Skip to main content

Dermatitis, Exfoliative

Alvaro J. Ramos-Rodriguez, MD and Mario G. Lozano-Franco, PharmD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

  • Exfoliative dermatitis (ED), also known as erythroderma, is a rare and severe cutaneous disorder characterized by generalized erythema involving >80–90% of the skin and a variable degree of ...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Diagnosis is made on a clinical basis.

  • Determination of the cause is often elusive, but history is the most important aid in finding the underlying etiology of ED.

  • A skin biopsy can reveal fea...

TREATMENT

Patients with symptomatic erythroderma or who are hemodynamically unstable may require hospitalization. Regardless of etiology, initial management consists of the following (2): 
  • Assessment, ...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

  • Increase fluid intake.

  • Ensure adequate nutrition with emphasis on sufficient protein intake.

PROGNOSIS

  • Depending on the underlying cause and possible complications, overall mortality may...

REFERENCES

1
Arias-Berrios G, Martín-García RF. Treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis with biologics: a systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(1):151–158. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.073. E
2
...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Inamadar, AC, Ragunatha, S. The rash that becomes an erythroderma.  Clin Dermatol. 2019;37(2):88–98

  • Yamasaki  K, Nakagawa  H,...

SEE ALSO

Algorithm: Rash 

CODES

ICD10

  • L26 Exfoliative dermatitis

SNOMED

  • 399992009 Erythroderma

  • 402300003 Erythroderma of unknown etiology

  • 238992001 Erythroderma caused by drug

  • 31922003 Chronic generalized exfoliative dermatitis

  • 60480...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • In its more severe manifestations, ED is a medical and dermatologic emergency.

  • In many cases, the underlying cause may be elusive or never found.

  • Prednisone is generally contraindicated ...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×