood's lamp and a darkened examination room
- one examiner scoring MASI throughout, with a written scoring sheet
- a standardised photography setup for the record
What derails it
MASI scoring is subjective between examiners and the area component in particular varies widely, so train on a set of photographs, keep one scorer, and report your own intra-observer agreement from repeat scoring of a pilot subset.
Topic 08 / 43
Link to this entry
Oral tranexamic acid as an adjunct to topical therapy in melasma
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Change in MASI score from baseline to the end of the treatment period, compared between adjunct and topical-only arms
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per arm, subject to a proper calculation using the standard deviation of MASI change
What your unit must already have
- ethics approval and trial registration, with a screening protocol to exclude thrombotic risk
- a single scorer blinded to allocation, scoring standardised photographs
- a coagulation screen and history taking for contraindications documented for every patient
What derails it
Screening out thrombotic risk factors, including oral contraceptive use and pregnancy plans, removes a significant share of the young women who form most of the melasma clinic, so count eligible patients after exclusions before fixing your number.
Topic 09 / 43
Link to this entry
Metabolic syndrome components in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion meeting a stated definition of metabolic syndrome, in relation to PASI score and disease duration
Collection time
12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 120–180 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- fasting glucose and lipids on every participant, requiring a fasting visit
- waist circumference measured by one observer at a fixed landmark
- PASI scored by one trained examiner
What derails it
Patients on systemic retinoids or methotrexate have lipid changes from the drug itself, so record current and recent systemic therapy with duration and pre-specify whether treated patients are excluded or analysed separately.
Topic 10 / 43
Link to this entry
Response to methotrexate in chronic plaque psoriasis over twelve weeks
DesignProspective observationalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion achieving the stated percentage reduction in PASI at twelve weeks, with adverse effects recorded
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 50–80 patients completing twelve weeks, subject to a calculation against the response proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- a clinic initiating methotrexate with a written dose escalation and monitoring schedule
- liver function and blood counts at the scheduled intervals
- one examiner scoring PASI at every visit
What derails it
Patients discontinue methotrexate after a single episode of nausea or when a local doctor advises against it, so record every discontinuation with its reason and pre-specify how discontinuations are counted in the primary outcome.
Topic 11 / 43
Link to this entry
Nail involvement in psoriasis assessed by the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and onychoscopy
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with nail involvement, with the distribution of dermoscopic nail features recorded
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
around 120–180 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- a dermatoscope suitable for nail examination with a contact plate
- a written list of nail features to be recorded, decided in advance
- KOH or culture to exclude coexisting onychomycosis where relevant
What derails it
Nail findings overlap with those of onychomycosis and the two can coexist in the same nail, so mycological testing of involved nails must be part of the protocol or your nail psoriasis group will include fungal disease and the examiner will say so.
Topic 12 / 43
Link to this entry
Screening for psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion screening positive on the screening tool, with the proportion confirmed on rheumatological assessment
Collection time
12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 150–250 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- the screening tool in a documented local translation
- a rheumatologist or physician willing to assess every screen-positive patient
- joint examination findings recorded on a standard form
What derails it
The confirmation step is the weak link, because a rheumatology appointment that takes six weeks means screen-positive patients never get assessed, so agree a same-day or same-week slot in writing before the synopsis goes in.
Topic 13 / 43
Link to this entry
Thyroid function abnormalities in patients with non-segmental vitiligo
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with an abnormal TSH with reflex free T4, in relation to VASI score and disease duration
Collection time
12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 150–220 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- TSH and free T4 through one laboratory
- VASI scored by a single trained examiner with a body surface area chart
- anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody if it is part of the objective, which many units must outsource
What derails it
VASI requires an area estimate in hand units across the whole body, which means a full undressed examination that many patients decline, so arrange a private room and a same-gender examiner, and record how many refused full examination.
