Generalized Exfoliative Dermatitis
Generalized exfoliative dermatitis, or erythroderma, is a severe inflammation of the entire skin surface. This is due to a reaction to certain medicines, a pre-existing skin condition, and sometimes cancer. In approximately 25% of people, there is no identifiable cause. It is characterized by redness and scaling of the skin that begins in patches and spreads. The skin begins to slough off. This leads to problems with temperature regulation, protein and fluid loss, as well as an increased metabolic rate.