erythema

[Greek eruthēma, from eruthainein, to redden, be red, from eruthros, red.]

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From the Greek for ‘flush’ — redness of the skin, due to persistent engorgement of microscopic blood vessels. A descriptive term; not in itself a diagnosis. Sunburn, or sitting too close to an open fire, causes erythema; it surrounds a nettle or insect sting, or an inflamed wound. A rash, whether due to infectious disease, to allergy, or to drug reactions for example, is described as erythematous if blotches of redness are a feature. It is characteristic of such blotches that they can be emptied of their colour by pressure; this distinguishes them from actual bleeding into the skin.

— Stuart Judge

See skin; sun and the body.

A patchy, circumscribed, or marginated macular redness of the skin or mucous membranes caused by hyperemia or inflammation.

Abnormal reddening of the skin due to dilation of capillaries. Erythema may be due to a number of conditions, but it is often a sign of inflammation and infection.

Characterized by erythema.

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