Topic 14 / 43
Link to this entry
Narrow-band ultraviolet B compared with topical tacrolimus in limited non-segmental vitiligo
DesignComparative interventionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion achieving the stated degree of repigmentation at the end of the treatment period, assessed on standardised photographs
Collection time
18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per group, subject to a proper calculation against the response proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- a working narrow-band ultraviolet B chamber with a maintained dosimetry log
- a standardised photography setup with fixed lighting and distance
- ethics approval, with trial registration if allocation is randomised
What derails it
Phototherapy needs the patient twice or three times a week for months, so the only patients who complete it live nearby; restrict enrolment by travel time, record sessions received, and treat session count as a reported variable rather than an assumption.
Topic 15 / 43
Link to this entry
Dermoscopic features of vitiligo in relation to clinically assessed disease activity
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with each pre-defined dermoscopic feature, compared between lesions classified as active and stable on stated clinical criteria
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 100–150 patients, subject to a proportion calculation per feature
What your unit must already have
- a polarised dermatoscope with image capture
- a written definition of activity and stability applied before dermoscopy
- a second reader for a subset of images to document agreement
What derails it
If the same person judges activity clinically and then reads the dermoscopy, the association is circular, so have the activity assessment recorded by one examiner and the images read by another who does not know that assessment.
Topic 16 / 43
Link to this entry
Trichoscopic patterns in alopecia areata and their relation to the SALT score
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with each pre-defined trichoscopic feature, with the mean SALT score across feature groups
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 100–150 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a dermatoscope with adequate magnification and image capture
- a written feature list fixed before enrolment
- SALT scoring by one examiner using a scalp area chart
What derails it
Trichoscopic features depend on where on the patch you look, and a single image from the centre misses the active margin, so specify the sites to be imaged for every patient and store the images for a second reader.
Topic 17 / 43
Link to this entry
Platelet-rich plasma compared with topical minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityDemanding
Primary outcome
Change in hair density on trichoscopic counting in a marked target area from baseline to the end of the treatment period
Collection time
18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per arm, subject to a proper calculation using the standard deviation of density change
What your unit must already have
- a centrifuge and a written plasma preparation protocol with stated spin parameters
- a tattoo or reproducible marking method for the target area and a dermatoscope for counting
- ethics approval and trial registration before the first enrolment
What derails it
Hair counts are only comparable if you return to exactly the same square centimetre, and without a permanent mark you will not, so decide the marking method at the protocol stage and record the reference landmarks photographically.
Topic 18 / 43
Link to this entry
Serum ferritin and thyroid function in women presenting with diffuse hair loss
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with ferritin below the stated threshold and proportion with an abnormal TSH, in women meeting the clinical criteria for telogen effluvium
Collection time
9 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 150–220 women, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- ferritin and TSH through one laboratory with stated reference ranges
- a hair pull test performed to a fixed method by one examiner
- a structured history covering recent illness, delivery and crash dieting
What derails it
Many of these women have already taken iron and biotin supplements bought over the counter, which changes the ferritin, so ask about supplements by name and duration and pre-specify a washout or separate analysis for supplemented patients.
Topic 19 / 43
Link to this entry
Severity of atopic dermatitis in children by SCORAD and its relation to quality of life
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Mean SCORAD score with the corresponding Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index score
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 100–150 children, subject to a calculation using the standard deviation of the quality of life score
What your unit must already have
- both instruments in documented local translations with permission
- one examiner scoring SCORAD, including the subjective items with a parent
- a private space for the parent interview
What derails it
The itch and sleep-loss components of SCORAD are scored by the parent on a visual analogue scale, and parents anchor those marks to the worst night of the month, so explain the time frame in the local language identically every time and record who answered.
