Dermatological Emergencies: Overview

Dermatological emergencies include drug eruptions, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythroderma, neutrophilic dermatoses, blistering skin diseases, urticaria, and angioedema.

Drug eruptions refer to breakouts of multiple skin lesions from taken medications. Approximately 3% of patients have rashes due to adverse drug reactions, but other cases can cause underlying or intercurrent illness (e.g. bacterial or viral exanthemas or internal disease), independent skin diseases, or non-specific reactions to treatment (e.g. sweat rash).

Erythema multiforme refers to the hypersensitivity reaction caused by infections. Skin eruption usually appears in the form of a typical lesion.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (T.E.N.) is characterised by a widespread erythema that affects more than 30% of the skin's surface and fever greater than 38.0 degrees Celsius.

Erythroderma is a term used to describe the inflammatory skin disease that affects the entire surface of the skin.

Neutrophilic dermatoses are generally controlled by helper T cell type 1 cytokines. These conditions present in the form of a rash accompanied by systemic symptoms.

Blistering skin diseases refer to skin conditions characterised by the formation of fluid under or within the epidermis layer of the skin.

Urticaria is composed of weals: recurrent dermal papules and plaques. The individual lesions usually last less than 24 hours. Angioedema refers to rapid and temporary swelling found deep in the skin or mucous membrane.