HPCSA Dermatology Research Topics for Registrars – South Africa

Comprehensive list of dermatology research topics designed specifically for HPCSA registrars in South Africa. These topics address common and high-impact dermatological challenges including acne, eczema, psoriasis, pigmentary disorders, HIV-related skin disease, cutaneous infections, sexually transmitted infections, skin cancer, paediatric dermatology, hair disorders, drug reactions, occupational dermatoses, and dermatology service delivery across district hospitals, regional hospitals, provincial hospitals, dermatology clinics, HIV clinics, pathology departments, and tertiary academic centres.

Why These Dermatology Research Topics Work for HPCSA Registrars

HPCSA dermatology registrar research must be feasible within the 4-year training programme while addressing clinically relevant questions in South African dermatology practice. Each topic below has been selected for:

• Clinical relevance: Addresses real dermatological problems commonly seen in South African dermatology outpatient clinics, HIV clinics, paediatric clinics, and inpatient services
• Feasibility: Achievable within dermatology clinics, skin biopsy records, mycology laboratories, STI clinics, HIV services, allergy clinics, and dermatopathology departments
• Ethical approval: Clear pathways for IRB submission, retrospective record review, informed consent where required, confidentiality protection, and supervisor approval
• Publication potential: Suitable for South African Medical Journal, African Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, Dermatology, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, or international dermatology journals
• South African disease burden: Focuses on HIV-associated dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, infectious dermatoses, eczema, acne, occupational skin disease, cutaneous malignancy, and resource-appropriate dermatology care

Inflammatory Dermatoses, Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis Research Topics

Topic 1: Acne Vulgaris Severity and Quality of Life in Adolescents

Research Question: What is the relationship between acne severity and quality of life among adolescents attending a dermatology outpatient clinic?

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic or adolescent health clinic

Why This Works: Acne is common and psychologically important, validated acne grading and quality-of-life tools can be used, and factors such as gender, age, scarring, treatment history, self-medication, and psychosocial distress can be assessed in a feasible registrar project.

Topic 2: Treatment Adherence in Patients With Acne Vulgaris

Research Question: What patient-related and treatment-related factors are associated with poor adherence to acne therapy?

Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Acne treatment requires long-term adherence, and the study can assess topical treatment burden, side effects, cost, duration of therapy, expectations, counselling, use of cosmetic products, and follow-up attendance.

Topic 3: Atopic Dermatitis Severity and Trigger Factors in Children

Research Question: What are the common trigger factors and severity patterns among children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis?

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study

Setting: Paediatric dermatology clinic or general dermatology clinic

Why This Works: Atopic dermatitis is common in children, validated severity scores such as SCORAD or EASI can be used, and triggers such as climate, soaps, allergens, infections, food concerns, family history, and treatment adherence can be evaluated.

Topic 4: Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Eczema

Research Question: What is the impact of chronic eczema on quality of life and daily functioning among adult patients?

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Chronic eczema affects sleep, work, social interaction, and mental health, tools such as DLQI can be used, and the study can assess severity, duration, occupational exposure, treatment response, and comorbid allergic disease.

Topic 5: Psoriasis Severity and Metabolic Syndrome

Research Question: What is the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriasis and how does it correlate with psoriasis severity?

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease, variables such as BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile, PASI score, disease duration, and treatment history can be studied.

Topic 6: Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Among Patients With Psoriasis

Research Question: What proportion of psoriasis patients have symptoms suggestive of psoriatic arthritis and what clinical factors are associated with joint involvement?

Study Design: Cross-sectional screening study

Setting: Dermatology clinic with rheumatology referral linkage

Why This Works: Psoriatic arthritis is often underdiagnosed, screening questionnaires can be used, and associations with nail disease, scalp psoriasis, disease duration, PASI score, family history, and functional impairment can be assessed.

Topic 7: Chronic Urticaria: Clinical Profile and Treatment Response

Research Question: What are the clinical characteristics, associated factors, and treatment outcomes of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria?

Study Design: Retrospective or prospective observational study

Setting: Dermatology or allergy clinic

Why This Works: Chronic urticaria is frequently encountered and affects quality of life, records can provide duration, angioedema, triggers, thyroid disease, autoimmune associations, antihistamine dose escalation, and symptom control outcomes.

