What to know about erythema perstans

Persistent redness may be flat or slightly textured and can affect one area or several areas. Its colour may be influenced by skin tone, warmth, irritation, sun exposure, or inflammation. The term describes what is seen; it does not identify a single cause or automatically indicate infection.

A clinician may consider contact dermatitis, heat rash, psoriasis, rosacea, sunburn, or cellulitis depending on pain, warmth, scaling, itch, blisters, fever, and how quickly the area changed. The pattern and accompanying symptoms matter more than colour alone.

Arrange a skin assessment if redness persists, recurs, spreads, or has no clear explanation. Note when it started, possible products or exposures, heat or sun, itch, tenderness, scaling, and any new medicine. Avoid scrubbing, fragranced products, and unneeded steroid or antibiotic creams until the cause is clearer.

Use gentle cleansing, moisturiser, shade, and comfortable temperatures while waiting. Treatment depends on the cause. A clinician may recommend a prescribed cream or another approach; light-based treatment is not suitable for every type of redness and should follow diagnosis.

Seek urgent care if redness spreads quickly with marked warmth, swelling, severe pain, fever, or feeling very unwell. Get immediate help for facial swelling, breathing trouble, blistering over a large area, or a purple or grey colour with weakness. A rapidly changing area should not be judged from a photograph alone.

What features suggest the cause of my redness? Could a product, heat, sun, or medicine be contributing? Do I need treatment or testing? Which changes mean I should seek urgent help? Would a dermatology review be useful?