Granuloma annulare is a skin disorder that occurs with skin rashes that look like small red or skin-colored pimples, arranged in a circular or ring pattern. This inflammation can affect children and adults alike; it is usually present more frequently on the hands or feet, and for some patients it can become a chronic problem. It doesn't usually itch or pain, but it can be disfiguring and annoying for many people. Follow the steps in this tutorial to learn how to recognize and diagnose granuloma annulare and to find natural treatments.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Natural Topical Remedies
Step 1. Take NSAIDs with vitamin E
A little research has reported some successes using a zileutone-based NSAID with vitamin E. In other studies, vitamin E has been applied directly to the skin with satisfactory results.
Apply 400 IU of vitamin E, which is typically equivalent to a regular supplement tablet. Take a tablet that contains the vitamin in liquid form, cut it and squeeze the liquid onto the rashes. Gently massage and reapply every day
Step 2. Use a herbal massage oil
There are various types of herbs that work in a similar way to NSAIDs, because they block the same type of enzymes and are able to reduce inflammation. These are safe herbs for topical use. You can mix some of the anti-inflammatory properties with an oil and create a solution that you can massage into the breakouts twice a day for 4 weeks. Among these herbs we remember the main ones which are turmeric, scutellaria or skullcap, ginger, boswellia and white willow bark.
- To make a paste for the skin, mix 4 teaspoons of dried and powdered herb with 4 teaspoons of olive oil. Prepare even more if the area of the body affected by the rashes is large. Store the mixture in a dark glass jar and in a cool place.
- Always ask for confirmation from a competent doctor before using any of these products. It is always better to be sure that no ingredients interact with the drug therapy already in place.
- Turmeric can leave a slight orange color on the skin, but it is one of the plants with the best anti-inflammatory properties.
Step 3. Make an avocado paste
This fruit is rich in vitamin E and perhaps this is the reason for its success in the field of natural remedies. To make the dough, grind it to a pulp and mix it with enough oil to make a puree. Gently apply the mixture to the affected area of the skin.
Leave it on for 30-40 minutes, then rinse and cleanse your skin. Repeat every day
Step 4. Rub the aloe vera
This plant contains a natural gel that has a soothing effect and helps reduce itching and pain caused by granuloma annulare. The gel is able to reach the deeper layers of the skin, acting directly on inflammation and facilitating the healing of pimples and lesions caused by granuloma annulare.
- If you have an aloe plant at home, cut the center of a leaf with a knife and squeeze out the gel to apply directly to the rashes. Keep the rest of the leaf in the fridge for future use.
- Alternatively, you can also get the gel at the pharmacy. Just spread a generous amount on the skin and let it work.
Step 5. Try coconut oil
You can apply it directly to the affected skin, or take it orally. The typical recommended dose is 1 teaspoon three times a day.
Coconut oil has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it an excellent solution for this annoying ailment with as yet unknown causes
Step 6. Make other topical ointments
There are other topical treatments that have been successful in curing granuloma annulare. Mix 120ml of apple cider vinegar with 4 drops of tea tree oil. Use a cotton ball or cloth and apply the solution every day. Alternatively, you can also crush a clove of garlic and place it directly on the affected area.
- Leave the garlic on the area for 30 minutes, then rinse the skin. You can repeat the process every day. This method is most effective on narrow annular granulomas.
- If after 4 weeks of these treatments you do not see any improvement, contact your doctor to find alternative therapies.
Part 2 of 3: Herbs and Spices in Nutrition
Step 1. Add ginger to your diet
You can also take it orally, and it's as effective as it is topically for treating symptoms related to granuloma annulare. Ginger has excellent anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Add it raw to your dishes, incorporate it into preparations or use it in powder form in your spice mixes or marinades.
You can also add it to tea or milk; use as much as you think is necessary to give the drink a good flavor
Step 2. Eat turmeric every day
Like ginger, turmeric also has remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. The active ingredient of this plant is curcumin, which is considered one of the substances with the greatest antioxidant and detoxifying effects in nature. It is able to reduce skin rashes and the sensation of itching, as well as prevent possible bacterial infections.
- You can drink turmeric powder by adding it to hot tea, like ginger. You can also enrich your dishes with a spicy note by putting this spice.
- Curcumin blocks the COX-2 enzyme, which is responsible for the release of prostaglandins, which are the mediators of inflammation; turmeric therefore becomes a triple cure, since it turns out to be a spice with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial effects.
Step 3. Take boswellia serrata every day
This plant of Indian origin produces a rubber resin with excellent anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the production of leukotrienes present in leukocytes, which are unsaturated fatty acids that are released during allergic reactions. The right dosage of this extract is 2-8 grams of resin per day.
- Stop taking this product after 8-12 weeks. Its effect on the body is not yet known if it is taken for long periods.
- To treat your granuloma annulare problem, you can alternatively take boswellia in the form of a topical cream.
Step 4. Consider drinking green tea
When consumed regularly, this tea is known for its healthful properties. You can drink it at least 2 times a day, every day. You can then take the sachets you used that contain the tea leaves and apply them to the skin. Alternatively, you can decide to take supplements in the form of tablets.
