Granuloma Annulare Treatment

Granuloma annulare is a chronic skin rash with reddish bumps arranged in a circle or ring. Granuloma annulare is different from warts, or ringworm. It most often affects children, young and older adults and it is slightly more common in females. It can be disfiguring when severe. While its cause is unknown, usually it exists in otherwise healthy people, although patients with diabetes, thyroid disease and autoimmune disease are at higher risk. There is no curative treatment although doctors have tried many different drugs and both topical and oral corticosteroids. Earlier this year, Dr Alan Boyd of Vanderbilt University, reported a case of Granuloma Annulare resolving with oral activated vitamin D. The patient was a 40 years-old woman who had A 12-year history of the disease on her legs. Six months before being seen, it spread to her upper body and became intensely itchy. Boyd AS.  Granuloma annulare responsive to oral calcitriol. Int J Dermatol. 2012 Jan;51(1):120-2. DO