Circular Skin Rash Not Ringworm

by LaRae
(Brandon SD, US)

circular skin rash on arm is not ringworm

circular skin rash on arm is not ringworm

We are at our wits end about this skin care problem. My boyfriend started to develop spots on his hands about a year ago now. After a while the spots began to spread and started to become visible on the elbow of his left arm. Some of the spots on his hands and arms are in the pattern of a complete a circle. These skin rash spots are raised, red, and rough but are not scaly. I have included a couple of pictures that perhaps better describe or illustrate the symptoms of the skin rash problem that by boyfriend has been suffering from. The photos clearly show the red circular pattern of the skin rash. Note also that there a several different sized circles, as well as some irregular raised red lines on the skin.

He has been to see a dermatologist on two separate occasions in order to address or diagnose this skin rash problem. The skin doctor took some skin scrapings and examined the skin under the microscope and established that the skin rash, although it appeared to be ring worm, was not a ring worm skin problem at all. The dermatologist even took a biopsy of the affected skin area and determined that is was not skin cancer. My boyfriend swears that this skin rash problem was caused from a bug bite that he got at some point. However, the circular skin rash has gradually started on the other arm, and is in fact getting worse.

Fortunately, the rash does not itch. It is just very unsightly. The one scab area as shown in the photo is from the biopsy. Some days the rash spots on his arm are redder than on other days. My boyfriend is a Type 2 diabetic and a heart attack survivor and so he does take medications for these health issues. The dermatologist first said the rash was caused from perfumes and soaps. However, we changed all of that stuff to no avail. He put my boyfriend on a steroid cream and moisturizer but this does not seem to be working. He has also tried some natural remedies such as drinking raw cider vinegar and applying the vinegar to the skin rash. He has also applied tea tree oil to the rash, but regardless of what is tried, there is no change in the circular skin rash. Does anybody have any ideas of what this rash could be and how to get rid of it?

Comments for Circular Skin Rash Not Ringworm

Click here to add your own comments.
Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE.

Jan 20, 2019
 Granuloma Annulare Cured for Me
by: Robyn

I had Granuloma Annulare rash for several years, all over my extremities and trunk. The appearance was various sized circles with no itch or pain. I have been taking a Benadryl every night for about four years. They faded and have not shown up now for over two years.
Feb 15, 2018
 Rash Looks Like Granuloma Annulare
by: Cat

It looks like Granuloma Annulare. About seven years ago it started with a insect bite on my left foot. The circular rashes come and go on different parts of my body. Some are very small and others larger forming a loose circle with raised reddish bumps. Some stay for years while others disappear after a few months. At the moment it seems to attack my face and fingers. On my face they look like fingerprint indentations with one red stip, very peculiar. The dermatologist told me that there is not anything you can do to stop it. You can apply cortisone cream if it itches, otherwise just leave it alone.
Feb 09, 2018
 Chemicals
by: Anonymous

There are so many legal chemicals in our environment now. Women are losing their hair at an early age, men are impotent, we all have rashes, and there is a high incidence of autism and aspergers. How much glysophate is used in your area? This is a legal weedkiller in the US but banned in Europe and Canada because of how disruptive it is to reproduction systems and other hormonal levels. Are you using products with BPA?
Jan 12, 2018
 Psoriasis Diagnosis
by: Anonymous

I have been diagnosed with psoriasis after two years of being treated for everything from fungal infections to ringworm and dermatitis. I attended the hospital where a consultant finally made a diagnosis of psoriasis. I had light treatment at hospital which totally cleared things up. Mine started with a large circle on my inner thigh. It took a long time to spread and all my other patches were filled in spots except one circle on the back of my hand.
Dec 27, 2017
 Pityriasis
by: Anonymous

Maybe it is Pityriasis Rosea or Pityrisias Lichenoides. This is often mistaken for ringworm initially.
Nov 29, 2017
 Circular Skin Rash Not Ringworm
by: Cheryl

In the last few months, I have gotten the same thing. One is on my right arm and one is on my left middle finger, what is this?
Nov 20, 2017
 Circular Skin Rash
by: Anonymous

About a year ago, an insect bit me in British Columbia on my inner arm. I scratched the location and a small round rash appeared just like a little bump. One year later, I have these circular rashes all over my inner arm. I have tried all types of fungal creams and nothing works. I am finally using a wart ointment, which burns like hell and makes the area around the rash real itchy. After about a week, a crust layer peels off and the rash is getting smaller but progress is slow.
Aug 01, 2017
 Skin Rash
by: Anonymous

My mother has a similar rash. She sits in the sun for 20 minutes a day then applies coconut oil and it is clearing up.
Jul 05, 2017
 Same Type of Rash
by: Anonymous

Mine were large in the beginning as if a dog or horse bit me. I was biopsied and she mumbled something and gave me Desonide Cream but also said it will take forever to get rid of it. I have both diabetes and thyroid problems. Seems to be only on torso portion of the body. Two years on each armpit and under breast by the rib and then lower belly just showed up. No itch or anything, just ugly.
Feb 18, 2017
 Granuloma Annulare
by: DRAGONFLY

