Granuloma annulare

Diagnosis

During a skin evaluation, a healthcare provider may perform a skin biopsy to confirm their diagnosis. This entails removing a small skin sample, which is subsequently sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination by other healthcare professionals. This process helps determine the root cause of your rash, aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Treatment

Treatment for granuloma annulare often focuses on pain and itching control. The skin issue may clear up more quickly with treatment, although it frequently recurs. In most cases, it resolves on its own without needing medical treatment. Within two years, it typically totally disappears.

The healthcare provider may suggest treatment if granuloma annulare results in extensive regions of rash on the skin or deep, huge lumps beneath the skin. The disease could linger for a few weeks or decades if left untreated.

Common treatments include:

• Corticosteroid creams or ointments: These may be prescribed to help with skin inflammation. It may be recommended to cover the applied cream with bandages or adhesive patches to enhance the effectiveness of the medication. The use of prescription-strength products can accelerate skin clearing.
• Corticosteroid injections: Injectable form of corticosteroids may be prescribed in periodic repetition, typically every 6 to 8 weeks, if the skin fails to respond to medicated creams or ointments.
• Oral medicines:  Your healthcare provider may recommend medications to reduce inflammation and clear your skin. These may include corticosteroids, isotretinoin, or tacrolimus. Additionally, drugs used to treat malaria, like hydroxychloroquine, may help reduce skin rashes’ appearance.
• Freezing: Cryotherapy involves the application of extremely low temperatures to freeze and eliminate irregular tissue. To achieve intense cold, a substance such as liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used. This will help remove and stop the growth of the rash.
• Laser therapy: Specialized lasers are used to target the affected skin, heating it to reduce inflammation and prevent the rash from spreading.
• PUVA Therapy (photochemotherapy): PUVA therapy involves combining a drug called psoralen with ultraviolet A (UV-A) light. Psoralen sensitizes the skin to light, and the UV-A light can slow down the growth of skin cells, potentially preventing granuloma annulare from progressing.
• Vitamin E tablets: If other treatments are not effective, your healthcare provider may recommend vitamin E tablets as an alternative.