Circular rash on cheek

[Jack]

Last evening our 25 year old daughter noticed a circular rash (mark) on her cheek.  It was about the size of a dime, and had a red dot in the center.  Our first thoughts were that it might be a bite of some sort; possibly either lyme disease or ring worm.  Can you give us any ideas or thoughts.  She intends to see her doctor tomorrow, when she returns home; but it might give us some peace of mind if we could get some information today.  Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Jack:

Although Lyme Disease causes round rashes, so do almost every other bite.  A red mark with a dot in the center sounds like any old insect bite (the dot is called a "punctum," where the insect bit.)  It certainly isn't ringowrm, which is a lay term for fungus, and is caly and slow to develop.  (I assume that your daughter's circle came fairly fast.

I doubt you'll hear unpleasant news tomorrow.

Good night.

Dr. R

[Nikki]

MY HUSBAND AND I DISCOVERED A CIRCULAR RASH ON HIS NECK WHICH APPEARED TO BE DARKER IN COLOR THAN THE SURROUNDING SKIN, SCALY AND SLIGHTLY DRY LOOKING, IT HAD A WELL OUTLINED BORDER. AS FAR AS CAUSING IRRITATION, MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT THE RASH DOES NOT CAUSE ANY DISCOMFORT AND IF I HADN'T POINTED IT OUT TO HIM HE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THAT IT WAS THERE. COULD THIS BE RINGWORM AND IF NOT WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLY BE? WHAT TREATMENT TO YOU RECOMMEND?

[Patti]

My 8 yr old dtr is  extremely allergic to many things and has been on allergy shots for several yrs, but has had several bad reactions to her shots so her allergies remain, for the most part, uncontrolled despite shots, inhaled steroids, and antihistamines.  She also has "over-reactions" to insect bites, etc., in that the bites swell to 3/4 times the normal size.  Allergist says nothing can be done but oral/topical antihistamines and prevention from exposure, etc.; however she also periodically has painful "pimples/bumps" on the inside of her mouth which she has had since exposed to something at preschool that another child had that caused red sores on his face.  These go away on their own, so were not too concerned about them either; HOWEVER for the past year or so she has been getting small red pimples on her face/nostrils that disappear in 24 yrs but recur in different area of her face/nose.  Pediatrician dxd impetigo, and rxd Bactroban, which seems to help a little,  but said he isn't  sure since they seem to go away on their own and are not particularly nasty looking like impetigo normally is.  Also, she got some sort of bite last summer that eventually lead to a negative test for lyme disease since the lesion over a 2/3 day period got 6 in in -diameter and was brignt  pink in center with 3-4 progressively lighter almost perfectly round circles surrounding it.  It looked exactly like a bull's eye, though Drs. said it was atypical for Lyme rash, but tested her anyway.  My questions are these:  could any of these conditions/rashes be related and/or caused by any underlying disease that dr. is missing and is there any way of preventing any of them from recurring?  Have not yet seen a dermatologist...is that the way to go at this point?  So far, have been treating each outbreak separately, but last facial rash/impetigo was only 2 mos. ago so am beginning to worry/wonder about current regime.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thx.

[Melissa]

WHAT IS RINGWORM? AND IS IT CONTAGIOUS? IF SO HOW DO YOU CATCH IT? DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT?

[Rob Tyas]

I work down the coalmines in the uk. I have noticed in the last few weeks that i have a round patch on my shoulder about the size of a golf ball. It dosn`t itch nor is it inflamed nor hurt in any way. The reason that i noticed it is because coal dust never settles on it and it stays clean all through the shift which is very unusual. I am concerned in what it could be. I had a simular patch on my hand a few years ago. Please could you help?
    Thank you
     Robert Tyas

[sarah]

MY DAUGHTER IS 13YRS OF AGE, SHE NOTICED TODAT AT THE THE TOP LEFT ARM INSTDE A CIRCULAR RASH NO DOT IN THE MIDDLE BUT THERE IS SWELLING, IT IS PINK IN COLOUR AND ACHES AT THE TOUCH. SHE IS GOING TO SEE THE DOCTORS TOMORROW BUT I AM BEING TO PANIC MYSELF CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS PROBLEM.

[kpiazza]

A related discussion, red rash on both cheeks was started.