Causes of ring-shaped spots on the skin
Ring-shaped spots on the skin may be erythema annulare, which is also called persistent or anular erythema. This disease can be caused by various factors and is prone to relapse. It is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents and young men.
To date, the exact reasons for the development of erythema annulare are not yet known to scientists. However, experts make some assumptions about the connection between its occurrence and the impact of certain factors - viruses, infections and other health problems.
Darrieus centrifugal spot
The origin of Daria's annular erythema raises especially many questions among scientists, since it has not yet been possible to identify the causes of the appearance of such a malaise.
Some experts suggest that the development of this type of disease may be associated with fungal infections of the skin. There is also a theory that skin symptoms are based on autoimmune processes or genetic predisposition. Darier's erythema can also occur under the influence of certain medications.
What diseases is it typical for?
The development of annular erythema can be provoked by a number of ailments, including:
- Pathologies of the digestive tract.
- Various types of intoxication of the body.
- Bacterial and viral lesions.
- Focal infections represented by tonsillitis, cholecystitis, osteomyelitis, sinusitis, etc.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the immune system.
- Fungal skin diseases.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Oncological processes. Erythema may be part of the paraneoplastic syndrome (complex of symptoms of cancer).
- Parasitic infections.
- Dysproteinemia (with this condition the ratio of proteins in the body is disturbed).
Since today the mechanism of development of annular erythema remains not fully understood, it is not yet possible to find out what factors can trigger its progression. This makes therapy somewhat more difficult and reduces its effectiveness.
Annular redness due to rheumatism
The appearance of ring-shaped erythema can sometimes be a specific manifestation of rheumatism in the active phase. This pathology is most often diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, as well as in adult patients under 30 years of age. Red spots on the skin can appear in various phases of the rheumatic process; they can be observed with polyarthritis or rheumatic carditis, and sometimes become apparent before other symptoms of rheumatism appear. With the current rheumatic process, erythema can warn of another attack of the disease or its exacerbation.
Ring spot for viral infections
Some viral infections can lead to changes in the body's functioning and trigger the appearance of erythema migrans. This is a chronic disease, which is similar in its characteristics to dermatosis. Most often it is diagnosed in middle-aged men, and doctors assure that this form of the disease is easier to treat than other types of annular erythema. Erythema migrans may appear after bites from ticks and other insects.
Causes
To date, the exact causes of the appearance of ring-shaped erythema have not been identified. Most doctors consider this skin disease as a reactive process associated with intolerance to certain medications, fungal and bacterial infections that occur in a chronic form.
Sometimes a ring-shaped form of erythema appears in patients suffering from leukemia and lupus erythematosus. A connection between the disease and helmitosis cannot be ruled out.
Intoxication of the body is one of the reasons for the appearance of erythema annulare.
So, ring-shaped erythema can be provoked by the following factors:
- intoxication of the body;
- focal (focal) infections. For example, tonsillitis, dental granuloma, cholecystitis, etc.;
- mycoses of the skin;
- endocrine system disorders;
- disorders of the immune system;
- dysproteinemia – disturbances in the quantitative ratio of blood proteins;
- drug intolerance;
- the appearance of malignant neoplasms.
Doctors do not rule out that the tendency to develop erythema can be inherited, since the disease is often observed in blood relatives.
Symptoms
Classic ring-shaped erythema of Darier is characterized by an acute onset:
Rings with annular erythema often grow and merge, sometimes they form arcs or garlands. It is possible to form openwork elements. The central part of such spots is covered with smooth and pale skin, and the outer edge rises somewhat above the surrounding skin and has a bright red or purple-violet color. With rheumatic erythema, the color of the edging is most often not very pronounced - it appears pale pink.
The rings usually remain on the skin for a couple of weeks, then disappear, leaving behind areas with stagnant pigmentation.
Sometimes spots appear on the skin in just half an hour, for example, when exposed to the sun or cold, and then disappear just as quickly. It is possible to develop a chronic form of the disease, which worsens during the off-season, as well as in the summer.
Features in children
In children, ring-shaped erythema of rheumatic origin is most often diagnosed; it can occur with the development of polyarthritis, rheumatic carditis or rheumatism. Experts call this disease a special term - Leiner's annular erythema. The disease has a number of specific symptoms:
- Bright red spots, about the size of a five-kopeck coin, appear on the skin of the baby’s body. They tend to expand and merge with each other.
