The rings are barely raised and are non-itchy. The face is generally spared.

It occurs in less than 5% of patients with rheumatic fever, but is considered a major Jones criterion when it does occur. The four other major criteria include carditis, polyarthritis, Sydenham's Chorea, and subcutaneous nodules. In this case, it is often associated with Group A streptococcal infection, otherwise known as "Streptococcus pyogenes" infection, which can be detected with an ASO titer.

It is an early feature of rheumatic fever and not pathognomonic of it. It may be associated with mild myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle). It is also seen in conditions like allergic drug reactions, sepsis and glomerulonephritis.

It often occurs as a harbinger of attacks in hereditary angioedema. In this case it may occur several hours or up to a day before an attack.

Occurring at any age these lesions appear as raised pink-red ring or bulls-eye marks. They range in size from . The lesions sometimes increase size and spread over time and may not be complete rings but irregular shapes. Distribution is usually on the thighs and legs but can also appear on the upper extremities, areas not exposed to sunlight, trunk or face. Currently EAC is not known to be contagious, but as many cases are incorrectly diagnosed as EAC, it is difficult to be certain.

Erythema nodosum is characterised by nodules (rounded lumps) below the skin surface, usually on the shins. These subcutaneous nodules can appear anywhere on the body, but the most common sites are the shins, arms, thighs, and torso. Each nodule typically disappears after around two weeks, though new one may continue to form for up to six or eight weeks. A new nodule usually appears red and is hot and firm to touch. The redness starts to fade and it gradually becomes softer and smaller until it disappears. Each nodule usually heals completely without scarring over the course of about two weeks. Joint pain and inflammation sometimes continues for several weeks or months after the nodules appear.

Less common variants of erythema nodosum include:

- Ulcerating forms, seen in Crohn's disease

- Erythema contusiforme, when a subcutaneous hemorrhage (bleeding under the skin) occurs with a erythema nodosum lesion, causing the lesion to look like a contusion (bruise)

- Erythema nodosum migrans (also known as subacute nodular migratory panniculitis), a rare form of chronic erythema nodosum characterized by asymmetrical nodules that are mildly tender and migrate over time.

The first signs of erythema nodosum are often flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, malaise, and aching joints. Some people also experience stiffness or swelling in the joints and weight loss.

"Distribution" refers to how lesions are localized. They may be confined to a single area (a patch) or may exist in several places. Some distributions correlate with the means by which a given area becomes affected. For example, contact dermatitis correlates with locations where allergen has elicited an allergic immune response. Varicella zoster virus is known to recur (after its initial presentation as chicken pox) as herpes zoster ("shingles"). Chicken pox appears nearly everywhere on the body, but herpes zoster tends to follow one or two dermatomes; for example, the eruptions may appear along the bra line, on either or both sides of the patient.

- Generalized

- Symmetric: one side mirrors the other

- Flexural: on the front of the fingers

- Extensor: on the back of the fingers

- Intertriginous: in an area where two skin areas may touch or rub together

- Morbilliform: resembling measles

- Palmoplantar: on the palm of the hand or bottom of the foot

- Periorificial: around an orifice such as the mouth

- Periungual/subungual: around or under a fingernail or toenail

- Blaschkoid: following the path of Blaschko's lines in the skin

- Photodistributed: in places where sunlight reaches

- Zosteriform or dermatomal: associated with a particular nerve

Erythema anulare centrifugum (EAC), also known as deep gyrate erythema, erythema perstans, palpable migrating erythema and superficial gyrate erythema, is a descriptive term for a class of skin lesion presenting redness (erythema) in a ring form ("anulare") that spreads from a center ("centrifugum"). It was first described by Darier in 1916. Many different terms have been used to classify these types of lesions and it is still controversial on what exactly defines EAC. Some of the types include annular erythema (deep and superficial), erythema perstans, erythema gyratum perstans, erythema gyratum repens, darier erythema (deep gyrate erythema) and erythema figuratum perstans.

The symptoms can occur anywhere between days to months after administration of the offending medication, depending on the dose and speed of administration (Baack and Burgdorf, 1991; Demirçay, 1997). The patient first experiences tingling and/or numbness of the palms and soles that evolves into painful, symmetric, and well-demarcated swelling and red plaques. This is followed by peeling of the skin and resolution of the symptoms (Apisarnthanarax and Duvic 2003).

