Milady Cosmetology Practice Exam

The skin condition characterized by itching scales and painful circular lesions is commonly known as tinea, which is a fungal infection. Tinea can present in different forms depending on the area affected; for instance, tinea corporis affects the body, tinea pedis affects the feet (often referred to as athlete's foot), and tinea capitis affects the scalp. These fungal infections typically appear as ring-shaped, red patches with clear skin in the center, causing localized itching and discomfort.

While other options like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema involve scaling and itching, they do not specifically describe the circular lesions that tinea presents. Psoriasis usually features thickened, red skin with silvery-white scales but doesn't typically form in circular lesions. Dermatitis generally refers to inflammation of the skin with variations that can involve redness and scaling but lacks the distinct circular pattern of tinea. Eczema, similarly, can involve raised, itchy patches but is characterized more by a generalized distribution rather than the ring-like structure. Thus, the specific description of itchy, scaly, painful circular lesions aligns with tinea as the correct answer.