- They do not cause any discomfort to the child and do not cause the desire to scratch.
- The spots are present on the body for quite a long time and disappear after successful treatment of the underlying rheumatological disease.
If the underlying disease becomes chronic, erythema annulare in children often recurs. Doctors are confident that this development of events is associated with severe complications in the heart and blood vessels.
Diagnostics
Even experienced doctors may encounter some difficulties when diagnosing ring-shaped erythema, because its manifestations resemble many dermatological ailments, ranging from seborrheic eczema and lichen to syphilis. Therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis you may need:
- Microscopic examination of skin scrapings.
- Performing various blood tests.
- Histology of biopsy (material from the affected area).
- Carrying out a complex of mycological tests.
To find out the exact reasons for the appearance of erythema, sometimes consultation with other specialists is required, for example, a rheumatologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and oncologist.
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Correct diagnosis
The difficulty of making a diagnosis lies in the similarity of the disease with various dermatological manifestations. Such skin rashes are also characteristic of syphilis, so serological tests are carried out to exclude it. To avoid mistakes, differential diagnosis is used, in which it is important to completely exclude diseases such as: Dühring's dermatitis, Gibert's lichen, sarcoidosis, seborrheic eczema, cholinergic urticaria.
The program for diagnosing erythema annulare contains the following steps:
- biopsy for skin analysis;
- serological study;
- identification of fungi present;
- hematological examination;
- on the subject of oncology.
Upon completion of the procedures and diagnosis of annular erythema, the patient is sent for a general examination in order to identify the main cause of the disease.
Treatment
Therapy for ring-shaped erythema should be exclusively comprehensive and may include:
- Treatment of conditions suspected of causing skin spots. In particular, chronic foci of infection are sanitized, the functioning of the digestive tract and other organs and systems of the body is stabilized.
- Antibiotic therapy.
- Taking hormonal medications.
- Treatment of lesions.
- Using traditional medicine techniques.
- Organization of dietary meals.
Therapy methods are selected individually by an experienced doctor.
Medicines
Medicines in the treatment of annular erythema perform different functions:
- To reduce unpleasant symptoms - redness and swelling of the skin, burning and spreading erythema, doctors often prescribe antihistamines. The choice is given to drugs of the latest generations, which need to be taken only once a day, and which do not give a feeling of drowsiness - Loratadine, Cetirizine, etc.
- To suppress pathogenic microflora, antimycotic drugs or antibacterial agents are used, in particular azithromycin, doxycycline, penicillins and fluoroquinolones.
- In severe cases of the disease, you may need to take hormonal pills for a short time - they very quickly stop inflammatory processes, but are not suitable for long-term use.
Children are also usually prescribed homeopathic medicines, for example, Celia or Barium muriaticum. The dosage is selected individually.
Skin spots require systematic local treatment using:
- Antiseptics - Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, etc.
- Antihistamine gels, for example, Fenistil.
- Antibacterial ointments.
- Hormonal ointments that contain small amounts of corticosteroids.
- Combined medications. In particular, quite often patients with this problem are prescribed Polcortolone TS spray, which contains an antibiotic and a corticosteroid hormone.
- Reparative ointments or creams that stimulate regeneration processes. For this purpose, the drugs Bepanten, Solcoseryl, Actovegin, etc. can be used.
Treatment of erythema rheumatica in children consists only of eliminating the underlying disease. Stains on the skin can be treated with antiseptics and reparative ointments.
Diet
In principle, when treating ring erythema, patients do not need to adhere to any special diet. The diet should be nutritious and healthy. Most doctors strongly recommend eliminating frankly harmful and highly allergenic foods:
Of course, alcohol is prohibited. It is best to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet until the spots completely disappear from the skin.
Folk remedies
Most doctors have a fairly positive attitude towards the use of traditional medicine, but insist on prior approval of such therapy with the treating specialist. When treating ring-shaped erythema, the following can be used:
- Arnica. 2 tbsp. l. of the foliage of this plant, brew 400 ml of boiling water and seal in a thermos for a day. Strain and drink 1 tsp. five times a day. Keep the finished medicine in the refrigerator.
