Red inflamed skin lesions with silvery scales are characteristic of which condition?

• A. Rosacea
• B. Impetigo
• C. Psoriasis
• D. Warts

Answer: (C)

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by red, well-demarcated plaques that are thickened and covered with silvery-white scales. The scales form because skin cells multiply more quickly than normal and pile up on the surface, creating the characteristic flaky, shiny appearance. These plaques often appear on the elbows, knees, and scalp and can be itchy or tender. This pattern is distinct from rosacea, which mainly causes persistent facial redness and visible blood vessels rather than scaly plaques. Impetigo shows honey-colored crusts from a bacterial infection, not silvery scales. Warts are rough, raised growths caused by HPV and lack the silvery scaling seen in psoriasis. So the description points to psoriasis.