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Redness of the skin
Annular rash
Red spots on skin
Circular rash
Skin is red
Small red rash
Red skin eruptions
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What is Granuloma Annulare?
Granuloma annulare is a ring-patterned skin rash, and the most common areas impacted are hands and feet. It can be localized to a specific area on the skin or spread diffusely over the skin.
Typical Symptoms of Granuloma Annulare
- Ring-like rash
- Skin lumps
- Skin problems
- Reddish-brown hard lumps or bumps on the skin
- Many lumps appearing on the skin
- Redness, bumps, or irritation on the skin
Diagnostic Questions for Granuloma Annulare
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have swollen red rings or circles on your hands, legs, or body?
- Have you noticed any lumps on your skin?
- Do you have any skin problems
- Do you have hard, reddish-brown skin lumps or bumps?
- Do you have multiple lumps on your body?
Treatment of Granuloma Annulare
Granuloma annulare can be treated with topical and/or injected corticosteroids, and rarely requires oral medications. Some dermatologists also recommend cryosurgery.
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Lumps under skin
- Rashes
- Reddish skin lumps
- Leg rash
- Bumps on my arm
- Lumps on my wrist
- Hand skin is dry
- Pink, bumpy skin
- There is a sore on the side
- Lump on the back
- Many skin nodules
- Rash on the wrist
- Skin lumps with black dots in the center
- Facial skin problems
- Lumps that dangle from the skin
See full list
Symptoms Related to Granuloma Annulare
Diseases Related to Granuloma Annulare
FAQs
Q.
Red Rings Won't Fade? Why Your Skin Has Granuloma Annulare & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Red rings that won’t fade are often granuloma annulare, a benign, noncontagious immune reaction that commonly resolves on its own in 1 to 2 years but can persist when generalized; diagnosis is usually clinical, sometimes confirmed with a skin biopsy, and doctors may screen for links like diabetes, thyroid disease, or high cholesterol. Next steps range from watchful waiting to treatments such as prescription topical or injected steroids, cryotherapy, phototherapy, or select oral medicines for widespread disease; seek care if lesions spread, last months, are numerous, or you have other symptoms. There are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below.
References:
* Sampaio, F. A., Trüeb, R. M., & Kroumpouzos, G. (2022). Granuloma Annulare: An Updated Review of Clinical Variants, Etiology, and Treatment Options. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *11*(1), 173.
* Marzano, A. V., & Caposiena Caro, D. (2023). The pathogenesis of granuloma annulare: current concepts and emerging insights. *Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia*, *158*(4), 304–308.
* Piette, E. W., & Rosenbach, M. (2020). Treatment of generalized granuloma annulare: a systematic review. *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, *82*(1), 221–230.
* Rerks-ngarm, P., & Bunyaratavej, S. (2022). Granuloma Annulare: A Review of the Disease's Clinical Spectrum, Diagnosis, and Treatment. *Skin Appendage Disorders*, *8*(6), 411–422.
* Hong, S., Jung, S. J., Park, E. J., Kim, S. B., Chung, S. W., Kim, B. K., ... & Jang, S. H. (2020). Granuloma annulare and its association with other diseases: a systematic review. *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, *83*(5), 1466–1474.
Q.
Is it a Granuloma? Why Your Body Reacts & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. A granuloma is a small cluster of immune cells that forms to wall off infection, foreign material, or chronic inflammation, and while it is not cancer, it can be benign and self-resolving or a sign of an underlying infection or autoimmune disease. Medically approved next steps include getting a proper diagnosis to identify the cause, treating the underlying issue if needed, monitoring when safe, and seeking urgent care for red flags like trouble breathing, high fever, rapid growth, or weight loss; see the complete guidance below for specifics that may change your next steps.
References:
* Giri, P. K., & Gendelman, H. E. (2018). Granuloma: The Host's Response to Persistent Intracellular Pathogens. *Cell Host & Microbe, 24*(1), 20–33. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2018.06.007
* Walsh, D., & Walsh, T. (2017). Pathogenesis of granulomas: cellular and molecular mechanisms. *Seminars in Immunopathology, 39*(4), 379–389. doi:10.1007/s00281-017-0632-1
* Raghavan, P. V., Goel, A., Sharma, R., & Mehta, A. (2020). Granulomatous Diseases: An Update. *Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology, 37*(1), 1–13. doi:10.1053/j.semdp.2019.06.002
* Sahoo, S., Nayak, J., Kabi, S. K., Padhi, P. K., Patra, S., Priyadarshini, S., & Padhi, S. (2022). Granulomatous inflammation: a practical approach to diagnosis and management of a common clinicopathological presentation. *Journal of Translational Medicine, 20*(1), 162. doi:10.1186/s12967-022-03362-0
* Rosario, N. P., Batalha, E., & Pinto, L. G. (2019). Therapeutic approaches to granulomatous diseases. *Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology, 33*(3), 101438. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2019.101438
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Joshi TP, Duvic M. Granuloma Annulare: An Updated Review of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Options. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2022 Jan;23(1):37-50. doi: 10.1007/s40257-021-00636-1. Epub 2021 Sep 8. PMID: 34495491; PMCID: PMC8423598.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-021-00636-1Wang J, Khachemoune A. Granuloma Annulare: A Focused Review of Therapeutic Options. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018 Jun;19(3):333-344. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0334-5. PMID: 29230666.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-017-0334-5Lukács J, Schliemann S, Elsner P. Treatment of generalized granuloma annulare - a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015 Aug;29(8):1467-80. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12976. Epub 2015 Feb 4. PMID: 25651003.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdv.12976Piette EW, Rosenbach M. Granuloma annulare: Pathogenesis, disease associations and triggers, and therapeutic options. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Sep;75(3):467-479. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.055. PMID: 27543210.
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(15)01500-5/fulltext