Topic 20 / 43
Link to this entry
Patch test positivity with the Indian Standard Series in patients with chronic hand eczema
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with at least one relevant positive reaction, with the distribution of allergens identified
Collection time
12 to 15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 100–150 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- the standard series with chambers and tape, stored correctly and within expiry
- a reading schedule at forty-eight and ninety-six hours that patients will actually attend
- a structured occupational and domestic exposure history
What derails it
The ninety-six-hour reading is the one patients miss, and a test read only at forty-eight hours misclassifies reactions, so schedule the series so that neither reading falls on a Sunday and record every incomplete reading as such.
Topic 21 / 43
Link to this entry
Pattern of occupational dermatoses among workers attending a dermatology outpatient department
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Distribution of dermatoses judged occupationally related by stated criteria, across occupational groups
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 200–300 working patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a structured occupational history form covering materials handled and protective measures
- stated criteria for attributing a dermatosis to occupation
- patch testing available for the subset where it is indicated
What derails it
Attribution to occupation is a judgement and two dermatologists will disagree, so write the attribution criteria down, have a second assessor classify a subsample independently, and report the agreement instead of asserting the link.
Topic 22 / 43
Link to this entry
Topical permethrin compared with oral ivermectin in uncomplicated scabies
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion clinically cured at the stated follow-up visit, by a definition fixed in advance
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 45–70 per arm, subject to a proper calculation against the cure proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- ethics approval and trial registration before the first enrolment
- an arrangement for simultaneous treatment of household contacts, which must be stated in the protocol
- an outcome assessor who does not know the allocation
What derails it
Reinfestation from untreated household contacts looks exactly like treatment failure, so treatment of contacts must be part of the protocol for both arms and you must record how many households were fully treated.
Topic 23 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinical spectrum, bacteriological index and deformity grading in newly diagnosed leprosy
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Distribution of clinical types with WHO disability grade at diagnosis and the slit-skin smear bacteriological index
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 80–130 patients, governed by how many new cases your unit registers
What your unit must already have
- slit-skin smear facility with a technician trained to grade the bacteriological index
- nerve examination recorded on a standard form with monofilament testing
- linkage to the leprosy programme register for case identification
What derails it
New case detection in most units is a handful each month, so verify the number registered in the last two years from the programme register before committing, and include referred cases only if you can separate them in the analysis.
Topic 24 / 43
Link to this entry
Reactions during multidrug therapy in patients with leprosy
DesignProspective observationalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion developing a type 1 or type 2 reaction during treatment, with time from initiation to the reaction
Collection time
18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 70–110 patients followed through treatment, governed by your registration volume
What your unit must already have
- a leprosy clinic following patients through the full course of therapy
- a written definition of each reaction type with severity grading
- nerve function assessment at fixed intervals by a trained examiner
What derails it
Reactions occur between visits and patients present to a local doctor who gives steroids, so ask at every visit about interim treatment, and define how a reaction reported but not witnessed by you will be classified.
Topic 25 / 43
Link to this entry
Direct immunofluorescence findings and disease extent in pemphigus
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityDemanding
Primary outcome
Proportion with the stated direct immunofluorescence pattern, with the Pemphigus Disease Area Index score at presentation
Collection time
18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 40–70 patients, governed entirely by how many cases your unit sees in a year
What your unit must already have
- a direct immunofluorescence facility, in house or through a formal referral with transport medium
- histopathology on perilesional skin with a pathologist reporting to a stated template
- training in the disease area index with a written scoring sheet
What derails it
Pemphigus is uncommon and immunofluorescence usually means sending specimens in a special medium to another centre, so confirm both the annual case number and the transport arrangement in writing before choosing this question.
