What does Erythrodermic mean?

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).

How do I know if I have erythrodermic psoriasis?

The main symptom of erythrodermic psoriasis in people with light skin is a deep red rash all over your body. In People of Color, a rash may be other colors such as purple or gray. Other symptoms include: shedding of the skin in sheets instead of smaller scales.

How do you get erythrodermic psoriasis?

Triggers of erythrodermic psoriasis include:

  1. Allergic reaction to a medicine that causes a rash or other skin symptoms.
  2. Certain medicines, such as systemic steroids.
  3. Starting or stopping medicines.
  4. Infections/severe illness.
  5. Severe sunburn.
  6. Stress.
  7. Alcohol use.

What can erythrodermic psoriasis lead to?

Erythrodermic psoriasis may result in significant itching or skin pain. The rash also affects your body’s ability to sweat and regulate your body temperature. You may develop hypothermia (low body temperature). It can affect electrolyte levels and lead to dehydration.

How is erythroderma diagnosed?

The physical exam will include checking your skin. This is because the diagnosis is based on how your skin looks. But it’s also important to find the cause of the erythroderma. Your provider will see if that might be certain medicines, other skin conditions, or certain types of cancer.

Is erythrodermic psoriasis contagious?

People who do not understand the condition may think it is contagious and avoid contact with sufferers. Treatment for erythrodermic psoriasis should include help for both the physical and emotional symptoms of the disease.

What does erythroderma look like?

Erythroderma is a severe inflammation of most of the body’s skin surface. It causes redness and scaling of the skin. This starts in patches and spreads over the body. Erythroderma can be life-threatening.

Is erythroderma fatal?

Although most people with erythrodermic psoriasis do well when taking one or more treatment options, some people can’t be helped. The condition is fatal somewhere around 10% to 65% of the time. Most deaths are related to infections such as: Pneumonia.

Why does erythroderma happen?

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.

How do you treat erythroderma?

The doctor may prescribe oral medication or deliver the drug through an injection or an infusion.

  1. Drug treatment. Cyclosporine (Neoral) and infliximab (Remicade) are standard first-line treatments for erythrodermic psoriasis.
  2. Biologics.
  3. Other treatment.
  4. People with HIV.