Objective To explore the teaching effect of rash clue as the main teaching mode in the transfer training of general practitioners in dermatology department. Methods From September 2019 to September 2023, 90 general practitioners who participated in the transfer training of dermatology in Lingling Hospital of Yongzhou Central Hospital were selected to participate in this teaching research. According to the random number table method, they were divided into control group and study group, with 45 general practitioners in each group. The control group implemented the traditional clinical teaching mode with disease as the clue, and the study group adopted the rash clue as the main teaching mode on the basis of traditional teaching. The scores of the two groups, the evaluation of the training by general practitioners and the satisfaction of the teaching effect were compared. Results The scores of theoretical knowledge, basic skills, professional skills and comprehensive quality in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P <0.05). The scores of the study group on the ability to clarify learning objectives, stimulate learning interest, improve the ability to find problems, and enhance practical ability were higher than those of the control group (P <0.05). The total satisfaction of general practitioners in the study group was 97.78%, which was higher than 84.44% in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion The application of rash clues in the training of general practitioners in dermatology teaching is not only conducive to stimulating their interest in learning, but also conducive to improving their comprehensive ability of theoretical knowledge and basic skills. It is a feasible teaching method with high value.