JAMA DERMATOLOGY PATIENT PAGE
Granuloma Annulare Granuloma annulare is a common condition with no known cause. Often, people with granuloma annulare have a few red rings (usually with normal-appearing skin in the center) that can show up anywhere on the body but usually appear on the hands and feet. It often is not associated with any symptoms but can be itchy or painful.
Types of Granuloma Annulare Localized (most common) Usually involves hands and feet; often appears as a few red rings with normal appearing skin in center
Facts • The condition can happen to people of any age, race, or sex, but young and middle-aged women seem to get it the most. • Children get a type of granuloma annulare that shows up as nodules (or small “balls”) underneath the skin. • The condition only shows up on the skin and does not involve the rest of the body.
Diagnosis and Testing A dermatologist can often diagnose granuloma annulare without any further testing. Sometimes, your dermatologist will take a small skin biopsy (taking a small piece of skin and looking at it under the microscope) to confirm the diagnosis. Rarely, people with granuloma annulare will have involvement of many parts of the skin or will have unusual forms of the condition. In these cases, your doctor might recommend some blood testing, including blood sugar (to look for diabetes), HIV testing,checkingyourcholesterol/bloodfatlevels,orcheckingyourthyroidgland.Sometimes,theywillrecommendabloodcellcountandroutine cancer screenings (like a colonoscopy or mammogram).
Involves many parts of the skin, including trunk, arms, and legs
Treatment
Subcutaneous
Even without treatment, the condition will improve within 2 years in most people, but it will sometimes come back. To help granuloma annulare improve more quickly, you and your doctor can talk about some of the potential treatment options. The most common treatment is injection of a small amount of steroid into areas of skin with the condition. This helps to decrease the inflammation (white blood cells) in the area of the skin spots. Sometimes, topical steroids (creams or ointments) will be prescribed. For people with a lot of skin involvement, your doctor might recommend treatment with light therapy (done in the doctor’s office a few times a week with a special “light box”) or with medications that you take by mouth. Many people with granuloma annulare will not need this kind of therapy.
Common in children; appears as nodules beneath the skin
Authors: Evan W. Piette, MD; Misha Rosenbach, MD Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. Section Editor: Misha Rosenbach, MD
692
Generalized
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/granuloma -annulare/basics/definition/con-20026647 • Patient.co.uk http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/granuloma-annulare-pro To find this and other JAMA Dermatology Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on the JAMA Dermatology website at http://www.jamaderm.com.
The JAMA Dermatology Patient Page is a public service of JAMA Dermatology. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA Dermatology suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call (312) 464-0776.
JAMA Dermatology June 2015 Volume 151, Number 6 (Reprinted)
Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Downloaded From: http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Otago Library User on 10/04/2015
jamadermatology.com
Granuloma Annulare Granuloma annulare is a common condition with no known cause. Often, people with granuloma annulare have a few red rings (usually with normal-appearing skin in the center) that can show up anywhere on the body but usually appear on the hands and feet. It often is not associated with any symptoms but can be itchy or painful.
Types of Granuloma Annulare Localized (most common) Usually involves hands and feet; often appears as a few red rings with normal appearing skin in center
Facts • The condition can happen to people of any age, race, or sex, but young and middle-aged women seem to get it the most. • Children get a type of granuloma annulare that shows up as nodules (or small “balls”) underneath the skin. • The condition only shows up on the skin and does not involve the rest of the body.
Diagnosis and Testing A dermatologist can often diagnose granuloma annulare without any further testing. Sometimes, your dermatologist will take a small skin biopsy (taking a small piece of skin and looking at it under the microscope) to confirm the diagnosis. Rarely, people with granuloma annulare will have involvement of many parts of the skin or will have unusual forms of the condition. In these cases, your doctor might recommend some blood testing, including blood sugar (to look for diabetes), HIV testing,checkingyourcholesterol/bloodfatlevels,orcheckingyourthyroidgland.Sometimes,theywillrecommendabloodcellcountandroutine cancer screenings (like a colonoscopy or mammogram).
Involves many parts of the skin, including trunk, arms, and legs
Treatment
Subcutaneous
Even without treatment, the condition will improve within 2 years in most people, but it will sometimes come back. To help granuloma annulare improve more quickly, you and your doctor can talk about some of the potential treatment options. The most common treatment is injection of a small amount of steroid into areas of skin with the condition. This helps to decrease the inflammation (white blood cells) in the area of the skin spots. Sometimes, topical steroids (creams or ointments) will be prescribed. For people with a lot of skin involvement, your doctor might recommend treatment with light therapy (done in the doctor’s office a few times a week with a special “light box”) or with medications that you take by mouth. Many people with granuloma annulare will not need this kind of therapy.
Common in children; appears as nodules beneath the skin
Authors: Evan W. Piette, MD; Misha Rosenbach, MD Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. Section Editor: Misha Rosenbach, MD
692
Generalized
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/granuloma -annulare/basics/definition/con-20026647 • Patient.co.uk http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/granuloma-annulare-pro To find this and other JAMA Dermatology Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on the JAMA Dermatology website at http://www.jamaderm.com.
The JAMA Dermatology Patient Page is a public service of JAMA Dermatology. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA Dermatology suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call (312) 464-0776.
JAMA Dermatology June 2015 Volume 151, Number 6 (Reprinted)
Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Downloaded From: http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Otago Library User on 10/04/2015
jamadermatology.com