Topic 26 / 43
Link to this entry
Pattern and causality assessment of cutaneous adverse drug reactions
DesignProspective observationalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Distribution of reaction patterns with the causality category assigned by a stated assessment scale
Collection time
12 to 15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 100–150 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a referral arrangement with other departments so inpatient reactions reach you
- a causality assessment scale applied by two independent assessors
- the pharmacovigilance reporting format used by the institution
What derails it
Patients present on five drugs started on the same day, which makes a single culprit impossible to assign, so record every drug with its start date, use the causality scale as written, and report the proportion that remained unassignable.
Topic 27 / 43
Link to this entry
SCORTEN at admission and in-hospital outcome in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
DesignRetrospectiveFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
In-hospital mortality in relation to the admission SCORTEN, with the body surface area involved
Collection time
4 to 6 months of record review over several years
Sample, as a planning figure
about 40–90 records, which is usually all that several years of admissions will yield
What your unit must already have
- records retrievable by diagnosis across several years
- the seven SCORTEN variables documented in the admission notes
- ethics committee waiver of consent for record review
What derails it
Reconstructing SCORTEN from old notes fails because serum bicarbonate and urea on day one are often missing, so check a sample of files for all seven variables first; if most are incomplete, make it prospective or change the outcome.
Topic 28 / 43
Link to this entry
Cutaneous manifestations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with each pre-defined cutaneous finding, in relation to glycaemic control and diabetes duration
Collection time
9 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 250–350 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- access to the diabetes clinic for systematic whole-body examination
- HbA1c done on one analyser for all participants
- a written checklist of findings with definitions, fixed before enrolment
What derails it
A study of cutaneous findings requires an undressed examination including the feet and genital area, which the diabetes clinic is not set up for, so secure a private examination room and a fixed examination sequence or the findings will reflect what was easy to see.
Topic 29 / 43
Link to this entry
Cutaneous findings and pruritus severity in patients on maintenance haemodialysis
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with each cutaneous finding, with pruritus severity scored on the 5-D itch scale
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 100–150 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- nephrology agreement for examination in the dialysis unit between sessions
- the 5-D itch scale in a documented local translation
- a record of dialysis vintage and adequacy parameters from the unit file
What derails it
Itch is worse during and immediately after dialysis, so scoring patients on the chair gives a different answer from scoring them at a clinic visit; fix the timing relative to the session and record it for every patient.
Topic 30 / 43
Link to this entry
Mucocutaneous manifestations in people living with HIV in relation to CD4 stratum
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with each pre-defined mucocutaneous condition, across CD4 count strata
Collection time
12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 150–250 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- an antiretroviral therapy centre willing to refer patients for dermatological examination
- CD4 counts recorded within a stated interval of the examination
- ethics approval with explicit confidentiality safeguards and a private examination area
What derails it
Patients at an antiretroviral therapy centre guard their privacy closely and will not attend a dermatology OPD where acquaintances might see them, so arrange examination within the centre itself and record how many declined referral.
Topic 31 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinico-aetiological profile of genital ulcer disease in a sexually transmitted infection clinic
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Distribution of aetiological diagnoses established by a stated combination of clinical features and laboratory tests
Collection time
12 to 15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 80–130 patients, governed by the clinic's attendance
What your unit must already have
- dark-ground microscopy or serological testing for syphilis with a stated algorithm
- Tzanck smear or a herpes test as available, with the method stated
- a private consultation space and a trained counsellor for HIV testing
What derails it
Attendance at a sexually transmitted infection clinic is small and falls further if confidentiality is doubted, so the realistic constraint is the clinic register; check the last two years of attendance before fixing your sample.
Topic 32 / 43
Link to this entry
Intralesional vitamin D3 compared with intralesional measles-mumps-rubella antigen in cutaneous warts