Topic 8: Lichen Planus: Clinical Patterns and Associated Conditions

Research Question: What are the clinical variants, mucosal involvement patterns, and associated systemic conditions among patients with lichen planus?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic and dermatopathology department

Why This Works: Lichen planus has multiple clinical forms, biopsy confirmation may be available, and the study can assess oral, genital, nail, scalp, hypertrophic, and drug-induced variants along with comorbidities and treatment response.

Topic 9: Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and HIV Status

Research Question: What is the relationship between seborrhoeic dermatitis severity and HIV-related clinical markers?

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Setting: Dermatology clinic or HIV clinic

Why This Works: Seborrhoeic dermatitis may be more severe in immunosuppressed patients, and the study can correlate severity with CD4 count, viral load, ART status, duration of HIV diagnosis, and other mucocutaneous manifestations.

Topic 10: Contact Dermatitis and Patch Test Positivity

Research Question: What are the common allergens identified among patients clinically suspected to have allergic contact dermatitis?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology allergy or patch testing clinic

Why This Works: Contact dermatitis is common but often under-investigated, patch test records can identify nickel, fragrance mix, preservatives, rubber chemicals, hair dye allergens, topical medications, and occupational exposures.

Infectious Dermatoses, HIV, STIs and Tropical Dermatology Research Topics

Topic 11: Cutaneous Manifestations Among People Living With HIV

Research Question: What are the common cutaneous manifestations among people living with HIV attending dermatology or HIV services?

Study Design: Cross-sectional or retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology clinic linked to HIV clinic or infectious disease service

Why This Works: HIV-related skin disease remains highly relevant in South Africa, and the study can assess fungal infections, viral infections, bacterial infections, seborrhoeic dermatitis, pruritic papular eruption, Kaposi sarcoma, drug reactions, CD4 count, viral load, and ART status.

Topic 12: Pruritic Papular Eruption in HIV-Positive Patients

Research Question: What is the clinical profile and associated HIV disease markers among patients with pruritic papular eruption?

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Setting: Dermatology clinic or HIV clinic

Why This Works: Pruritic papular eruption is common in HIV-endemic settings, clinical severity can be correlated with CD4 count, viral load, ART adherence, opportunistic infections, and quality-of-life impact.

Topic 13: Dermatophyte Infections: Clinical Patterns and Mycology Profile

Research Question: What are the clinical patterns and fungal species identified among patients with suspected dermatophyte infections?

Study Design: Prospective or retrospective laboratory-based study

Setting: Dermatology clinic and mycology laboratory

Why This Works: Dermatophyte infections are common, KOH and culture results can be analysed, and the study can evaluate tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea pedis, onychomycosis, prior steroid use, diabetes, HIV status, and recurrence.

Topic 14: Tinea Capitis in Children

Research Question: What are the clinical presentations, causative organisms, and treatment outcomes of tinea capitis among children?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive or prospective observational study

Setting: Paediatric dermatology clinic or general dermatology clinic

Why This Works: Tinea capitis is common in children and may cause scarring alopecia if untreated, mycology data can identify causative species, and the study can assess kerion, lymphadenopathy, household transmission, treatment used, and recurrence.

Topic 15: Scabies Burden and Treatment Outcomes

Research Question: What is the clinical burden, household clustering, and treatment response among patients diagnosed with scabies?

Study Design: Cross-sectional or prospective observational study

Setting: Dermatology clinic, primary care clinic, school clinic, or community health centre

Why This Works: Scabies is contagious and associated with overcrowding, and the study can assess household spread, secondary bacterial infection, treatment adherence, reinfestation, and barriers to treating contacts.

Topic 16: Bacterial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Research Question: What are the clinical patterns, bacterial isolates, antibiotic resistance patterns, and outcomes of skin and soft tissue infections?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology inpatient service, emergency department, or microbiology laboratory

Why This Works: Skin infections are common and may require admission, culture and sensitivity data can guide local antibiotic policy, and the study can assess cellulitis, abscess, impetigo, diabetes, HIV status, MRSA, complications, and length of stay.

Topic 17: Herpes Zoster: Clinical Profile and HIV Association

Research Question: What are the clinical patterns and associated immunosuppressive factors among patients presenting with herpes zoster?

Study Design: Retrospective or cross-sectional study

Setting: Dermatology clinic or emergency department

Why This Works: Herpes zoster may indicate immunosuppression, and the study can evaluate age, dermatomal distribution, ophthalmic involvement, HIV status, CD4 count, diabetes, recurrence, post-herpetic neuralgia, and antiviral treatment timing.