"Configuration" refers to how lesions are locally grouped ("organized"), which contrasts with how they are distributed (see next section).

- Agminate: in clusters

- Annular or circinate: ring-shaped

- Arciform or arcuate: arc-shaped

- Digitate: with finger-like projections

- Discoid or nummular: round or disc-shaped

- Figurate: with a particular shape

- Guttate: resembling drops

- Gyrate: coiled or spiral-shaped

- Herpetiform: resembling herpes

- Linear

- Mammillated: with rounded, breast-like projections

- Reticular or reticulated: resembling a net

- Serpiginous: with a wavy border

- Stellate: star-shaped

- Targetoid: resembling a bullseye

- Verrucous: wart-like

Palmar erythema is reddening of the palms at the thenar and hypothenar eminences.

Annular erythema of infancy is a skin condition reported in children roughly six months in age, characterized by transitory skin lesions that resolved without treatment within eleven months.

Chemotherapy-induced acral erythema (also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia, or hand-foot syndrome) is reddening, swelling, numbness and desquamation (skin sloughing or peeling) on palms of the hands and soles of the feet (and, occasionally, on the knees, elbows, and elsewhere) that can occur after chemotherapy in patients with cancer. Hand-foot syndrome is also rarely seen in sickle-cell disease. These skin changes usually are well demarcated. Acral erythema typically disappears within a few weeks after discontinuation of the offending drug.

Papular mucinosis is chronic and may be progressive. The dermal layer of the skin breaks out into small and solid bumps, usually conical in shape and measured from 2 to 4 mm or sometimes flat-topped papules. Unlike pustules, these bumps do not contain pus. Instead they contain mucin, a substance of mucus, the body's natural and protective lubricant found in saliva and epithelial cells in lungs and the sensitive part of the nose. They usually come in clusters such as linear arrays. Less frequently, urticarial, nodular, or sometimes annular lesions may be appreciated. The dorsal aspect of the hands, face, elbows, and extensor portions of the extremities are most frequently affected. Mucosal lesions are absent. The coalescence of papules on the face, particularly on the glabella, results in longitudinal folding and gives the appearance of a leonine facies.

In scleromyxedema, symptoms can occur on larger part of the body. Erythema and scleroderma-like induration occurs on the skin. In addition, the mobility of the lips, hands, arms, and legs is reduced. Proximal myopathy, inflammatory polyarthritis, central nervous system symptoms, esophageal aperistalsis, and hoarseness are among the notable systemic symptoms. If viscera is involved, the disease will be fatal. The dermatoneuro syndrome is a rare neurological complication of the disease presenting with fever, seizures and altered mental status.

It is associated with various physiological as well as pathological changes, or may be a normal finding:

- Portal hypertension

- Chronic liver disease (including chronic hepatitis)

- Pregnancy

- Polycythemia

- Thyrotoxicosis

- Rheumatoid arthritis (especially in patients with polycythaemia)

- Eczema and psoriasis

- Deep telangiectasias

- Coxsackievirus A infection (Hand, foot and mouth disease)

- Rocky Mountain spotted fever

- Secondary syphilis

- Kawasaki disease

- Adverse drug reaction: palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia (acral erythema)

Because circulating levels of estrogen increase in both cirrhosis and pregnancy, estrogen was thought to be the cause for the increased vascularity. More recently, nitric oxide has been implicated in the pathogenesis of palmar erythema.

The condition varies from a mild, self-limited rash (E. multiforme minor) to a severe, life-threatening form known as erythema multiformer major (or erythema multiforme majus) that also involves mucous membranes.

Consensus classification:

- Erythema multiforme minor—typical targets or raised, edematous papules distributed

- Erythema multiforme major—typical targets or raised, edematous papules distributed acrally with involvement of one or more mucous membranes; epidermal detachment involves less than 10% of total body surface area (TBSiA)

- SJS/TEN—widespread blisters predominant on the trunk and face, presenting with erythematous or pruritic macules and one or more mucous membrane erosions; epidermal detachment is less than 10% TBSA for Stevens-Johnson syndrome and 30% or more for toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The mild form usually presents with mildly itchy (but itching can be very severe), pink-red blotches, symmetrically arranged and starting on the extremities. It often takes on the classical "target lesion" appearance, with a pink-red ring around a pale center. Resolution within 7–10 days is the norm.