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with complete clearance of the treated and distant warts at the stated follow-up visit
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per arm, subject to a proper calculation against the clearance proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- ethics approval and trial registration before the first enrolment
- a reliable supply of both injectable agents for the whole study period
- standardised photographs of treated and distant lesions at every visit
What derails it
Warts resolve on their own over months, so a trial without a defined minimum lesion duration and a comparison arm cannot attribute clearance to treatment; set a minimum duration in the inclusion criteria and state it in the title.
Topic 33 / 43
Link to this entry
Intralesional triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil compared with triamcinolone alone in keloids
DesignRandomised controlledFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Change in a stated scar assessment score from baseline to the end of the injection schedule
Collection time
15 to 18 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 25–45 per arm, subject to a proper calculation using the standard deviation of score change
What your unit must already have
- ethics approval and trial registration, with a protocol for handling atrophy and hypopigmentation
- a scar assessment instrument applied by an assessor blinded to allocation
- standardised photographs and a lesion measurement method
What derails it
Keloid height and pliability are graded by feel as much as by sight, so the assessor must handle the lesion without knowing the arm, which means the injecting doctor cannot be the assessor; write that separation into the protocol.
Topic 34 / 43
Link to this entry
Cryotherapy compared with topical podophyllin for anogenital warts
DesignComparative interventionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion with complete clearance at the stated end point, with recurrence at the later follow-up visit
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 30–50 per group, subject to a proper calculation against the clearance proportion assumed
What your unit must already have
- a cryotherapy unit with a reliable liquid nitrogen supply
- a private treatment room and a counsellor for partner notification
- ethics approval, with trial registration if allocation is randomised
What derails it
Liquid nitrogen supply is the practical risk, because a fortnight without it breaks the treatment schedule for everyone enrolled, so confirm the supply arrangement for the whole study period and record every missed session.
Topic 35 / 43
Link to this entry
Dermoscopy in differentiating lichen planus from discoid lupus erythematosus, against histopathology
DesignDiagnostic accuracyFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Sensitivity and specificity of pre-defined dermoscopic criteria against histopathological diagnosis as the reference standard
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 80–130 lesions, driven by the expected sensitivity and the mix of the two conditions in your clinic
What your unit must already have
- a polarised dermatoscope with image capture and a written criteria list
- biopsy on every enrolled lesion with histopathology reported blind to the dermoscopy
- a second dermoscopy reader for agreement on a subset
What derails it
Biopsy refusal is the limiting step, because patients accept a photograph and decline a punch biopsy, so expect attrition between enrolment and reference standard and record every refusal rather than substituting a clinical diagnosis.
Topic 36 / 43
Link to this entry
KOH microscopy and nail plate histopathology compared with fungal culture in suspected onychomycosis
DesignDiagnostic accuracyFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Sensitivity and specificity of each test against fungal culture as the reference standard
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 100–150 patients, driven by the expected sensitivity and the culture-positive proportion
What your unit must already have
- nail clipping collection with a stated sampling method and adequate material
- periodic acid-Schiff staining of nail clippings by the pathology department
- fungal culture with a documented incubation period
What derails it
Nail culture takes four weeks, samples come back contaminated, and a clearly diseased nail can still grow nothing, so state in the protocol that culture is an imperfect reference standard, plan the timeline around the incubation period, and pre-specify how contaminated and negative cultures are handled.
Topic 37 / 43
Link to this entry
Pattern of dermatoses in children attending a dermatology outpatient department
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Distribution of diagnostic categories by age band, with the proportion of infectious and inflammatory conditions
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
around 400–600 children, since a descriptive spread needs volume; refine with a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a diagnostic classification fixed before enrolment, ideally by a standard grouping
- KOH and Tzanck facilities for confirmation where relevant
- a consent and assent process appropriate for children
What derails it
A descriptive study of everything reads as a tally unless there is a secondary question attached, so pair the pattern with something specific, such as seasonality or prior treatment, and write that as the second objective.