Topic 18: Sexually Transmitted Infections Presenting to Dermatology Services

Research Question: What are the common STI presentations, diagnostic patterns, and treatment outcomes among patients seen in dermatology or STI clinics?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology clinic, STI clinic, or infectious disease service

Why This Works: STIs are highly relevant to public health, and the study can assess genital ulcers, syphilis, genital warts, herpes genitalis, HIV co-infection, partner notification, syndromic management, serology results, and follow-up.

Topic 19: Syphilis Seropositivity Among Dermatology Patients

Research Question: What is the prevalence and clinical profile of syphilis among patients presenting with compatible dermatological manifestations?

Study Design: Retrospective laboratory-linked study

Setting: Dermatology clinic and serology laboratory

Why This Works: Syphilis can mimic many skin diseases, serology data are available, and the study can examine rash patterns, mucosal lesions, alopecia, genital ulcers, HIV co-infection, treatment documentation, and follow-up serological response.

Topic 20: Cutaneous Tuberculosis and Atypical Mycobacterial Infections

Research Question: What are the clinical and histopathological patterns of cutaneous tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial skin infections?

Study Design: Retrospective case series

Setting: Dermatology clinic, dermatopathology department, and microbiology laboratory

Why This Works: TB remains endemic in South Africa, cutaneous forms may be under-recognised, and the study can evaluate lupus vulgaris, scrofuloderma, tuberculids, atypical mycobacterial ulcers, biopsy features, AFB staining, culture, PCR, HIV status, and treatment response.

Pigmentary Disorders, Hair Disorders, Skin Cancer and Dermatology Service Research Topics

Topic 21: Vitiligo Severity and Quality of Life

Research Question: What is the impact of vitiligo on quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing among patients attending dermatology clinics?

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Vitiligo has major psychosocial impact, validated quality-of-life scales can be used, and the study can assess body surface area involvement, visible-site involvement, disease duration, family history, treatment history, stigma, and anxiety or depressive symptoms.

Topic 22: Melasma in Women of Reproductive Age

Research Question: What are the clinical patterns, risk factors, and quality-of-life impact of melasma among women of reproductive age?

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study

Setting: Dermatology clinic

Why This Works: Melasma is common in skin of colour, and the study can assess pregnancy history, hormonal contraception, sun exposure, sunscreen use, family history, MASI score, treatment history, recurrence, and psychosocial burden.

Topic 23: Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation After Acne

Research Question: What factors are associated with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation among patients treated for acne vulgaris?

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Setting: Dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a major concern in darker skin types, and the study can correlate pigmentation severity with acne severity, lesion manipulation, delayed treatment, topical steroid use, sunscreen use, and quality of life.

Topic 24: Alopecia Areata: Clinical Profile and Associated Autoimmune Disease

Research Question: What are the clinical patterns and associated autoimmune conditions among patients diagnosed with alopecia areata?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive or cross-sectional study

Setting: Dermatology clinic

Why This Works: Alopecia areata is common and distressing, records can identify patchy alopecia, ophiasis, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, nail involvement, thyroid disease, atopy, family history, and treatment response.

Topic 25: Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia in Women

Research Question: What are the clinical features, hair-care practices, and disease severity patterns among women with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia?

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study

Setting: Dermatology or hair clinic

Why This Works: Cicatricial alopecia is especially relevant in women of African ancestry, and the study can assess traction hairstyles, chemical relaxers, heat use, symptoms, dermoscopy findings, biopsy results, disease duration, and treatment-seeking delays.

Topic 26: Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalised Patients

Research Question: What are the common patterns, culprit drugs, severity, and outcomes of cutaneous adverse drug reactions among hospitalised patients?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology inpatient consult service or hospital pharmacovigilance records

Why This Works: Drug eruptions are clinically important, especially in settings with HIV, TB, and polypharmacy, and the study can assess maculopapular eruptions, urticaria, fixed drug eruption, SJS/TEN, DRESS, culprit drugs, HIV status, systemic involvement, and mortality.

Topic 27: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Research Question: What are the causative drugs, clinical profile, complications, and outcomes among patients diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis?

