← Full lesson and references Paired practice cardsSt Emlyn’s · MLA

Candidate brief Examiner checklist

One learner performs. One learner checks the key steps and gives feedback. Then swap roles. This is a practice aid, not an official mark scheme.

Candidate

Skin examination

MLA · Paired examination practice

Your task

You are a medical student. Examine the skin and describe the findings. Present your findings and discuss appropriate next steps with the responsible clinician.

Starting information

Use a consenting partner for a non-intimate examination, or an appropriate teaching image.

Suggested practice time: 8–10 minutes for a focused run, followed by feedback. Allow longer to practise the full sequence. This is not an official examination timing.

St Emlyn’s · MLA · Practice aid, not an official mark schemeCandidate card

Show examiner checklist

Examiner / observer

Skin examination

Tick the actions you observe. Discuss any step that was not needed for this examination; unchecked boxes are not a score.

Examiner / observer · 1 of 2

Skin examination

Preparation · History and general assessment

Agree supervision and any communication or chaperone support before starting. Use a consenting partner for a non-intimate skin examination, or an appropriately sourced teaching image with its limitations stated. Provide good lighting.

Preparation

Introduces themself by name and as a medical student.

Confirms the patient’s identity.

Explains the purpose and extent of the examination.

Obtains consent before starting. Key step

Asks about pain and any urgent symptoms. Key step

Performs hand hygiene.

Uses appropriate protective equipment.

Provides suitable exposure and privacy, keeping other areas covered.

Positions the patient comfortably.

Explains that the patient can ask them to stop. Key step

History and general assessment

Asks about onset, evolution, symptoms, medicines, products, exposures and systemic illness.

Includes relevant travel, recent illness and changes in cosmetics or cleaning products.

Assesses comfort and distribution of the rash.

Reviews blood pressure, respiratory rate, saturation and temperature; glucose only if indicated.

St Emlyn’s · MLA · Practice aid, not an official mark schemeObserver 1 of 2

Examiner / observer · 2 of 2

Skin examination

Lesion description · Close

Lesion description

Uses good light and describes site, distribution, number, size and shape.

Describes colour, surface and lesion type, taking skin tone into account.

Assesses blanching where relevant and checks tenderness, warmth and mucosal involvement.

Inspects hair, scalp, nails, eyes, mouth and nodes as indicated, explaining and consenting any further exposure.

Close

Restores comfort and privacy, offers help with dressing and thanks the patient.

Ask the candidate

How would you present your findings and their significance? Describe morphology and distribution before proposing a diagnosis or treatment. Relate findings to history and severity; do not automatically prescribe antibiotics for weeping eczema or steroids for every dry rash. Widespread blistering, mucosal involvement, rapidly progressive pain or systemic illness needs urgent review.

What would you do next, and why? Explain the important uncertainty, a relevant next assessment and when help is needed. State what you could not assess.

Feedback

What went well:

One thing to improve:

Try again focusing on:

St Emlyn’s · MLA · Practice aid, not an official mark schemeObserver 2 of 2

Print produces a fresh set with empty checkboxes. Your on-screen checklist is kept until you reset it or reload this page.

Return to the examination notes and references