Granuloma Annulare Treatment

Granuloma annulare is a skin condition that commonly affects children and young adults. While it’s not a type of skin cancer, it’s safe to say that it’s a chronic disorder characterized by inflammation of the skin.

It usually appears over the knuckles, joints, and other skin surfaces that are subjected to frequent, mild injury. The rashes can form on the back of the hands, forearms, or top of the feet.

But unlike the usual rashes, granuloma annulare looks like small, slightly raised bumps on the skin. It appears symmetrical and has a noticeable border around the rash. Oftentimes, these bumps expand and join to form rings. The center of each ring may look somewhat depressed or hollow and slightly pale or light brown. Its appearance is sometimes confused with ringworm or rashes caused by Lyme disease.

Aside from the skin bumps, granuloma annulare has no other symptoms. It’s not particularly itchy or painful, but it can sometimes feel tender to the touch. The bumps may clear away on their own, but recurrence is very possible, and they can appear on the same spots. Some patients with granuloma annulare may even develop multiple rings on the skin.

It’s not clear what causes granuloma annulare and is categorized as an idiopathic skin disease. However, dermatologists say that there are several factors that can trigger the development of skin lesions and raised bumps.

Some of the possible causes of granuloma annulare are:

• Insect and animal bites
• Viral infections
• Trauma or injury to the skin
• Sun exposure
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Certain oral medications

There are several types of granuloma annulare depending on the size, shape, and position of the bumps on the skin. Some people may show different symptoms of granuloma annulare and develop more than one type at the same time. Here are the common forms of this skin disorder:

Localized Granuloma Annulare

This is the most common type of granuloma annulare that affects the majority of the patients. The bumps that form usually look circular or semi-round shaped and they have a visible border. The skin patches can appear reddish, pink, violet, or skin-colored.

Localized granuloma annulare typically affects one area of the body. The common sites where you can see its patches are on the feet, hands, wrists, and sometimes ankles.

Generalized Granuloma Annulare

This type is not as common as the localized granuloma annulare but it can still affect a good number of adults. Also known as disseminated granuloma annulare, this usually affects more than one area of the body at the same time.

They’re typically widespread and they grow to form large skin colored bumps. It can be accompanied by itchy skin and cause general discomfort. It can be seen on the arms, legs, and torso.

Some of the common treatment options for granuloma annulare are:

• Topical medications: Corticosteroid creams, isotretinoin, or tacrolimus ointments can help manage inflammation and improve the appearance of the patches and bumps on your skin.
• Injections: A dermatologist may also directly apply the corticosteroid to the lesions. Steroid shots can control skin inflammation and clear the skin more quickly.
• Cryotherapy: Another effective treatment option is to expose the portion of the skin bumps to cold temperature. A specialized medical device is usually used to freeze and destroy the patches which will help prevent them from growing and multiplying.
• Ultraviolet light therapy: This is a common method to treat most skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, scleroderma, and even granuloma annulare. During this treatment, the affected skin is treated with specialized UVA light. Some doctors may also use a variation of UV light therapy which is photochemotherapy or PUVA. This involves the application of a medication known as psoralen before treating the skin with UVA light.