Erythroderma

Erythroderma
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	L26, L53.9
ICD-9	695.9
DiseasesDB	29735
eMedicine	derm/142
MeSH	D003873

Erythroderma (also known as "Exfoliative dermatitis," "Dermatitis exfoliativa," and "Red man syndrome") is an inflammatory skin disease with erythema and scaling that affects nearly the entire cutaneous surface.

In ICD-10, a distinction is made between "exfoliative dermatitis" at L26, and "erythroderma" at L53.9.

Historical aspects

The classification of exfoliative dermatitis into Wilson-Brocq (chronic relapsing), Hebra or pityriasis rubra (progressive), and Savill (self-limited) types may have had historical value, but it currently lacks pathophysiologic or clinical utility.

Causes

Erythroderma is generalized exfoliative dermatitis, which involves 90% or more of the patient's skin. The most common cause of erythroderma is exacerbation of an underlying skin disease, such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus, pityriasis rubra pilaris or a drug reaction. Primary erythroderma is less frequent and is usually seen in cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, in particular in Sézary's disease.

The most common causes of exfoliative dermatitis are best remembered by the mnemonic device ID-SCALP. . The causes and their frequencies are as follows:

• Idiopathic - 30%

• Drug allergy - 28%

• Seborrheic dermatitis - 2%

• Contact dermatitis - 3%

• Atopic dermatitis - 10%

• Lymphoma and leukemia - 14%

• Psoriasis - 8%

Differential diagnosis in patients with erythroderma may be difficult.^{[citation needed]}

Treatment

The treatment is dependent on the cause.^{[citation needed]}