Study Design: Retrospective case series

Setting: Dermatology ward, ICU, burns unit, or inpatient consult service

Why This Works: SJS/TEN is severe and potentially fatal, data can include culprit medications, HIV status, TB treatment, body surface area involvement, mucosal involvement, SCORTEN, ocular complications, ICU admission, and mortality.

Topic 28: Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Clinical and Histopathological Profile

Research Question: What are the clinical and histopathological patterns of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma among patients treated in a dermatology service?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Dermatology clinic, minor procedure unit, and pathology department

Why This Works: Skin cancer is important in South Africa’s diverse population, pathology data can identify tumour type, anatomical site, risk factors, HIV status, albinism, immunosuppression, excision margins, and recurrence.

Topic 29: Skin Cancer in Patients With Albinism

Research Question: What are the patterns, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of premalignant and malignant skin lesions among patients with albinism?

Study Design: Retrospective descriptive or cross-sectional study

Setting: Dermatology clinic, outreach clinic, or skin cancer screening programme

Why This Works: Persons with albinism are at high risk of preventable skin cancer, and the study can assess sunscreen use, sun exposure, actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, tumour site, delayed presentation, surgery, and recurrence.

Topic 30: Referral Patterns to a Tertiary Dermatology Clinic

Research Question: What are the common reasons for referral to a tertiary dermatology clinic and how appropriate are these referrals?

Study Design: Retrospective audit

Setting: Tertiary dermatology outpatient clinic

Why This Works: Dermatology services are often overburdened, referral letters and final diagnoses can be compared, and the study can identify gaps in primary care dermatology, biopsy referral, HIV-related skin disease management, steroid misuse, and triage systems.

Getting Your HPCSA Research Protocol Generated

If you’ve selected a research topic from this list, the next step is developing a comprehensive research protocol that meets HPCSA requirements, gains supervisor approval, and successfully passes IRB review.

What a Complete Research Protocol Includes

• Title and Introduction: Clear research question and background
• Literature Review: Summary of current evidence with international journal references relevant to dermatology, venereology, dermatopathology, HIV-related skin disease, inflammatory dermatoses, and skin cancer
• Methodology: Detailed study design, population, sampling, inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, dermatological examination methods, severity scoring tools, biopsy or laboratory methods, data collection procedures, and outcome measures
• Statistical Analysis: Sample size calculation, descriptive analysis, comparative statistics, regression analysis, diagnostic accuracy analysis, quality-of-life scoring, or risk factor modelling where appropriate
• Ethical Considerations: IRB submission requirements, informed consent where applicable, confidentiality, privacy for STI and HIV-related data, protection of patient photographs, and secure handling of dermatology records
• Timeline: Gantt chart with realistic milestones for 4-year registrar training
• Budget: Resource requirements and cost breakdown
• References: Vancouver or APA style citations

Journals for HPCSA Dermatology Research

South African Journals

• South African Medical Journal (SAMJ) – Accepts dermatology, HIV-related skin disease, public health, infectious disease, and service delivery research
• African Journal of Dermatology and Venereology – Suitable for dermatology, venereology, infectious dermatoses, and skin disease research in African populations
• African Health Sciences – Suitable for public health dermatology, HIV-related disease, tropical dermatology, and resource-appropriate dermatology care

International Journals

• British Journal of Dermatology – High-impact dermatology research journal
• Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology – Major international dermatology journal
• JAMA Dermatology – Leading dermatology journal for clinical and epidemiological research
• Clinical and Experimental Dermatology – Broad clinical dermatology research journal
• International Journal of Dermatology – Suitable for global dermatology and tropical dermatology research
• Dermatology – Clinical and investigative dermatology research
• Pediatric Dermatology – Paediatric skin disease research

HPCSA Dermatology Registrar Research Requirements

All HPCSA dermatology registrars must complete a research project during their 4-year specialist training programme. The research protocol should be developed early in training, approved by a supervisor, submitted for institutional ethics review before data collection, and aligned with clinically relevant dermatology and venereology priorities in South Africa.

Given South Africa’s dermatology priorities – including HIV-related skin disease, infectious dermatoses, acne, eczema, psoriasis, pigmentary disorders, hair disorders, drug reactions, STI-related skin disease, skin cancer, albinism-related skin cancer risk, and limited access to specialist dermatology services – dermatology research topics should be practical, ethically sound, and relevant to real-world service delivery while maintaining strong academic and methodological standards.