Granuloma Annulare: Causes, Types, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment

Granuloma annulare is a skin disease that manifests as a raised rash or pimples that form a ring. Usually, the hands and feet of young adults are affected.

Small skin injuries and some medications may trigger the illness. It may make you feel self-conscious, but it's not contagious and typically not unpleasant. It may also result in emotional distress if it goes on for a long period.

After treatment, the skin may gradually clear up, although pimples often return. If therapy is not received, the illness may linger for a few weeks or even decades.

Causes Of Granuloma Annulare

Granuloma annulare has an unclear etiology. Occasionally, it's caused by:

• Animal or insect bites 
• Diseases such as hepatitis
• Skin tests for  tuberculin
• Vaccination
• Sun exposure 
• Mild skin wounds 
• Medication
• Granuloma annulare is not transmissible.

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Types Of Granuloma Annulare

There are five main types of Granuloma annulare. Granulomas annulare can arise in multiple types at the same time.

• A localised annular granuloma: Localized granuloma annulare is the most common kind of the condition. Your skin develops a small, circular rash as a result.
• Disseminated annular granuloma: Your forearm can develop a lot of bumps instead of a smaller, more concentrated rash.
• Subcutaneous annulare granuloma: Under your skin, you get lumps.
• Perforated annular granuloma: You feel painful lumps starting to appear on your hands and fingers.
• Patch  annular granuloma: Your skin develops flat rash patches.

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Symptoms Of Granuloma Annulare

Granuloma annulare can show a variety of indicators and symptoms, Depending upon the type.

• Localised. It is the most common type of granuloma annulare. With a diameter of up to 2 inches (5 cm), the rash's edges are round or semicircular. In young people, the rash most commonly appears on the hands, feet, wrists, and ankles.
• Generalized: This sort is rare and mostly affects adults. It causes pimples on most body parts, such as the arms, legs, and trunk, which then develop into a rash. 
• Under the skin: Beneath the skin, there may be rash-related discomfort or irritation. Typically, little infants are affected by a type of condition called subcutaneous granuloma annulare. Tiny, firm lumps develop instead of a rash under the skin. The hands, shins, and scalp are where the lumps appear.

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Risk Factors Of Granuloma Annulare

Granuloma annulare is most commonly linked to several body tumors and may also be connected to thyroid disease or diabetes. In rare cases, it may be connected to cancer, especially in older people with severe granuloma annulare who do not respond to treatment or relapse after cancer treatment.

Diagnosis Of Granuloma Annulare

A medical professional will perform a physical examination of your skin.

After a physical examination, they could obtain a skin biopsy to confirm their diagnosis. They plan to remove a very small sample of skin from you. Other medical experts will then send the skin sample to a laboratory for microscopic inspection to determine the cause of your rash.

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Treatment Of Granuloma Annulare

Granuloma annulare could go away on its own in due course. Even when the problem recurs often, therapy might hasten the skin's healing process. Recurrent acne usually returns in the same places after treatment, and 80 percent of those usually disappear in two years.

If treatment is not received, the condition may persist for a few weeks or decades.

Treatment options include:

• Corticosteroid creams or ointments: Prescription-strength products may help speed up skin cleansing. Your doctor may suggest bandaging or applying an adhesive patch to the area of the cream to increase its effectiveness.
• Corticosteroids injections: Your healthcare provider can suggest a corticosteroid injection if a medication cream or ointment isn't promoting skin healing. It might be necessary to give injections once more every six to eight weeks until the problem goes away.
• Cooling: Applying liquid nitrogen to the affected area could help get rid of the lumps.
• Luminous treatment: Occasionally, subjecting the injured skin to particular light wavelengths like lasers helps.
• Oral pharmaceuticals: Your doctor might suggest oral treatments such as antibiotics or antimalarials if the sickness is widespread.

Also Read: Xerosis (Dry Skin): Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Complications

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