It is worth considering that each of the folk remedies can provoke reactions of individual intolerance. Therefore, before using different herbs, it would be useful to conduct an allergy test on the delicate skin of the elbow.
Erythema annulare is a type of skin disease in which ring-shaped spots form on the body. In childhood, it most often manifests itself in the torso or limbs. Another name used in medicine is Darier's annular centrifugal erythema. As a rule, the illness is short-term. However, with weakened immunity or emotional stress, it lasts a long time. According to statistics, girls are more susceptible to pathology than boys. Causes
Scientists often associate the causes of erythema annulare with genetic predisposition. In addition, people with the following problems are susceptible to the disease:
- allergic reactions;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- malignant tumors;
- poisoning of the body;
- Lyme disease (develops due to a tick bite);
- rheumatism;
- helminthiasis;
- pulmonary tuberculosis;
- endocrine diseases;
- fungus, cutaneous mycosis;
- weakened immune system;
- disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract.
Scientists have not yet reached a consensus on the factors contributing to the development of ring erythema. Often, patients do not have clearly defined reasons for its appearance.
Symptoms
Ring-shaped erythema in children is expressed by the appearance of a red ring on the skin, the center of which is a different color . The appearance of erythema occurs with swelling of the skin, which occurs due to the expansion of capillaries. The pathology is prone to progression. Therefore, the lesion may increase in size and the ring becomes larger.
At the initial stage of the disease, a small pink or red spot forms on the child’s skin. When pressed, it becomes paler or completely blends in with the rest of the skin. Then the middle of the spot begins to lighten, and it turns into a ring with a bright red edging. The element can be transformed into one ring or several.
The skin at the site of erythema may become dry and begin to peel. In some cases, the formation of bubble eruptions along the border is noted. In the photo you can see the nature of the rash.
In addition to the main symptom, there are other signs of the development of pathology:
- itching;
- burning;
- elevated temperature;
- muscle weakness;
- headache;
- loss of appetite.
There are the following types of disease:
- Paroxysmal - the appearance of spots occurs suddenly and quickly, the rash may disappear spontaneously.
- Acute - formations disappear within two months.
- Chronic - erythema persists for a long period.
- Recurrent - after disappearing after some time, the rings reappear.
How does it manifest?
Initially, nummular erythema appears on the skin - a rounded red spot, slightly raised above its surface, similar to a coin. When pressed, the erythema turns pale or disappears completely. A center of clearing gradually forms in the center, the skin becomes pink, then acquires a normal or paler color. Sometimes, in the center of nummular erythema, several round-shaped foci of clearing are simultaneously formed; in this case, several rings form.
In some cases, peeling or blisters appear on the surface of the changed skin. The boundaries of the formation remain red or pink and gradually “spread” wider and wider, which leads to an increase in the diameter of the ring. The edge of the ring can be flush with the skin or slightly raised above it.
Ring-shaped erythemas of varying degrees of maturity can be located in the same location; the rings often merge with each other. Thus, fancy arched contours and wavy edges of the spots are formed. Skin changes are occasionally accompanied by itching and soreness, which depends on the underlying cause of the disease. Symptoms of annular erythema occur against the background of other signs of the disease:
- The infectious nature of erythema is indicated by signs of intoxication - fever, weakness, aching muscles and joints, and lack of appetite. Migratory annular erythema most often occurs when infected with Borrelia as a result of a tick bite (Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis). In the center of the redness, the primary affect is visible - the site of the tick bite in the form of a rounded hemorrhagic crust or erosion. Often characteristic target-shaped erythema is formed when a smaller ring is located inside a larger one in diameter.
- With rheumatism, damage to connective tissue structures comes to the fore - pain in joints, muscles, limited mobility, changes in skin quality, increased bleeding of blood vessels, prolonged rise in temperature above 38 degrees C°, impaired cardiac activity. As a rule, the borders of the rings in this case are pale pink and indistinct; their localization can be anywhere.
- Allergic erythema is usually bright, the swelling is well expressed, and can be combined with a rash like urticaria on other parts of the body, with Quincke's edema, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis. It is also characterized by skin itching of varying intensity.
- A malignant neoplasm is indicated by prolonged weakness, weight loss, bursting pain in the long tubular bones of the extremities, enlarged lymph nodes, and a prolonged increase in temperature to subfebrile levels (up to 38 degrees C°).