By applying green tea directly to pimples you can soothe the discomfort and reduce the burning sensation. All this is possible thanks to its content of flavonoids, called catechins, which have antioxidant properties and detoxify the body from harmful substances (toxins and free radicals) that can activate or spread skin rashes. Green tea also has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce the irritation of itchy pimples
Step 5. Apply grated rheum rhabarbarum (common rhubarb) to the affected area
This plant contains beta-carotene which helps fight infections and promote healing. Beta-carotene is also very useful against autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Because the rashes from these diseases appear similar on the skin, it can also soothe the discomfort of granuloma annulare.
You can make a grated rhubarb slurry, apply it to the rashes for 15 minutes, and then rinse. You can do this 2-3 times a week for as long as necessary
Step 6. Make a yarrow paste powder
This is also an excellent plant for those who want to purify the blood. It also has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. You can apply a slurry of this plant directly to the lesions for benefit. Mix the powdered yarrow with enough water to make a paste. leave it on the affected area for about 15 minutes and then rinse with mild soap and water.
You can take a 4.5g dose of this herb by mouth every day. However, there aren't many studies that attest to the correct dosage
Step 7. Try spirulina
It is an alga with immunomodulatory properties and can be taken as a normal supplement to relieve the symptoms of the skin affected by the disorder. This is thanks to its content of vitamins, amino acids and chlorophyll, which make this natural alga an excellent product capable of limiting the autoimmune reactions caused by granuloma annulare.
- The recommended dosage is 2000-3000 mg to be consumed, generally, in doses of 4 to 6 servings of 500 mg each. The effects of spirulina are noticeable even if it is taken in small doses, around 800 mg.
- You can take it with a glass of water, or with a fruit or vegetable juice. However, make sure not to take it for more than 3 consecutive weeks.
- If after 4 weeks of these treatments you do not see positive results or improvements, contact your doctor again for other forms of treatment.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Granuloma Annulare
Step 1. Learn to recognize the different forms of this disorder
You may be affected by one of 3 different types of granuloma annulare. The most common form is the localized one, which is characterized by lesions that may have the same color of the complexion or red, generally with a diameter of about 5 cm. The rashes can be distributed in a ring or scattered. This type of granuloma annulare usually presents on the feet, ankles, lower limbs, and wrists.
- Another form of granuloma annulare is referred to as "generalized" and is more likely to affect adults. It is usually widespread on the torso, but you can also notice rings or pimples on the neck, extremities of the body, face, scalp, palms and soles of the feet. The rash may consist of diffuse rashes, ring-shaped rashes, and large patches of blotchy skin. The rashes are usually yellowish to reddish in color.
- The third form of granuloma annulare is the subcutaneous one, which most often affects children between the ages of 2 and 10. In this case, pimples or solid masses form deep in the skin. Both pimples and masses can be very small, but they can also reach a maximum diameter of 3.7 cm; they are generally found more frequently on the knees, ankles, upper parts of the feet, buttocks, arms, scalp and also on the eyelids.
- There are also two rare forms of granuloma annulare. Perforating is a very rare manifestation, which generally occurs on the back of the hands and fingers, although it can also form on the trunk, arms and legs; it often leaves scars. The second rare form of granuloma annulare is the mottled one, which occurs in the form of large rings with a clear central area.
Step 2. Know the risk factors and the elements that can trigger the outbreak
There are some groups of people who are more easily affected by this disorder than others. Women, for example, are twice as likely to be at risk as men, although research has not yet discovered why. Children and adults under the age of 30 are more susceptible to contracting the disease than older people. The cause that triggers any form of annular granuloma is still unknown today; however, there are some factors that can cause the disorder, such as the development of various infections, the bite or sting of certain animals or insects, having undergone a tuberculin test, vaccinations and even exposure to the sun.
The mechanism of development of granuloma annulare is thought to be related to the immune system
Step 3. Get a diagnosis
Doctors can usually diagnose the disease with a visual examination. However, there are some cases where a small sample of skin should be taken for a biopsy and analyzed under a microscope.
- Studies have found that the cause of rashes is due to a delayed overreaction involving specialized immune cells.
- The arrangement of the lesions of granuloma annulare is similar to that of ringworm and the two diseases are often confused with each other. In any case, a simple laboratory examination and a visual analysis make it possible to distinguish the two problems.
Step 4. Go for unnatural treatments
Most often, granuloma annulare disappears on its own within two years, although it can typically also subside within 3-4 months. In some cases, however, other more effective treatments are needed, such as topical steroids or injections on the affected site and various medications such as Dapsone, retinoids, antimalarials, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus.
Sometimes your doctor may also recommend cryotherapy, which involves applying an extremely cold liquid (nitrogen or nitrous oxide) to the lesions
Step 5. Consider hydroxyurea
Some particularly stubborn cases of granuloma annulare (lasting more than 10 years) have been cured with exposure to 500 mg of hydroxyurea twice a day for several months. It is a chemotherapy agent that suppresses immune cells. It should only be used under strict medical supervision, so that the therapy does not compromise the growth of the bone marrow too much.
Step 6. Learn about phototherapy
It is a relatively recent procedure, but studies have found that it is effective for this problem and is able to reduce its effects on the skin thanks to narrowband UVB rays (the rays of light that are between 280-325 nm, which cause sunburn, but which does not cause damage to the skin in the deepest layer).
