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Granuloma Annulare

By

Julia Benedetti

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Granuloma annulare is a chronic skin disorder in which small, firm, raised bumps appear and spread out to form a ring with normal or slightly sunken skin in the center.

  • Granuloma annulare may be the result of an immune system reaction.

  • People may have one ring or several and colors vary.

  • The diagnosis is usually based on the appearance of the skin and can be confirmed with a skin biopsy.

  • Granuloma annulare usually heals without treatment.

The cause of granuloma annulare is not clear, but doctors suspect it is the result of an immune system reaction. Many disorders, infections, drugs, and environmental factors have been noticed in people who have granuloma annulare, but having granuloma annulare does not mean that another disorder is present.

Granuloma annulare occurs twice as often in women as in men.

Symptoms of Granuloma Annulare

The bumps are usually red but may be slightly bluish, yellowish tan, or the color of the surrounding skin, and a person may have one bump or several. The bumps may be tender but usually cause no pain or itching. They most often form on the feet, legs, hands, or fingers of children and adults. The bumps often expand outwardly to form rings. The center of each ring may be clear or be slightly sunken and sometimes pale or light brown. In some people, the rings become widespread.

Diagnosis of Granuloma Annulare

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Sometimes a skin biopsy

Doctors usually diagnose granuloma annulare by its appearance.

Treatment of Granuloma Annulare

  • Sometimes corticosteroids injected into or applied to the skin, tacrolimus applied to the skin, phototherapy, or cryotherapy

  • For widespread rings, sometimes other drugs

Most often, granuloma annulare heals without any treatment, so people who have no symptoms usually require no treatment. However, healing may take years.

Hydroxychloroquine, isotretinoin, dapsone, and cyclosporine are other drugs that may be effective if rings are widespread.

Other drugs that suppress the immune system, such as infliximab and adalimumab, may be used to treat granuloma annulare, but they may also trigger the disorder in some people.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
ASTAGRAF XL, ENVARSUS, HECORIA, Prograf, Protopic
Plaquenil, Quineprox
Absorica, Absorica LD, Accutane, Amnesteem , Claravis , MYORISAN, Sotret, ZENATANE
Aczone
Cequa, Gengraf , Neoral, Restasis, Sandimmune, SangCya, Verkazia, Vevye
AVSOLA, INFLECTRA, Remicade, RENFLEXIS, Zymfentra
ABRILADA, AMJEVITA , CYLTEZO, HADLIMA, Hulio, Hulio PEN, Humira, Hyrimoz, Idacio, YUFLYMA, YUSIMRY
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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