Topic 38 / 43
Link to this entry
Pattern of dermatoses in elderly patients attending a dermatology outpatient department
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Distribution of diagnostic categories with the proportion having more than one concurrent dermatosis
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 300–450 patients above sixty, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a diagnostic grouping fixed before enrolment
- a systemic comorbidity and drug history recorded for each patient
- an examination room where an elderly patient can undress with assistance
What derails it
Elderly patients attend with one complaint and will not undergo a full examination unless it is offered with help, so plan for an attendant and a couch, and record the examination extent for every patient so partial examinations are visible.
Topic 39 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinical profile of lichen planus and the frequency of mucosal and appendageal involvement
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with mucosal, nail and scalp involvement among patients with cutaneous lichen planus
Collection time
10 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 120–180 patients, subject to a prevalence calculation
What your unit must already have
- oral examination with adequate lighting and a dental mirror
- a written definition of each involvement category
- histopathological confirmation in clinically uncertain cases
What derails it
Oral lesions are missed unless someone looks properly with a light and retractor, and a dermatologist examining skin alone will report a much lower figure, so fix an oral examination protocol and record who performed it.
Topic 40 / 43
Link to this entry
Hirsutism severity by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score and hormonal profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Mean modified Ferriman-Gallwey score with the distribution of hormonal abnormalities on a stated panel
Collection time
12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 100–150 women, subject to a calculation using the standard deviation of the score
What your unit must already have
- gynaecology collaboration for diagnosis by stated criteria
- a hormonal panel through one laboratory with sampling timed to the cycle
- one trained examiner scoring hirsutism in a private room
What derails it
The hormone values depend on the day of the cycle and on recent hormonal treatment, so specify the cycle day for sampling, exclude recent hormonal therapy by a stated interval, and record cycle irregularity that makes timing impossible.
Topic 41 / 43
Link to this entry
Quality of life across chronic dermatoses using the Dermatology Life Quality Index
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score compared across diagnostic groups, with severity recorded by a disease-specific instrument
Collection time
9 to 12 months
Sample, as a planning figure
around 250–350 patients across the groups, subject to a calculation using the standard deviation of the index
What your unit must already have
- the index in a validated local-language version with permission to use it
- a disease-specific severity instrument for each group included
- self-completion where literacy allows, with an interviewer script where it does not
What derails it
Half of your patients will need the questionnaire read to them, and an interviewer-read index gives different answers from a self-completed one, so record the mode of administration for every patient and report it as a variable.
Topic 42 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinico-histopathological correlation in vesiculobullous disorders of the skin
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityModerate
Primary outcome
Proportion in whom the histopathological diagnosis agreed with the initial clinical diagnosis, reported with a kappa statistic
Collection time
15 months
Sample, as a planning figure
about 70–110 patients, governed by how many such cases present in a year
What your unit must already have
- a pathologist reporting skin biopsies to a stated template, blinded to the clinical diagnosis
- biopsy facilities with correct fixation and, where possible, immunofluorescence
- a clinical diagnosis recorded before the biopsy is reported
What derails it
The clinical diagnosis must be written down and sealed before the histopathology report arrives, otherwise agreement is an artefact of the report; record it on the requisition copy retained by you, not in the case file.
Topic 43 / 43
Link to this entry
Clinico-mycological study of pityriasis versicolor with Wood's lamp examination
DesignCross-sectionalFeasibilityStraightforward
Primary outcome
Proportion with a positive KOH mount showing the characteristic morphology, with the distribution of clinical patterns and Wood's lamp fluorescence
Collection time
9 months
Sample, as a planning figure
roughly 150–220 patients, subject to a proportion calculation
What your unit must already have
- a KOH bench with a technician and a stated staining method
- a Wood's lamp and a darkened room
- a written record of prior antifungal use
What derails it
Fluorescence is abolished by a bath taken that morning and by any antifungal applied in the preceding days, so ask about both, record the interval, and report fluorescence separately in those who had neither.

