What causes erythroderma?
What causes erythroderma? It can be caused by: A complication of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pityriasis rubra pilaris, or another skin condition. A reaction to medicines such as penicillin, barbiturates, or sulfonamide.
What is the difference between erythema and erythroderma?
Erythroderma is the descriptive term used to describe erythema and scaling that affects more than 90% of the body surface as a result of an inflammatory skin disease. Erythema is caused by hyperemia in the papillary and reticular dermis. In erythroderma, erythema appears over 90% of the body surface and scaling occurs.
What drugs can cause erythroderma?
Many drugs can cause erythroderma. Among the more commonly implicated are pyrazalone derivatives, carbamazepine, hydantoin derivatives, cimetidine, lithium salts and gold salts [9,11]. According to our findings, the agents of greatest erythroderma-inducing potential are carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital.
What does erythroderma mean in medical terms?
Erythroderma (literally, “red skin”), also sometimes called exfoliative dermatitis, is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition that presents with diffuse erythema and scaling involving all or most of the skin surface area (≥90 percent, in the most common definition).
What is the most common cause of erythroderma?
The most common skin conditions to cause erythroderma are: Drug eruption — with numerous diverse drugs implicated (list of drugs) Dermatitis especially atopic dermatitis. Psoriasis, especially after the withdrawal of systemic steroids or other treatment [see Erythrodermic psoriasis]
Can erythroderma be cured?
There isn’t a cure for erythrodermic psoriasis, but treatments can minimize and prevent symptoms. A severe flare-up requires immediate medical attention. You may receive care in a hospital.
Is erythroderma serious?
Erythroderma is a severe and potentially life-threatening dermatitis described as an intense and widespread erythema typically involving greater than 90% of the body surface area, with a variable degree of exfoliative skin scaling (see Figs.
Is erythroderma permanent?
If the cause can be removed or corrected, the prognosis is generally good. If erythroderma is the result of a generalised spread of a primary skin disorder such as psoriasis or dermatitis, it usually clears with appropriate treatment of the skin disease but may recur at any time.