Erythema

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Erythema
Classification and external resources
Characteristic "bull's eye" rash (erythema migrans) of early Lyme disease
ICD-10	L51.-L54.
ICD-9	695
DiseasesDB	4466
MeSH	D004890

Erythema (from the Greek erythros, meaning red) is redness of the skin, caused by hyperemia of the capillaries in the lower layers of the skin. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation.^[1] Examples of erythema not associated with pathology include nervous blushes.^[2]

[edit] Diagnosis

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

[edit] Causes

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

In about 30–50% of cases, the cause of erythema is unknown.^{[citation needed]}

Circumoral erythema has been described as a typical sign of acute oleander poisoning by ingestion.[1]

[edit] Associated conditions

• Erythema ab igne
• Erythema chronicum migrans
• Erythema induratum
• Erythema infectiosum (or fifth disease)
• Erythema marginatum
• Erythema migrans
• Erythema multiforme (EM)
• Erythema nodosum
• Erythema toxicum
• Keratolytic winter erythema
• Palmar erythema

[edit] See also

• List of cutaneous conditions

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Erythema

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