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
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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, h ...
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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
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Erythema infectiosum
Erythema infectiosum, fifth disease, or slapped cheek syndrome is one of several possible manifestations of infection by parvovirus B19. Fifth disease typically presents as a rash and is more common in children. While parvovirus B19 can affect hu ...
(or
fifth disease)
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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 limbs which come and go for as long as several months. It is found primarily on extensor surfaces.
An ...
*
Erythema migrans
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Erythema multiforme
Erythema multiforme (EM) is a skin condition that appears with red patches evolving into target lesions, typically on both hands.
It is a type of erythema possibly mediated by deposition of immune complexes (mostly IgM-bound complexes) in the ...
(EM)
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Erythema nodosum
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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 asso ...
*
Erythema elevatum diutinum
*
Erythema gyratum repens
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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 ...
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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
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable di ...
,
massage, electrical treatment,
acne
Acne, also known as ''acne vulgaris'', is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles. Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and ...
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 affec ...
s,
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 treatment due to patient exposure to
ionizing radiation.
Diagnosis
Erythema disappears on finger pressure (
blanching), while
purpura
Purpura () is a condition of red or purple discolored spots on the skin that do not blanch on applying pressure. The spots are caused by bleeding underneath the skin secondary to platelet disorders, vascular disorders, coagulation disorders, ...
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.
See also
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Hyperemia
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Flushing (physiology)
*
List of cutaneous conditions
References
External links
{{Commons category, Erythemas
Dermatologic terminology
Symptoms and signs: Skin and subcutaneous tissue
Radiation health effects