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The Daily Insight

What causes annular lesions

Author

Rachel Hunter

Published Mar 25, 2026

DEFINITION. Annular skin lesions are figurate lesions characterized by a ring-like morphology. Although plaques represent the most common presentation of annular lesions, lesions may also be macular, nodular, or composed of grouped papules, vesicles, or pustules.

What is an annular lesion?

DEFINITION. Annular skin lesions are figurate lesions characterized by a ring-like morphology. Although plaques represent the most common presentation of annular lesions, lesions may also be macular, nodular, or composed of grouped papules, vesicles, or pustules.

Which skin conditions involves circular lesions?

Ringworm. Fungus causes ringworm, a skin infection that can form a circular rash. It can appear on any part of the body, and the rash is usually surrounded by itchy, red, scaly skin and hair loss. People sometimes call ringworm on the feet athlete’s foot or ringworm on the groin jock itch.

What causes annular plaques?

Granuloma annulare—plaques with raised nonscaly erythematous borders. While the etiology of granuloma annulare is unknown,1,9 it has been hypothesized that it is caused by vasculitis, trauma, monocyte activation or type IV delayed hypersensitivity.

What does annular erythema look like?

Annular erythema is not a diagnostic term but rather a description of a spreading erythematous eruption with an annular (ring-shaped) appearance. If the expansion of the rash is not uniform it may become arciform (arc-like) or polycyclic (two or more connected rings).

What is eosinophilic annular erythema?

INTRODUCTION. Eosinophilic annular erythema (EAE) is an uncommon benign acute eosinophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology, originally described in children. 1,2. EAE is clinically characterized by recurrent annular, erythematous-edematous, pruritic lesions with a centrifugal growth pattern.

What is subacute cutaneous lupus?

Subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) causes skin sores or rashes. It is an autoimmune disorder, meaning it occurs when your immune system attacks itself. Some prescription drugs may increase your risk for SCLE. There is no cure for SCLE. Treatment can help you manage symptoms and avoid SCLE rash flare-ups.

What is lupus vulgaris?

Lupus vulgaris is chronic, postprimary, paucibacillary cutaneous tuberculosis found in individuals with moderate immunity and high degree of tuberculin sensitivity. Eighty percent of the lesions are on the head and neck.

What is a polycyclic lesion?

Polycyclic lesions present as configurations arranged in more than one ring. Some annular lesions may coalesce into a polycyclic shape; alternatively, the appearance of such lesions may be independent. For example, the annular lesions of tinea corporis can combine to create a polycyclic lesion.

What causes skin lesions on arms?

The most common causes of skin lesions are injury, aging, infectious diseases, allergies, and small infections of the skin or hair follicles. Chronic diseases such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders can cause skin lesions. Skin cancer or precancerous changes also appear as skin lesions.

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When should I be concerned about a skin lesion?

Sudden changes in any lesion should cause concern. Although cancer is a less likely cause of skin lesion changes, early diagnosis and treatment almost always lead to better outcomes. Therefore, if you notice changes in your skin, seek medical advice.

What diseases cause skin lesions?

  • Allergic Eczema. 1 / 10. Also called atopic dermatitis, allergic eczema usually starts when you’re a kid. …
  • Acne. 2 / 10. …
  • Skin Cancer. 3 / 10. …
  • Herpes Simplex. 4 / 10. …
  • Nummular Eczema. 5 / 10. …
  • Actinic Keratosis. 6 / 10. …
  • Impetigo. 7 / 10. …
  • Psoriasis. 8 / 10.

How is annular erythema treated?

Annular erythema usually clears up by itself. Eruptions may last for a few weeks to many years (the average duration is 11 months). Most cases of annular erythema require no treatment (and no curative therapy is known). However, topical corticosteroids may be helpful in reducing redness, swelling and itchiness.

What drugs cause erythema annulare Centrifugum?

  • Amitriptyline.
  • Azacitidine.
  • Chloroquine.
  • Cimetidine.
  • Estrogen.
  • Etizolam.
  • Finasteride.
  • Hydrochlorothiazide.

Is erythema annulare Centrifugum itchy?

The EAC rash usually begins as a small pink or red spot that gradually enlarges. In some people, the rash may itch or sting, but often there are no symptoms.

What does a lupus rash look like on arms?

Ring-shaped rash In people with subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE), the rash looks like scaly red patches or ring shapes. This rash usually appears on parts of the body that are exposed to sun, such as the arms, shoulders, neck, chest, and trunk.

Is cutaneous lupus an autoimmune disease?

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is lupus affecting the skin. In this autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system attacks healthy skin.

What is the difference between cutaneous lupus and systemic lupus?

Systemic lupus is a type of autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your body, including your internal organs. In cutaneous (skin) lupus, your immune system attacks your skin.

What is erythema annulare Centrifugum?

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is an annular, erythematous lesion that appears as an urticaria-like papule and enlarges centrifugally, then clears centrally. A fine scale is sometimes present inside the advancing edge, known as a trailing scale.

What are Papulosquamous lesions?

Papulosquamous disorders are skin lesions consisting of red or purple papules or plaques with scale. A. Suspect pityriasis rosea when pink to red oval papules appear parallel to the lines of skin stress. A larger, erythematous, scaly plaque called the herald patch occurs in many cases.

What is reticular rash?

Livedo reticularis is a reticular, reddish-violet discoloration of the skin that typically affects the limbs, although it can be generalized. 1 The rash becomes worse with exposure to cold temperatures. The diagnosis requires determining a possible systemic association.

What is confluent lesion?

CONFLUENT – Joining or running together. Example: Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. CRESCENTIC – Shaped like a crescent moon (the moon in its first quarter). Example:Erythema marginatum. DISCRETE – Separate, distinct lesions that are not joined to one another.

What are the 4 types of lupus?

When people talk about lupus, they may be referring to the most common form—systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there are actually four kinds. Click or scroll to read more about each of them: SLE, cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.

What is lupus pernio?

Lupus pernio (LP) is a chronic non-life threatining type of cutaneous sarcoidosis that can be related to chronic fibrotic sarcoidosis, hyperglobulinemia and hypercalcemia.

What is lupus erythema?

What is SLE? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is the most common type of lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.

What autoimmune disease causes skin lesions?

  • Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.
  • IgA-mediated bullous dermatoses.
  • Ocular cicatrical pemphigoid.
  • Pemphigoid.
  • Pemphigus.

What is Brachioradial pruritus?

Brachioradial pruritus is a nerve disorder that causes itching, stinging, or tingling sensations in this area of the outer forearm. Brachioradial pruritus usually affects both arms, but it can occur in only one arm.

How do you get rid of skin lesions?

  1. Complete excision (excision biopsy) …
  2. Partial removal (shave biopsy) …
  3. Heat treatment (electrocautery) …
  4. Creams and gels. …
  5. Freezing (cryotherapy) …
  6. Scooping away (curettage) …
  7. Laser therapy. …
  8. Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

What are the characteristics of a suspicious lesion?

  • Changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole or growth.
  • A lesion that is rough, oozing, bleeding, or scaly.
  • A sore lesion that will not heal.
  • Pain, itching, or tenderness to a lesion.

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage I melanoma is no more than 1.0 millimeter thick (about the size of a sharpened pencil point), with or without an ulceration (broken skin). There is no evidence that Stage I melanoma has spread to the lymph tissues, lymph nodes, or body organs.

How can you tell if a lesion is cancerous?

  1. Asymmetry. One part of a mole or birthmark doesn’t match the other.
  2. Border. The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
  3. Color. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
  4. Diameter. …
  5. Evolving.