Ring-shaped erythema in children is most often associated with rheumatic diseases, immune disorders and helminthic infestations.
The course of the disease depends on the cause and may be:
- paroxysmal - changes in the skin occur suddenly and disappear without a trace within several hours or days;
- acute – rings and spots gradually disappear within up to 8 weeks;
- chronic – skin changes persist for a long time;
- recurrent - after complete clinical cure, erythema reappears on the same or new areas of the skin.
Diagnostics
At the first symptoms, you should contact a medical facility. A dermatologist or venereologist can diagnose the disease.
As a rule, erythema in children is easily determined by its appearance. In addition to detecting the disease, the specialist finds out the reasons that could provoke its appearance.
To diagnose erythema, the doctor takes particles of the formation and sends them for histological examination..
The standard diagnostic procedure includes the following studies:
- serological;
- histopathological;
- mycological;
- examination for the presence of malignant neoplasms;
- hematological;
- biochemical analysis of blood and urine.
After making a reliable diagnosis, the doctor prescribes adequate treatment. In most cases, therapy takes place on an outpatient basis.
Prevention and prognosis
Despite the fact that erythema annulare is a chronic disease, its prognosis is favorable. Timely treatment is successful in most cases. Malignant degeneration of the skin with erythema is not observed.
However, this does not mean that erythema annulare can not be treated. In medical practice, there have been cases of superficial erosions occurring at the site of rashes, after healing of which persistent pigment spots appear on the skin.
Prevention of ring-shaped erythema consists of timely detection of infectious and fungal diseases and their persistent treatment. In addition, to prevent the occurrence of erythema, it is necessary to monitor the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and, if alarming symptoms appear, consult a doctor for examination and prescribing appropriate treatment. Secondary prevention of erythema involves following a diet and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Erythema is redness and swelling of the skin associated with dilation of the blood vessels of the dermis and stagnation of blood in them. It occurs as a reaction to the bites of blood-sucking insects, autoimmune processes, and helminthic infestations. Ring-shaped erythema gets its name due to its characteristic appearance: a red ring with raised edges limits an area of unchanged skin. Depending on the cause, the disease occurs in acute or chronic, recurrent forms.
Treatment
Erythema annulare is a complex disease; removing symptoms alone is not enough. To effectively get rid of a disease, it is necessary to establish the cause of its occurrence and eliminate it.
The doctor prescribes a set of therapeutic methods.
- If erythema is accompanied by itching and swelling, treatment with antihistamines is necessary to cope with unpleasant symptoms (Fenistil, Trental). A budget-friendly way to get rid of flaking and itching, and relieve inflammatory processes is Zinc ointment.
- Glucocorticoid hormonal creams can stop pathological changes in the skin. They act by reducing the division of T-lymphocytes (Akriderm, Sinaflan). The use of these drugs is allowed only as prescribed by a doctor, as there are side effects.
- Treatment is supplemented with drugs that stimulate the child’s immune system (Amiksin). To increase the protective function, various vitamin complexes are prescribed.
- Means for improving blood circulation in tissues (Curantil). They can increase the rate of regeneration of epidermal cells and help the skin quickly restore its original appearance.
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In addition, the following systemic drugs are often included in the complex of local therapy:
- Desensitizing agents. They are able to remove allergens and toxins from the patient’s body, reducing the permeability of vascular walls and normalizing immune cells, which helps reduce the release of histamine (Diphenhydramine, Suprastin).
- Antibiotics. Used in case of infection that provoked annular erythema (Azithromycin, Doxycycline).
- Antihelminthic drugs. Prescribed when tests detect worm eggs or immunoglobulins (Pirantel, Wormox).
- Cytostatics. Capable of inhibiting immune cells to reduce their activity. Prescribed for suspected autoimmune diseases (Rosevin).
Since annular erythema is most often not a separate disease, but appears against the background of the underlying disease, the treatment program is developed not only by a dermatologist, but also by other specialists. When the underlying cause is eliminated, the erythema can go away on its own .
How does it arise?
The appearance of erythema is associated with a pathological vascular reaction: the capillaries located in the skin expand, the blood flow in them slows down, and the fluid pressure in their lumen increases. As a result, part of the plasma escapes into the tissue, which leads to local edema - this is how raised edges or a platform appear in the annular erythema. Following the liquid, T-lymphocytes emerge - cells of the immune system responsible for recognizing foreign agents and destroying the body’s own infected cells and tumor cells. Their role in the occurrence of erythema is not completely clear, but they indicate a close connection of the disease with the functioning of the immune system.
