A patient comes to the clinic and states that he has noticed that his skin is redder than normal. The nurse understands that this condition is erythema. What is the likely cause?

A) Decreased amounts of bilirubin in the blood
B) Excess blood in the underlying blood vessels
C) Decreased perfusion to the surrounding tissues
D) Excess blood in the dilated superficial capillaries

Erythema

A medical term referring to redness of the skin, often caused by increased blood flow to the affected area due to irritation, injury, or infection.

Bilirubin

A yellow compound that occurs in the normal catabolic pathway that breaks down heme in red blood cells, often measured to assess liver function.

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels in the body, connecting arterioles and venules, and facilitating the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste substances between blood and tissues.