Exfoliative dermatitis is widespread scaling of the skin, often
with itching (pruritus), skin redness (erythroderma), and hair
loss. Erythroderma; Dermatitis exfoliativa It may occur in
severe cases of many common skin conditions, such as eczema and
psoriasis. It is sometimes caused by an allergy to drugs. A
person with erythroderma or exfoliative dermatitis often needs
hospital care or admission to an intensive-care burn unit. Habif
TP. Exanthems and drug eruptions. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical
Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:
chap 14. Usatine RP, Krejci-Manwaring J. Dermatology. In: Rakel
RE, ed.Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:
Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 33. Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical
Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest
Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family
Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of
Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. The inform