What is the term for redness due to inflammation?

Erythema is the medical term used to describe redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow due to inflammation. When the skin becomes inflamed, the small blood vessels (capillaries) dilate, allowing more blood to reach the affected area, which leads to the characteristic redness. This is a common response to various irritants, injuries, or infections as part of the body's healing process.

Understanding the context of erythema is important for estheticians, as they may encounter clients with skin conditions marked by redness. Being able to identify erythema helps in assessing the skin's health and determining appropriate treatment plans.

In comparison, edema refers to swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the tissues and does not specifically relate to redness. Hyperemia describes an increase in blood flow to an area but is a broader term and may not always indicate inflammation. Meanwhile, a papule is a type of skin lesion that is raised and can be red due to various causes but does not directly define the broad physiological response of redness due to inflammation.