What is another name for skin redness?

Erythema is a term used to describe skin redness that occurs when blood vessels dilate and an increased amount of blood flows to a particular area of the skin. This physiological response can result from various conditions, such as allergic reactions, inflammation, or irritation. Erythema can be localized, affecting a specific area, or generalized, influencing a more extensive region of the body.

While other terms might seem related, they refer to different concepts. Hyperemia involves an increase in blood flow to a tissue, which can cause redness but is a broader term that encompasses more than just skin redness. Dermatitis refers specifically to inflammation of the skin itself, which can cause redness but includes other symptoms such as swelling and itching. Vasodilation refers to the process of the blood vessels widening, leading to increased blood flow, but it does not specify the observable redness that is categorized as erythema. Therefore, erythema is the most precise term for skin redness in this context.