Erythema (from the Greek , meaning red) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not associated with pathology include nervous blushes.

Types

Erythema ab igne Erythema ab igne (EAI), also known as hot water bottle rash, is a skin condition caused by long-term exposure to heat (infrared radiation). Prolonged thermal radiation exposure to the skin can lead to the development of reticulated erythema, hype ...

Erythema chronicum migrans Erythema (from the Greek , meaning red) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not assoc ...

* Erythema induratum * Erythema infectiosum (or fifth disease) *

Erythema marginatum Erythema marginatum is a type of erythema (redness of the skin or mucous membranes) involving pink rings on the torso and inner surfaces of the limb (anatomy), limbs which come and go for as long as several months. It is found primarily on extenso ...

* Erythema migrans * Erythema multiforme (EM) * Erythema nodosum *

Erythema toxicum Erythema (from the Greek , meaning red) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not assoc ...

* Erythema elevatum diutinum *

Erythema gyratum repens Erythema gyratum repens is a figurate erythema that is rapidly moving and usually a marker of underlying cancer,Freedberg, et al. (2003). ''Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine''. (6th ed.). Page 977. McGraw-Hill. .James, William; Berger ...

Keratolytic winter erythema Keratolytic Winter erythema (also known as Oudtshoorn disease or Oudtshoorn skin) is a rare autosomal dominant skin disease of unknown cause which causes redness and peeling of the skin on the palms and soles. Onset, increased prominence and se ...

Palmar erythema Palmar erythema is reddening of the palms at the thenar and hypothenar eminences.James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). ''Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology''. (10th ed.). Saunders. . Causes It is associated with va ...

Causes

It can be caused by infection, massage, electrical treatment, acne medication, allergies, exercise, solar radiation ( sunburn),

photosensitization Photosensitizers produce a physicochemical change in a neighboring molecule by either donating an electron to the substrate or by abstracting a hydrogen atom from the substrate. At the end of this process, the photosensitizer eventually returns to ...

, acute radiation syndrome, mercury toxicity,

blister agent A blister agent (or vesicant), is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation. They are named for their ability to cause severe chemical burns, resulting in painful water blisters on the bodies of those affe ...

niacin Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an organic compound and a form of vitamin B3, an essential human nutrient. It can be manufactured by plants and animals from the amino acid tryptophan. Niacin is obtained in the diet from a variet ...

administration, or waxing and tweezing of the hairs—any of which can cause the capillaries to dilate, resulting in redness. Erythema is a common side effect of

radiotherapy Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator. Radia ...

treatment due to patient exposure to

ionizing radiation Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel ...

Diagnosis

Erythema disappears on finger pressure ( blanching), while purpura or bleeding in the skin and pigmentation do not. There is no temperature elevation, unless it is associated with the dilation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin.

References

External links

{{Commons category, Erythemas Dermatologic terminology Symptoms and signs: Skin and subcutaneous tissue Radiation health effects

Types

Causes

Diagnosis

See also

References

External links