Michigan Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Erythema is characterized by redness of the skin, which occurs when there is an increase in blood flow to the affected area, often due to inflammation, irritation, or injury. This reaction primarily involves the dermis, the layer of skin located beneath the epidermis.

In the dermis, blood vessels can dilate in response to various stimuli, such as infection or injury, leading to increased blood flow and, consequently, the red appearance known as erythema. While the epidermis does involve the outermost layer of skin that might exhibit redness, it does not house the blood vessels responsible for this effect. The stratum corneum, being the outermost layer of the epidermis, serves as a barrier and does not contain blood vessels. The hypodermis, situated below the dermis, is composed mainly of fat and connective tissue and does not play a direct role in the vascular response that leads to erythema.

Hence, the correct identification of the dermis as the key layer involved in the damage and blood vessel dilation associated with erythema highlights the importance of this layer in skin reactions and overall skin health.