Forecast
Erythema is a skin reaction, a signal that a malfunction has occurred in the human body. To eliminate this manifestation, complex treatment is necessary. With timely access to specialists and adequate therapy, the disease can be cured successfully. Symptoms disappear completely within a few weeks of starting treatment.
If the cause of the pathology has not been identified, the erythema goes away on its own. However, there is a high risk of its re-formation. If this happens, the patient is recommended to undergo a detailed examination of the body for the presence of a hidden infection and its treatment.
To prevent ring-shaped erythema from occurring in a child, the following preventive measures are necessary:
- timely detection and treatment of various diseases;
- compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- absence of bad habits;
- balanced diet.
The cause of skin diseases is often some other pathology, and annular erythema is no exception. Noticeable red spots in the shape of rings, as a rule, appear in young and adult men; the disease affects women much less frequently. Another name for this pathology is anular erythema.
What is erythema annulare
Many demotic diseases have similar external signs, so only a dermatologist can determine the type of pathology. Ring-shaped erythema is a disease that belongs to infectious-toxic diseases of a chronic nature. Unlike other skin diseases, this can be recognized independently. A typical manifestation is ring-shaped spots on the skin of a bright red color, they do not peel off, and are accompanied by general malaise, headache, fever, and swelling.
Causes of ring-shaped erythema
The skin is tightly connected to all organs of the body, so it often reacts to any changes that occur in the human body. The causes of annular erythema lie in the disruption of one of the systems; the pathology is not an independent disease. Below are some possible triggers for the disease:
- tuberculosis;
- malignant tumors;
- intoxications of various types;
- fungal infections;
- allergic reactions;
- defects of the immune system, usually of the lymphocytic level;
- chronic local foci of infection;
- autoimmune, rheumatic diseases;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- helminthic infestations, tissue and intestinal forms (trichinosis, ascariasis, strongyloidiasis);
- Lyme disease (transmitted through a tick bite);
- hormonal disorders.
Ring-shaped erythema in children
Unlike adults, children exhibit pathology with a more pronounced clinical picture. Ring-shaped erythema in children looks like semi-closed or completely closed circles of red or purple color with a pink-blue tint. The lesions can intertwine with each other and form lace patterns on the skin. The inside of the ring has a characteristic pale tint. Ring-shaped erythema is observed in children, usually suffering from heart disease and rheumatism.
The disease can appear in a child quickly and disappear just as quickly. Treatment is aimed at combating chronic foci of infection. The pediatrician prescribes sulfonamides, complex vitamins, and antibacterial agents. The course of treatment may include homeopathic medicines:
- Sepia 6 – you need to drink 1 granule in the evening;
- Barium muriaticum 6 – between breakfast and lunch 3 granules per day.
How to make a diagnosis?
Diagnosis of ring-shaped erythema is not difficult due to the characteristic appearance of the spots on the skin. If it is necessary to distinguish the disease from granuloma annulare, which has similar symptoms, a dermatologist takes a section of altered tissue (biopsy) for histological examination. In the laboratory, microscopic sections are prepared from the sample, stained, and a pathologist examines the resulting preparations under a microscope. Skin changes with erythema include:
- expansion of capillaries of the dermis;
- accumulations of lymphocytes around blood vessels;
- slight swelling of cells and intercellular space of the epidermis;
- moderate swelling of the dermis.
To find out the cause of annular erythema, the doctor conducts a number of additional tests, starting with the simplest ones - a general clinical analysis of blood, urine and biochemical analysis of plasma. Changes in them suggest which direction to move next. Thus, helminthic infestation is characterized by slight anemia, eosinophilia, and accelerated ESR. During allergic reactions, the protein content in the plasma increases, in particular immunoglobulin E. Malignant neoplasms manifest themselves by a decrease in hemoglobin, red blood cells in the blood, a change in the leukocyte formula, and an acceleration of ESR. The diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is confirmed by a serological test - immunoglobulins M and G to borrelia are detected in the blood serum.
The doctor uses instrumental studies (ultrasound, CT, MRI, X-ray, ECG, ECHO-CG) if any changes were detected as a result of the examination of the patient or laboratory tests.
