Granuloma Annulare

[walkingwounded]

I'm 60 years young and in excellent health. All my blood work is normal. I take quite a few supplements and run 5 miles a day. I have developed a skin condition called granuloma annulare. Only in specific parts of my body: back of the upper arms, forarms and the sides of my legs. Does anyone know what can cause this and if there is a solution, traditional or alternative?

[walkingwounded]

Thank you for your responses. Some of the nodules have gone away. I changed my diet some by eating organic and leaning more towards a macrobiotic diet. Since I'm in great shape and all my blood work is normal, I feel it's some sort of immune system response. I, also, take LOTS of supplements which include immune enhancers like medicinal mushrooms. I have no problems with the condition. It's just annoying to see the nodules. Luckily, I only have them on my upper left arm now. Again, thanks for your responses.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Granuloma annulare is a chronic disease consisting of a rash with reddish bumps arranged in a circle or ring. It is mostly found in healthy individuals. Mostly it is found in normal individuals. Occasionally, it may be associated with diabetes or thyroid disease. It has also been associated with auto-immune diseases like SLE. Usually it is asymptomatic but due to cosmetic disfigurement topical or oral steroids may be needed. Please discuss this with your dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[cgeiger71]

I am 39 and have been dealing with these nodules for 25 years on my feet and hands. They have come and gone, usually during times of severe stress. I have been to doctor after doctor over the years and have just recently been diagnosed with Subcutaneous Granuloma Annulare. I have done quite a bit of digging on my own as in my experience with doctors they tend to be too busy to educate you and leave it up to you to find out the details of your ailments yourself.  My nodules seem to have been connected with a severe case of Mono (Epstein Barr Virus) I had when I was 14. There are several viruses thought to possibly trigger these granulomas, but even in the documentation I have researched no one really knows the exact cause.  I was misdiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis because of the location of my nodules and other symptoms that I was showing which ended up being Fibromyalgia. I started getting the nodules in other parts of my body, which is why I was referred to a Rheumatologist, and have gone through 3 different doctors since.

Anyway, to answer your question: My dermatologist has given me a strong corticosteroid cream to apply twice a day to my nodules. Specifically, Fluocinonide 0.05% cream usp.  The next step, if that doesn't work, will be cortisone shots. After that, possible surgical removal of the most painful ones and the ones that are not bothersome will more than likely fade over time on their own.  However, my first Rheumatologist had a nodule removed from my shin for a biopsy in January and it has not only come bac bigger than it was before, there are now 2 in that area. This bout is the worst I have ever had. I am going on 2 years now. They normally go into remission after about 6 months.

I have had a lot of health problems recently and have had a lot of stress over the last couple of years, so I'm sure that isn't helping matters any.  If you are in good health and every other thing is essentially normal with you I'm sure you shouldn't have any problems. The nodules are benign, they don't hurt anything, they're just a big pain in the "you know what" !!

I wish you luck!  Take care!!!!