Not Ringworm

[oli850]

My fiance, a 36 year old male, has been suffering from re-occuring breakouts on his arms and torso for years. The breakouts on his torso begin as a circular mosquito-like bump that continue on in a ringlike circular fashion, eating away at his skin with a constant itch and irrritation. The bumps on his arms seem to grown inward under the skin while at the same time causing nausea and occassional bloody coughing. The experts he has seen over the years could not diagnose his situation, although he was told his condition was not cancerous or contagious. He has been given a type of steriod in the past that has suppressed the growth, although it continues to plague him.Do you have any idea what this could possibly be and what can be done to help him?

[Pullavatlashiv Prasad, MD]

Dear oli850,

Thank you for providing a detailed history and uploading an image.

It’s possible that your fiancé is suffering from a condition called erythema annulare centrifugum. This condition starts with a small reddish papule and spreads in an annular or ring like fashion.

This can be a manifestation of several underlying causes like a simple ring worm infection to a blood disorder. This condition is known to fluctuate and heal and may go on for years. Your fiancé needs a thorough workup to find out the cause. The workup should include a complete blood count and a skin biopsy.  A history of coughing blood would also mandate ruling out tuberculosis.

The treatment of this condition includes elimination of the cause. Till then, steroids may only produce a temporary relief.

I hope I have addressed your concerns.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Best Regards,
Dr. P V S Prasad

[oli850]

The photo I have uploaded to my profile is of his recent breakout.