Final answer:
Skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatophytic infections such as ringworm present with symptoms like erythematous bases, scaly skin, and nail pitting. Psoriasis can lead to psoriatic arthritis, and dermatophytes cause infections by breaking down keratin in the skin, hair, and nails.
Step-by-step explanation:
An erythematous base with scaly skin and nail pitting is often associated with the chronic skin condition known as psoriasis. Psoriasis can cause itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales and is commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet. Not only can it affect the skin, but it can also result in a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis.
Other concerns such as dermatophytic skin infections, which include athlete's foot, ringworm, and jock itch, are caused by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes. These infections affect the skin, hair, and nails and are characterized by red, itchy rashes and can even cause the nail to become yellow, brittle, and prone to breaking.
It's important to note that these fungi organisms, despite being called "dermatophytes" (from the Greek words for skin and plant), are not actually plants. They secrete extracellular enzymes that break down keratin, which is responsible for much of the visible damage to epidermal layers.
In the context of fungal infections, a clinical case highlighted is that of a 7-year-old with a red circular spot with a raised edge, diagnosed as ringworm using a Wood's lamp examination. This condition is usually treated with antifungal creams and sometimes oral medications for more persistent cases.