Symptoms of ring-shaped erythema
The disease has a specific development algorithm. Symptoms of erythema annulare begin with the formation of red or pinkish-yellow scaly patches on the skin. The disease begins to progress and ring-shaped elements are formed, rising slightly above the surface. The color at the edge of the rings is brighter, the diameter can be more than 15 cm, and in some cases itching appears in the area of the rash. Erythematous elements have the following characteristic external signs:
- Ring-shaped lesions on the skin.
- The edges are urticarial, the center is pale.
- The surface inside the ring is smooth and flat.
- Lesions tend to grow peripherally.
- With erythema, the lesions can unite, forming a “garland” and an “arc”.
- The lesions will exist for 2-3 weeks, then they will begin to disappear, leaving persistent pigment spots on the skin. Then new ring-shaped elements will begin to appear again.
- The disease is usually localized on the back, torso, limbs and abdomen. Rarely, lesions form on the buttocks, lips, neck or face.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of Darier's annular erythema in most cases are acute. The disease itself is chronic and long-lasting.
At the beginning of development, red or pink-yellow spots appear that peel off. As it progresses, erythema begins to appear as spots in the form of rings that rise slightly above the surface of the skin. The diameter of the rash can reach 15 cm. The shade varies from rich red to purple. The area of the rash may be itchy and a little itchy.
Typical appearance of erythema:
- ring-shaped;
- faded shade in the center;
- the center of formation is flat and smooth;
- the tendency of elements to grow along the periphery;
- some erythemas can grow together, forming arcs or garlands;
- The duration of manifestation of rashes is 2-3 weeks. Subsequently, they disappear, leaving persistent pigmentation on the skin. Over time, new erythemal rings appear.
Traditionally, ring-shaped erythema occurs on the back, abdomen, limbs, and less commonly the lips, neck, face, and buttocks are affected.
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Types of ring-shaped erythema
This disease has several types and different clinical manifestations. The following types of ring-shaped erythema are distinguished:
- Centrifugal - a characteristic feature is a large number of erythemas in the form of a roller, which rise above the skin. Over time, the shape of the lesion changes and it grows.
- Erythema migrans is a chronic form of pathology, the signs of the inflammatory process are similar to dermatosis. The disease becomes a consequence of bacterial or viral infections.
- Rheumatic - becomes a direct sign of the presence of rheumatism. A characteristic manifestation is pale pink, barely visible spots. Occurs in children and adolescence.
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According to clinical manifestations, erythema annulare is divided into:
- garland-shaped - spots appear for a short period of time;
- vesicular - instantaneous appearance and rapid disappearance, cavities with exudate (vesicles) are formed along the periphery of the rings;
- peeling - the outer border of the formation peels off.
Erythema Daria
As a rule, this disease is associated with cancer, in some cases it is a consequence of myeloproliferative pathologies. Centrifugal erythema of Darier is observed as a paraneoplastic process in patients over 50 years of age, equally in women and men. The pathology develops acutely and can last for a long time (from several months to tens of years). First signs:
- Swelling, scaly spots of pink or red color.
- Next, a large number of erythematous elements appear in the shape of a ring with an urticarial edge, a pale, smooth and flat middle. Diameter - 1-2 cm, over time the color becomes brownish.
- As the element grows, its diameter reaches 15 cm.
- The rings are formed into garlands, arcs and scalloped elements.
After some time, the erythema disappears, leaving behind stagnant pigment spots. Soon new ring-shaped spots appear near these places. Foci are localized, as a rule, on the trunk, proximal limbs, and much less often on the neck, buttocks, lips, and face. As a rule, the disease manifests itself only externally, there are no subjective symptoms, but in rare cases, patients complain of burning and itching.
Erythema migrans
This skin redness constantly increases; as the boundaries of the ring expand, the center begins to clear, acquiring the color of healthy skin. Erythema migrans becomes a consequence of the bite of an ixodid tick that adheres to human skin. The insect injects a bacterium that often causes Lyme disease. If treatment for the disease is not started in a timely manner, it becomes chronic and the pathology becomes extremely difficult to cure. This form of pathology has the following features:
- If left untreated, the bacterium spreads throughout the human body, affecting the joint, nervous system, and heart muscle.
