Granuloma Annulare Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is granuloma annulare?

The skin condition, granuloma annulare consists of reddish, raised lesions which tend to form the patterns of ring, mostly in the feet and hands. What causes the skin condition is unknown till date, however for some, granuloma annulare is caused due to minor injuries of skin or because of some medication types.

Moreover, few of its types mainly strike adults whilst others usually affect children. Mostly, the skin condition is not painful or itchy, thus no particular treatment is required. Usually, the lesions resolve themselves within 24 months. In case you are conscious about the appearance of lesions, the doctor can suggest medications that tend to pace their disappearance.

What are the symptoms of granuloma annulare?

Its symptoms can vary, merely depending upon its type:

Localized: the most common form of the skin condition is localized granuloma annulare. The borders of its lesion have a round or semi round shape. They have a diameter of around 5 centimeters that makes 2 inches. Moreover, its common sites of occurrence are ankles, wrists, feet or hands of young adults, especially females.
Generalized: around eighteen percent of individuals suffering from granuloma annulare tend to have lesions covering their larger body parts, including their legs, arms and trunk. Generalized granuloma annulare causes itching, while commonly affect adults.
Subcutaneous: the type mainly occurs in children, it produces a lump right under the skin rather a rash. Typically, the lump tends to be less than 3.8 centimeters which makes 1.5 inches in diameter.

When is the high time to consult a doctor?

In case you notice reddish bumps on your skin that appears in ring patterns, call up for an appointment.

What causes granuloma annulare?

What exactly causes granuloma annulare, is still a mystery. However, in few individuals, it can be triggered due to the following factors:

Sun exposure.
Vaccination.
Infections such as hepatitis.
Tuberculin skin tests.
Insect or animal bites.

What are the risk factors of granuloma annulare?

Occasionally, the condition is linked with thyroid disease or diabetes, quite often when lesions tends to be generalized or numerous.

How is granuloma annulare diagnosed?

Generally, the doctor can determine the skin condition by means of thoroughly examining an affected skin. In order to confirm its granuloma annulare, the doctor can conduct a skin biopsy, which involves taking a sample of your affected skin for examining it using a microscope.

How is granuloma annulare treated?

In most instances, no particular treatment is needed for treating granuloma annulare, as most of the lesions tend to resolve on their own after completing their due course of few months. However, in rare cases, they can last for even two years or above. For people those bothered about their affected skin appearance, the doctor can suggest the following: