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| Erythema | |
|---|---|
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| Characteristic "bull's eye" rash (erythema migrans) of earlyLyme disease | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
Erythema (Ancient Greek:ἐρύθημα, from Greek erythros 'red') is redness of the skin ormucous membranes, caused byhyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficialcapillaries.[1] It occurs with any skin injury, infection, orinflammation. Examples of erythema not associated with pathology includenervous blushes.[2]
It can be caused byinfection,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 ofradiotherapy treatment due to patient exposure toionizing radiation.
Erythema disappears on finger pressure (blanching), whereaspurpura or bleeding in the skin andpigmentation do not. There is no temperature elevation, unless it is associated with the dilation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin.[citation needed]
