blanchable erythema

Introduction

Reddened area of the skin that temporarily turns white or pale when pressure is applied with a fingertip. This suggests a vascular source for the erythema. The blanching suggests erythrocytes remain in the capillaries & are not extravasted into the surrounding dermis.

Etiology

• port-wine-stain (present at birth)
• telangiectasia (may be present at birth)
• skin infection
• allergic reaction
• exercise
• sunburn
• niacin
• radiation injury

Clinical manifestations

• macular erythema that disappears with diascopy

Complications

• blanchable erythema in hospitalized patients, predicts development of pressure ulcers; sensitivity 75%, specficity 77%

Differential diagnosis

• petechiae, purpura & echymosis involve microvascular disruption leading to extravasation of erythrocytes into the surrounding dermis thus are not blanchable
• hemangioma (not macular)

More general terms

• erythema

Additional terms

• nonblanchable erythema