Nurse Terri is assessing a female patient with red, itchy spots assumed to be caused by a new soap. What type of irritation does this suggest?

The presence of red, itchy spots in a patient, particularly in the context of exposure to a new soap, strongly suggests irritant contact dermatitis. This condition results from direct damage to the skin surface due to a substance, in this case, the soap, which causes an inflammatory reaction. The hallmark findings include erythema, itching, and sometimes swelling, all of which align with the patient's symptoms.

In contrast, conditions like cellulitis involve deeper tissue infection accompanied by additional symptoms such as warmth, fever, and systemic signs, which are not indicated here. Allergic purpura typically presents with palpable purpura and is often related to systemic issues, not directly to a topical irritant like soap. Psoriasis manifests differently, generally featuring well-defined, silvery plaques on the skin rather than generalized red, itchy spots, and is associated with a chronic inflammatory process, not an immediate response to exposure.

Thus, the description of the patient's condition aligns most closely with irritant contact dermatitis, making it the most fitting diagnosis in this scenario.