Erythema

Erythema (Ancient Greek: ἐρύθημα, from el erythros 'red') is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries.^[1] It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not associated with pathology include nervous blushes.^[2]

Types

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

Causes

It can be caused by infection, massage, electrical treatment, acne medication, allergies, psoriasis, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS),^[3] exercise, solar radiation (sunburn), photosensitization,^[4] acute radiation syndrome, mercury toxicity, blister agents,^[5] niacin administration,^[6] or waxing and tweezing of the hairs—any of which can cause the affected 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), whereas purpura or bleeding in the skin and pigmentation do not.^[7]^[8] There is no temperature elevation, unless it is associated with the dilation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin.

References

↑ Mosby's Medical Dictionary (9th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. 2013. ISBN 978-0-323-08541-0.
↑ "Erythema". Mosby's Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary (Fourth ed.). Mosby-Year Book. 1994. p. 570.
↑ "Mast Cell Activation Syndromes: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum Update 2022". Int Arch Allergy Immunol 183 (7): 693–705. 2022-05-23. doi:10.1159/000524532. PMID 35605594.
↑ Jane C. Quinn; Yuchi Chen; Belinda Hackney; Muhammad Shoaib Tufail; Leslie A. Weston; Panayiotis Loukopoulos (2018), "Acute-Onset High-Morbidity Primary Photosensitisation in Sheep Associated with Consumption of the Casbah and Mauro Cultivars of the Pasture Legume Biserrula", BMC Veterinary Research 14 (1): 11, doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1318-7, PMID 29325550
↑ Vesicant EFFECTS
↑ "Test niacynowy w schizofrenii" (in Polish). Psychiatr Pol 24 (2): 116–20. Mar–Apr 1990. PMID 2084715.
↑ McKay, Marilynne (1990), Walker, H. Kenneth; Hall, W. Dallas; Hurst, J. Willis, eds., "Office Techniques for Dermatologic Diagnosis", Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations (Boston: Butterworths), ISBN 978-0-409-90077-4, PMID 21250056, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK212/, retrieved 2026-07-26
↑ Marks, JAMES G.; Miller, JEFFREY J. (2006-01-01), "CHAPTER 17 - Purpura", Lookingbill & Marks' Principles of Dermatology (Fourth Edition) (Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders): pp. 235–244, doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3185-7.50022-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-3185-7, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416031857500229, retrieved 2026-07-26

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[1] Mosby's Medical Dictionary (9th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. 2013. ISBN 978-0-323-08541-0.

[2] "Erythema". Mosby's Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary (Fourth ed.). Mosby-Year Book. 1994. p. 570.

[PMID35605594-3] "Mast Cell Activation Syndromes: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum Update 2022". Int Arch Allergy Immunol 183 (7): 693–705. 2022-05-23. doi:10.1159/000524532. PMID 35605594.

[4] Jane C. Quinn; Yuchi Chen; Belinda Hackney; Muhammad Shoaib Tufail; Leslie A. Weston; Panayiotis Loukopoulos (2018), "Acute-Onset High-Morbidity Primary Photosensitisation in Sheep Associated with Consumption of the Casbah and Mauro Cultivars of the Pasture Legume Biserrula", BMC Veterinary Research 14 (1): 11, doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1318-7, PMID 29325550

[5] Vesicant EFFECTS

[6] "Test niacynowy w schizofrenii" (in Polish). Psychiatr Pol 24 (2): 116–20. Mar–Apr 1990. PMID 2084715.

[7] McKay, Marilynne (1990), Walker, H. Kenneth; Hall, W. Dallas; Hurst, J. Willis, eds., "Office Techniques for Dermatologic Diagnosis", Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations (Boston: Butterworths), ISBN 978-0-409-90077-4, PMID 21250056, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK212/, retrieved 2026-07-26

[8] Marks, JAMES G.; Miller, JEFFREY J. (2006-01-01), "CHAPTER 17 - Purpura", Lookingbill & Marks' Principles of Dermatology (Fourth Edition) (Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders): pp. 235–244, doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3185-7.50022-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-3185-7, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416031857500229, retrieved 2026-07-26

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