NEWS Health News Word of the Week: Erythema By Team Verywell Health Published on May 03, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print Alex Dos Diaz / Verywell Each week, Verywell explains a health term from medicine, science, or technology. Erythema How to say it: Erythema (airy-thee-ma) What it means: It's a medical term to describe an area of redness, usually on the skin (like a rash or sunburn). Where it comes from: A lot of medical terms come from either Greek or Latin. Erythema comes from the Greek word erythros, which means "red." Hans/Pixabay Where you might see or hear it: If you look at the paperwork that comes with your COVID-19 vaccine, it might say that a side effect could be erythema or redness on the part of your arm where you got the shot. When you might want to use it: If you aren't sure whether you need to make an in-person appointment with your doctor, using the term to describe an area of redness on your skin that you think might be a rash can help them assess you—especially if they aren't able to see it or get a sense of what it looks like from a photo or video. What Causes Skin Redness? 0 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Erythema. In: Venes DD, ed. Taber's Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company; 2021. Editorial Process Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit