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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Granuloma annulare (gran-u-LOW-muh an-u-LAR-ee) is a chronic skin condition consisting of raised, reddish or skin-colored bumps (lesions) that form ring patterns, usually on your hands, feet, elbows and knees.
Although the lesions may be unsightly, granuloma annulare usually causes no other symptoms and has no long-term impact on your health. Still, granuloma annulare can be hard to cope with if your lesions affect your appearance.
In most cases the lesions disappear on their own within two years. If you choose treatment of granuloma annulare for cosmetic reasons, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to improve the appearance of the lesions and speed their disappearance.
- Granuloma annulare. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_granuloma.html. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Granuloma annulare. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/granuloma_annulare.html. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Prendiville JS. Granuloma annulare: Introduction. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2959059&searchStr=granuloma+annulare#2959059. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Granuloma annulare. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch117/ch117g.html. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Popovich D, et al. Accurately diagnosing commonly misdiagnosed circular rashes. Dermatology Nursing. 2008;20:294.
- Borfitz JM. Commonly missed dermatologic conditions. Nurse Practitioner. 2009;34:35.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 29, 2010.
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