Which skin disease is characterized by red patches covered with silver white scales?

Psoriasis is characterized by red patches covered with silver-white scales, which are typical manifestations of this chronic autoimmune condition. The red patches are areas of inflammation where skin cells multiply rapidly, leading to the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. This results in the silvery scales that are often itchy and can be quite uncomfortable for individuals suffering from the condition. Psoriasis can vary in severity and may affect different areas of the body, including elbows, knees, and the scalp.

In contrast, dermatitis typically presents with inflammation and irritation of the skin but does not usually involve the characteristic scaling seen in psoriasis. Basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma are types of skin cancers and primarily present as abnormal growths or lesions rather than patches covered with scales. Thus, psoriasis is uniquely identifiable by the combination of red patches and silver-white scales, making it the correct answer to the question.