Centrifugal ring rash is a rare condition where red rings develop on the skin, often with no symptoms aside from discolorations. It can be associated with medications, infections, cancers, and other medical conditions, and can indicate the presence of a serious disease. It can occur anywhere on the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and can resolve on its own or with treatment.
Centrifugal ring rash, or erythema perstans, is a rare condition in which red rings develop on the skin. The cause is often unknown, but sometimes the disorder is associated with certain medications, infections, cancers, and other medical conditions. There may be no symptoms aside from the discolorations, but they are sometimes accompanied by itching, as well as symptoms of any underlying disease. The condition usually gets better on its own or when the underlying disorder is treated. This condition is important because it can indicate the presence of an associated serious disease, such as cancer, that may otherwise be hidden.
Both men and women are equally affected by centrifugal annular erythema, and the disorder can develop at any age. The skin lesions can occur anywhere on the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, but most often develop on the legs. Typically, the condition begins with raised red bumps that spread out in a circle as the center lightens, forming a red or pink ring. The rim edge is thickened and firm, and there may be flakes of skin on the inner side.
There are several varieties of the condition, and they are sometimes divided into two main types: superficial rotary erythema and deep rotary erythema. The superficial type is more common and tends to be itchy and scaly, while the deep type does not itch or form flaky skin. Fluid-filled blisters can be associated with either form of the condition.
Drugs that have a known association with ring-shaped erythema include some antimalarial drugs, aspirin, and penicillin. A bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal infection can also cause the disorder, as can an insect bite. Foods like tomatoes and blue cheese can cause these rings as part of an allergic response. Tumors, especially lymphomas, are known to cause the condition and other associated diseases include hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis and osteoarthritis. Sometimes, rings develop during pregnancy.
Centrifugal annular erythema can resolve on its own and the average time before this happens is about 11 months. In some cases, the disorder has been known to go away within a few weeks or to recur over decades. Steroid preparations applied to the skin can help eliminate existing skin lesions, but they do not prevent new ones from developing. Injected steroids can treat the disorder temporarily, but it soon returns once the drugs are stopped.
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