- If a girl becomes pregnant immediately after the bite or during it, the pathogen will be passed on to the child.
Ring-shaped rheumatic erythema
The appearance of this disease becomes an objective and important indicator of the presence of rheumatism in the active phase. Pathology is extremely rare in adults (less than 2%). Erythema annulare rheumatica is more often diagnosed in children, adolescents and people under 30 years of age. The lesions, as a rule, have a pale pink color, less often - blue-pink, purple-red. The rings are closed or semi-closed and can cross each other’s boundaries, forming a lace pattern.
The colored stripe of these rings does not rise or stand out slightly above the surface of the skin. The inner part of the lesion has a healthy or pale skin color. Sometimes diffuse erythema occurs first; development occurs in the central zones, but the erythema coloration of the thin rim remains. Therapy of the disease includes an integrated approach to the fight against the original disease.
Treatment of ring-shaped erythema
This pathology is not an independent disease, so effective therapy will be determined by determining the root cause. Treatment of annular erythema should be prescribed by a dermatologist and a doctor who specializes in the underlying disease: rheumatologist, immunologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist. Whether hospitalization is necessary is determined after examination and determination of the patient’s general condition. As a rule, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, using local and systemic drugs.
- Antihistamine gels, creams, ointments. The drugs eliminate itching, redness, and swelling, which are caused by histamines. Effective in cases of allergic nature of the pathology, the drugs stop developing hypersensitivity.
- Medicines with zinc (Desitin, Skin-cap). The principle of action of the products has not been fully studied, but they effectively eliminate itching, peeling, and inflammation in the dermis.
- Glucocorticoid creams, ointments (Sinaflan, Akriderm). The products slow down reproduction and reduce the activity of T-lymphocytes, which helps stop changes on the surface of the skin. Such medications can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, in full compliance with the rules from the instructions. If used incorrectly, it can cause fungal and bacterial infections and skin atrophy.
- Antibiotics. Their use is justified in case of infectious nature of the pathology, for example, Lyme borreliosis. For treatment, use cephalosporins or penicillin for 10 days.
- Desensitizing medications (calcium chloride, sodium thiosulfate). They help remove toxins and allergens from the bloodstream, stabilize the membranes of immune cells, reduce the permeability of the vascular wall, stopping the release of histamine.
- Cytostatics (Methotrexate). The medication inhibits the maturation and reproduction of immune cells, which reduces the manifestation and activity of autoimmune diseases.
- Antihelminthics. They are prescribed to the patient if, during diagnosis, worm eggs were detected in the stool; in some cases, several courses of therapy are carried out.
- Glucocorticoids. Use injections or tablets for long-term persistent erythema and rheumatic pathologies.
Prognosis and prevention of ring-shaped erythema
It should be remembered that pathology can only be treated if the original source of the problem is determined. All patients are interested in the prognosis and prevention of annular erythema. In medical practice, there is a positive trend despite the fact that pathology refers to chronic diseases. Studies prove that erythema does not turn into a malignant form, but therapy is necessary. As a result of the lack of adequate treatment for erythema, erosions form on the skin, and after healing they leave pigment spots. As preventive measures:
- If you develop an allergy to medications, stop taking them immediately.
- Fungal and infectious diseases that lead to erythema must be identified and treated in a timely manner.
- Monitor the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, conduct examination and therapy if there are problems.
- Give up bad habits and balance your diet.
- Avoid contact of chemical irritants with skin.
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How does the disease develop in children?
Children and adolescents rarely get it. Darier's infantile erythema begins as pale pinkish spots (sometimes purple), which over time acquire an intricate lacy pattern. It usually affects children suffering from rheumatism or heart damage.
The rash may remain on the child’s body for a long time, but as soon as it disappears the condition improves noticeably. The sudden onset of erythema can be triggered by a rheumatic attack. Despite the fact that the disease can drag on for several years, children do not experience acute sensations.
Hereditary annular erythema shows itself immediately after the birth of a child. In infants, the skin is affected in the first six months, first in the form of plaques, and then ring-shaped patterns form. The disease can accompany him throughout his life, and intensive treatment often does not give the desired result, that is, spots can appear and disappear with varying frequency. The disease does not affect the health and development of the child. Treatment of pathology is the same as in adults: identifying and eliminating the cause of development.