Erythema marginatum

Erythema marginatum, also known as chicken wire erythema, is an acquired skin condition that mainly affects the arms, trunk and legs. It is a type of erythema, meaning redness of the skin or mucous membranes, and is characterised by bright pink or red circular lesions with sharply defined borders and faint clearing at the center. The lesions are usually 3 to 10 cm across, are spread symmetrically over the torso and the inner surfaces and extensor surfaces of the limbs, last from a few hours to a few days, and may reappear over the following weeks. The condition was first reported in 1816 by Jean Cruveilhier and is thought to be linked to other skin conditions such as urticaria and systemic lupus erythematosus. An association with bradykinin has been proposed in hereditary angioedema.