The designs

What each design commits you to

The designs in this Dermatology register

The design is not a label on the title; it decides your ethics route, your timetable and the test that answers your primary question. Only the designs that appear above are explained here.

Cross-sectional
27 topics
One contact per participant. Usually the quickest to complete, and the design most often chosen when time is short.
Prospective observational
3 topics
Participants are followed after enrolment without allocating an intervention. Ethics approval must precede the first enrolment.
Retrospective
1 topic
Existing records only. Faster, but limited by what was recorded, and a waiver of consent is normally sought from the ethics committee.
Comparative interventional
3 topics
Two or more arms compared. Ethics scrutiny is heavier, and the protocol must state how allocation is handled.
Randomised controlled
7 topics
Allocation is randomised. Prospective interventional studies are registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India before the first participant is enrolled.
Diagnostic accuracy
2 topics
An index test measured against a reference standard. The sample size depends on the expected sensitivity or specificity and the prevalence in your setting.

What the feasibility mark means

A judgement about a typical teaching unit, not about yours. Confirm the volume, the equipment and the co-operation a topic needs before your synopsis goes in, because after that the timetable stops being negotiable^[2].

Straightforward
14 topics
Achievable in most teaching units with routine caseload and no equipment beyond what is already in use.
Moderate
27 topics
Achievable, but needs either a specific piece of equipment, a collaborating department, or a caseload you should confirm before committing.
Demanding
2 topics
Only take this on if your unit already has the volume, the equipment and the co-operation it needs. Confirm all three before your synopsis goes in.

Next steps

Before you commit to one

What to do with a topic you like

Three steps, in this order. None of them is us: the first is arithmetic, the second is your guide, the third is a search only you can run.

Do the arithmetic
The figure on each plate is a planning range, not an answer. Put your own assumptions — the difference you would call clinically meaningful, the variability you expect, the power you want — into the free sample size calculator, then divide the result by the eligible patients your unit sees in a month and see whether the months you have left permit it.
Take it to your guide
Nothing on this page is approved by anybody. Your guide and your department decide what is feasible in your unit, and your ethics committee decides whether it may start — before the first participant, not before the analysis^[5]. Where your university ordinance is stricter than anything here, the ordinance wins^[1].
Run the search yourself
We make no claim that any question here is novel, under-studied or a gap, because that depends on a literature search run today in your own field. Read what the search returns before you write the introduction, and be ready to say why the question is worth asking in your setting.

What a thesis in this field has to satisfy — the obligations, the statistics and the questions residents ask first — is set out on the Dermatology page. Other specialties are in the topic bank index, and the method is worked through in the guides.

Undertakings

Mechanisms, not promises

What protects your draft, and who owns the work

Each line below is a mechanism this platform implements or a published instrument it is built around. None of them is a guarantee, and we are affiliated with no regulator or university.

Protection of your work

Row-level security
Every table enforces row-level access. You read your own record, and nothing else.
View-only streaming
Drafts are streamed to you through an authenticated route, not handed over as a file.
Watermarked to you
Every page you read carries your own name and email across it.
Download gated
The final file unlocks when the fee is settled in full, and not before.
Mumbai region · DPDP 2023
Your record and your documents are held in the Mumbai region, so India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 applies to them.
Anonymised data only
We accept no patient identifiers. An NDA is available on request.

How this works

Instruments we work to

NMC PGMER-2023
The thesis obligations set out in the postgraduate medical education regulations.
NBEMS
DNB and DrNB protocol and thesis timelines, and the page limit, as published.
UGC 2018 · <10%
The academic integrity convention we work to on every draft.
ICMJE · Vancouver
Authorship criteria and reference style, applied as published.
No affiliation
We work to these published instruments. We are affiliated to none of the bodies that issue them.

How this works

Authorship and the uniqueness check

Sole author
Mentoring, editing, statistics and compliance. You remain the sole author of your thesis.
Not ghostwriting
We will not write your thesis for you, and we will not be named in it.
MDSoftune
Word-level uniqueness checking, built with REDENN Informatics Inc., Canada.
Every version
Each draft is checked word by word before your university sees it.

How this works

MDThesis is an independent academic mentorship practice. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for the NMC, NBEMS, UGC or any university.

Free feasibility call

Tell us where your thesis stands. A senior doctor will tell you what to do next.

A senior doctor replies within one working day. No obligation. MD, MS, DNB, DrNB, DM, MCh, MDS and international programmes.

Request for a feasibility call

No obligation

Reply within one working day · No obligation · Your details are not shared

Prefer to write to us first? Contact the practice. We mentor and edit; you remain the sole author of your thesis.