My husband has the same thing and I was told it is called granuloma annulare. Usually, people who are diabetic or have a thyroid problem have it, but it can also be caused from a bug bite or an infection. There is no real treatment and it may take up to two years to disappear. My husband has had his for about a year now and it is almost gone.
Sep 26, 2016
 My Husband has the Same Thing
by: Anonymous

He has had comments from doctors, from Lupus to Lyme disease to eczema but nothing definitive. He has had it biopsied and thank God it is not skin cancer. The doctor said his thyroid is fine. It doesn't itch or hurt, it is just embarrassing. I wish I could find someone that knows what is going on and how to treat it.
Jun 15, 2016
 Circular Rash Triggered by Heat
by: Anonymous

My one year old daughter gets these rashes when she's exposed to heat. Cool baths and Benadryl seem to help her. It clears up within half an hour. Summer heat has caused her to break out horribly but as long as I keep her cooled and three times a week give her a teaspoon of the allergy medication, she clears up.
Dec 16, 2015
 Same Rash with no Cure
by: Anonymous

Have you found any cure for this rash yet? I have the exact same rash and also have tried just about everything with no cure. I've had it for almost a year now and have also seen two dermatologists and had one biopsy. Nothing has seemed to work. Please let me know. Thanks.
Oct 06, 2015
 Cicular Spots on the Skin
by: Erin

I have had this condition for six years. I will make this short. I was diagnosed with Lupus, but nothing helped, not one medication through the years. This stuff ate my skin like a flesh eating bacteria and still eats at my hands. The circles start and just keep getting bigger and bigger. Mine frequently itch if the sun gets to them or hot or cold tempatures or bumping them. OUCH!!!
Poor thing I feel for him.

Anyway this helps - Vitamin B-6 Bioten. Not a combination of B multi vitamins, but high doses of Bioten. Three months everyday and he will look and feel better (at least 10,000 mcg twice daily). Then he can drop down to a low dose. It will not affect his diabetic medications, or heart medications.

Moderator's Comment:
Whenever considering taking high does of vitamins (higher than the normal dosage), you should verify with a physician that this will be safe and not interact with any medications you are taking.
Jan 19, 2014
 Natural OIls for Rash Remedy
by: Anonymous

Try tea tree oil and clove oil diluted in coconut oil.
Nov 12, 2012
 Granuloma Annulare
by: Anonymous

My dermatologist said I had the same thing granuloma. It was caused by, in my case, stress. I could not afford all the creams to apply being that it was spreading from my neck all the way down to my feet in certain areas and I would have to refill every week. So I got a second opinion which seemed to make the majority vanish after about 4 to 6 weeks.

What I did that worked was shower with Selsum Blue, scrubbing lightly on areas. Then prior to bed, I applied Lamasol cream then again in the morning. What I also did to the smaller affected areas was to mix Selsum Blue and Lamasol and let them dry on my skin and sleep with on. In the first week the redness got darker opposite to what I wanted but then it got lighter. I was also told that regular body lotions could make it worse. Hopes this helps for all.
Aug 30, 2012
 Possibility - Granuloma Annulare
by: Anonymous

It may not be it, but it could be a form of Granuloma Annulare. My son was diagnosed with this a week ago, but we are going to go to a dermatologist to further investigate. It does say that this skin condition can be brought on by stress, bug bites, etc. There is no known reason for it, no known cure, and it just seems to go away on its own in 2-4 years and can be something associated with diabetes and thyroid issues. This is mostly all the information I have compiled from my research.
Aug 01, 2012
 I first got type of skin rash in Central America
by: Anonymous

I have had what I believe to be the same rash. The first episode was when I was stationed in Panama. I had it for well over a year, it covered EVERYTHING from the top of my feet and toes to my chest and shoulders, with the notable exceptions of my face and hands. I never had symptoms on either. The marks come in every size possible, mine seem to change sizes as well (usually got bigger), and are characterized by 6 red dots in a circular pattern, always 6. Weird, right? It was over 20 years later when I had the second episode that I went to a variety of specialists, both at the VA and in civilian healthcare, and no one was able to diagnose it. It lasted several months and went away very quickly after I began moisturizing the effected areas several times daily on the recommendation of one of my many doctors. He still had no idea what it was, but it seemed to have a positive effect.

Sorry I couldn't help, but at least you know you aren't alone.
May 23, 2012
 Skin Rash
by: Anonymous

I seem to have the same rash, tried everything, creams, biopsy (4), pills, baths, etc, and nothing seems to work. I thought it was due to chemotherapy, but no, was told definitely not. I saw on here somewhere, (trying to find it again) where a doctor in Ontario diagnosed a man from New Brunswick with a fungal rash he got from brook water. Seems he had been working in a brook and this came about. If anyone can find it, please post it because it looks so much like it and only shows up in a certain blood test, not in a biopsy.
Mar 30, 2012
 Discoid Eczema
by: Anonymous

I have the same circular rash. The rash looks very similar to your pictures and I saw a few doctors and dermatologists about this skin problem and they diagnosed it as discoid eczema. I had it for about 8 years but it's gone now!
Mar 16, 2012
 Diagnosis?
by: Anonymous

Has this been diagnosed as I have a very similar rash mainly on my legs, stomach and back?

Click here to add your own comments.
Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE.

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Types of Skin Rashes.

Share this page:

Copyright 2006-2024 healthy-skincare.com

Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

















Visit this PICTURES OF RASHES PAGE