Erythema

• Not to be confused with Arrythmia

Erythema
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	L51.-L54.
ICD-9	695
DiseasesDB	4466
MeSH	D004890

Erythema 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.

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 erythema is associated in the dilatation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin.

Causes

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

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

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

See also

• List of cutaneous conditions

External links

• UM

ca:Eritema wa:Rodjeur del pea