Ferdinand v. Hebra first described erythema exsudativum multiforme as a purely cutaneous, polymorphic erythema (exanthema) with a benign course in his textbook in 1860. v. Hebra 1867: "I choose the name "erythema multiforme" to describe this condition [!] The same is characterized [!] above all others [!] by its localization [!]; it always occurs on the back of the hand or foot, and only in more intense cases does it also appear on the forearms, lower legs, upper arms, thighs and very exceptionally on the trunk and face, but is certainly never absent in the last-mentioned cases: on the back of the hand, where the first efflorescences [!] usually appear. These efflorescences [!] consist of flattened nodules or lumps of lentil to bean size, of dark blue or brown-red [!] color and occur in smaller or larger quantities".
In 1876, clinically more severe, similar cases with skin and mucous membrane infestation were then described as erythema multiforme majus.
In 1922, the syndrome described by Stevens and Johnson, a febrile exanthema with stomatitis and purulent conjunctivitis, was published.
In 1950, the British dermatologist Bernard Thomas suggested dividing erythema exsudativum multiforme into a less severe variant without fever with mainly skin involvement (erythema exsudativum multiforme minus) and a severe febrile variant with severe mucosal involvement as erythema exsudativum multiforme majus (Thomas, 1950).
In 1956, the term "toxic epidermal necrolysis" was created by Lyell (Lyell syndrome).
Recently, there has been a tendency to combine Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis under the generic term EN - epidermal necrolysis.