References

[1]
Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, National Medical Commission. In force 1 January 2024. Thesis requirements at Regulation 5.2. nmc.org.in
[2]
DNB and DrNB thesis guidelines, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. Protocol within 180 days of joining for three-year courses and 90 days for the two-year post-diploma DNB; research study complete by 24 months; thesis by 26 months; 80-page limit inclusive of certificates and annexures. natboard.edu.in
[5]
National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants, 2017, Indian Council of Medical Research. Ethics approval precedes data collection. icmr.gov.in
[6]
Counts of specialties, tracked stages, supported currencies and supported countries are structural facts of this platform, read from its own configuration rather than from a claim.

Document: Topic bank — Dermatology · Revision 1 · Last reviewed 10 SEPT 2026

Issued by MDThesis, a brand of REDENN Informatics Private Limited

Dermatology thesis topics, with the design and feasibility for eachDermatology thesis topics, with the design and feasibility for each

Clinico-mycological profile of dermatophytosis in a dermatology outpatient department

Clinical pattern of steroid-modified tinea and prior topical use in patients attending a dermatology clinic

Itraconazole compared with terbinafine in tinea corporis and tinea cruris

Acne severity by the Global Acne Grading System and its relation to quality of life

Microneedling with platelet-rich plasma compared with microneedling alone for atrophic acne scars

Salicylic acid compared with glycolic acid chemical peel in mild to moderate acne

Melasma severity by the MASI score and pigment distribution on Wood's lamp examination

Oral tranexamic acid as an adjunct to topical therapy in melasma

Metabolic syndrome components in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

Response to methotrexate in chronic plaque psoriasis over twelve weeks

Nail involvement in psoriasis assessed by the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and onychoscopy

Screening for psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool

Thyroid function abnormalities in patients with non-segmental vitiligo

Narrow-band ultraviolet B compared with topical tacrolimus in limited non-segmental vitiligo

Dermoscopic features of vitiligo in relation to clinically assessed disease activity

Trichoscopic patterns in alopecia areata and their relation to the SALT score

Platelet-rich plasma compared with topical minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia

Serum ferritin and thyroid function in women presenting with diffuse hair loss

Severity of atopic dermatitis in children by SCORAD and its relation to quality of life

Patch test positivity with the Indian Standard Series in patients with chronic hand eczema

Pattern of occupational dermatoses among workers attending a dermatology outpatient department

Topical permethrin compared with oral ivermectin in uncomplicated scabies

Clinical spectrum, bacteriological index and deformity grading in newly diagnosed leprosy

Reactions during multidrug therapy in patients with leprosy

Direct immunofluorescence findings and disease extent in pemphigus

Pattern and causality assessment of cutaneous adverse drug reactions

SCORTEN at admission and in-hospital outcome in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Cutaneous manifestations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cutaneous findings and pruritus severity in patients on maintenance haemodialysis

Mucocutaneous manifestations in people living with HIV in relation to CD4 stratum

Clinico-aetiological profile of genital ulcer disease in a sexually transmitted infection clinic

Intralesional vitamin D3 compared with intralesional measles-mumps-rubella antigen in cutaneous warts

Intralesional triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil compared with triamcinolone alone in keloids

Cryotherapy compared with topical podophyllin for anogenital warts

Dermoscopy in differentiating lichen planus from discoid lupus erythematosus, against histopathology

KOH microscopy and nail plate histopathology compared with fungal culture in suspected onychomycosis

Pattern of dermatoses in children attending a dermatology outpatient department

Pattern of dermatoses in elderly patients attending a dermatology outpatient department

Clinical profile of lichen planus and the frequency of mucosal and appendageal involvement

Hirsutism severity by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score and hormonal profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Quality of life across chronic dermatoses using the Dermatology Life Quality Index

Clinico-histopathological correlation in vesiculobullous disorders of the skin

Clinico-mycological study of pityriasis versicolor with Wood's lamp examination

What the feasibility mark means

Tell us where your thesis stands. A senior doctor will tell you what to do next.

Dermatology thesis topics, with the design and feasibility for each