Definition
Definition
Erythema is a common dermatological lesion, which manifests itself as more or less significant skin redness, which disappears when pressure is applied to it (vitropressure test).
Classification
We generally distinguish:
- Localized erythema.
- Generalized erythema, which is classified into three categories:
- Scarlatiniform (of the scarlet fever) corresponding to a red skin, tending towards that of wine, and affecting the skin overall (i.e. without an interval of healthy skin).
- Mobiliform (of the measles) characterized by the presence of pink spots of irregular shapes, with spaces of healthy skin between them.
- Roseoliform (of the roseola) characterized by the presence of small pink spots, sometimes barely visible.
Cause
Cause
Erythema is secondary to an increase in the volume of the diameter of the blood vessels in the skin (dilation of the vascular lumen).
- The generalized erythema are sometimes secondary to:
- A allergies.
- A medicine.
- A microbial infection (measles, scarlet fever, rubella, syphilis, exanthema suddenly, epidemic megalopharynx).
Localized erythema may be due to (non-exhaustive list):
- An irritation. This is the case of theerythema diaper of the infant, also called diaper dermatitis and corresponding to skin irritation affecting the area covered by the diapers.
- A sunburn (solar erythema).
- Drug poisoning (pigmented erythema fixed).
- An infection (erysipelas, erysipeloid, intertrigo, pasteurella, trichina, erythema multiforme).
- An autoimmune condition (dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus).
- A tumor of the pancreas (glucagonoma syndrome).
- Intestinal inflammation (ulcerative colitis , Crohn's disease).
- Lerythema nodosum also called contusiform dermatitis, Trousseau's disease, tuberous urticaria.
Treatment
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause.