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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Granuloma annulare is generally marked by:
- Raised, reddish or skin-colored bumps (lesions) that can expand or join to form ring patterns, most commonly on your hands and feet. The patterns may resemble ringworm.
- Mild itching in some people, though the lesions usually cause no pain or itching.
Although the lesions may be unsightly, granuloma annulare usually causes no other signs or symptoms. The lesions may disappear and reappear at a later time.
A more severe, widespread form of this condition is called generalized granuloma annulare. In generalized granuloma annulare, rings appear over much of your body, lesions are often smaller, and itching is more common.
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if your skin develops reddish bumps (lesions) in ring patterns that don't go away within a few weeks.
- 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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