Individuals with persistent (chronic) erythema multiforme will often have a lesion form at an injury site, e.g. a minor scratch or abrasion, within a week. Irritation or even pressure from clothing will cause the erythema sore to continue to expand along its margins for weeks or months, long after the original sore at the center heals.

Erythema gyratum repens (also known as "Gammel's disease") is a figurate erythema that is rapidly moving and usually a marker of underlying cancer, usually from the lung.

Tumid lupus erythematosus (also known as "lupus erythematosus tumidus") is a rare, but distinctive entity in which patients present with edematous erythematous plaques, usually on the trunk.

Lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) was reported by Henri Gougerot and Burnier R. in 1930. It is a photosensitive skin disorder, a different subtype of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) from discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) or subacute CLE (SCLE). LET is usually found on sun-exposed areas of the body. Skin lesions are edematous, urticarialike annular papules and plaques. Topical corticosteroids are not effective as treatment for LET, but many will respond to chloroquine. LET resolves with normal skin, no residual scarring, no hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Cigarette smokers who have LET may not respond very well to chloroquine.

It has been suggested that it is equivalent to Jessner lymphocytic infiltrate of the skin.

Erythema disappears on finger pressure (blanching), while purpura or bleeding in the skin and pigmentation do not. There is no temperature elevation, unless it is associated with the dilation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin.

The rash is composed of small papular lesions, each on a separate reddened base.

Generalized granuloma annulare is a skin condition of unknown cause, tending to affect women in the fifth and sixth decades, presenting as a diffuse but symmetrical, papular or annular eruption of more than ten skin lesions, and often hundreds.

Acute, tender, erythematous plaques, nodes, pseudovesicles and, occasionally, blisters with an annular or arciform pattern occur on the head, neck, legs, and arms, particularly the back of the hands and fingers. The trunk is rarely involved. Fever (50%); arthralgia or arthritis (62%); eye involvement, most frequently conjunctivitis or iridocyclitis (38%); and oral aphthae (13%) are associated features.

This condition is characterized by:

- a diffuse infiltration of all the skin which never transforms into nodule

- a complete alopecia of eyebrows and eyelashes and body hair

- an anhydrotic and dysesthesic zones of the skin

- a peculiar type of lepra reaction named Lucio's phenomenon or necrotic erythema

Lucio's phenomenon consists of well-shaped erythematous spots which later become necrotic with scabs, ulcerations and scars. These lesion usually on the lower extremities and may be extensive They are frequently painful. Rarely it may be fatal.

Erythema ab igne (EAI, also known as hot water bottle rash, fire stains, laptop thigh, granny's tartan and toasted skin syndrome) is a skin condition caused by long-term exposure to heat (infrared radiation). Prolonged thermal radiation exposure to the skin can lead to the development of reticulated erythema, hyperpigmentation, scaling and telangiectasias in the affected area. Some people may complain of mild itchiness and a burning sensation, but often, unless a change in pigmentation is seen, it can go unnoticed.

Erythema toxicum neonatorum (also known as erythema toxicum, urticaria neonatorum and toxic erythema of the newborn) is a common rash in neonates. It appears in up to half of newborns carried to term, usually between day 2–5 after birth; it does not occur outside the neonatal period.

Erythema toxicum is characterized by blotchy red spots on the skin with overlying white or yellow papules or pustules. These lesions may be few or numerous. The eruption typically resolves within first two weeks of life, and frequently individual lesions will appear and disappear within minutes or hours. It is a benign condition thought to cause no discomfort to the baby.

Erythema multiforme major (also known as "erythema multiforme majus") is a form of rash with skin loss or epidermal detachment.

The term "erythema multiforme majus" is sometimes used to imply a bullous (blistering) presentation.

According to some sources, there are two conditions included on a spectrum of this same disease process:

- Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)

- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) which described by Alan Lyell and previously called Lyell syndrome[5].

In this view, EM major, SJS and TEN are considered a single condition, distinguished by degree of epidermal detachment.

However, a consensus classification separates erythema multiforme minor, erythema multiforme major, and SJS/TEN as three separate entities.