What treatments have helped or not for generalize granuloma annulare?

Posted by bmh @bmh, Jul 9, 2024

I have tried 3 different topical creams, no help. Triamincilone, chlobesol, bethamethasone. Kenalog injections do work but they will not inject me anymore as I have too many. I tried otezla, after 2 months, just more lesions and I couldn't take the side effects anymore. Now I am going to try a jak inhibitor called opzelura cream. I'll test that for 2-3 months. If that doesn't help ill try Hydroxychloroquine pills. Most don't bother me, some itch. I just keep getting more, probably close to 100 and growing more. Anyone have had any success or fails?

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After 1 year of multiple treatments with no positive results I was referred to a more specialized Dermotologist. He's prescribed a JAX inhibitor ointment Tofacitinib 2. I'll use 2Xs/day for 4 months. I've been at it for 1 week so far and no improvement. Got a while to go.

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Profile picture for ladydi19 @ladydi19

I was just recently diagnosed with GA. It appeared on my hands and face out of no where. It was so very painful and no matter what I did it wouldn’t go away. I called my Derm for an appt. and when he looked at my hands and face he said and I quote” What is that”? I said you tell me. He proceeded to tell me he’s never seen it before. Anyway after he prescribed ointment. I used it for 2 months without results. Seen him again in April he did a biopsy and he put me on Predisone for the swelling and pain. The Predisone worked,the GA disappeared, but I could only stay on them for a limited amt of time. So now that I’m off Predisone the GA is coming back. I’m at my wits end to know that I’m having to go through this again. Any advise would be appreciated.

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I used the same dermatologist fir 1 1/2 year after a biopsy proved GA. He "wasn't sure" how to treat it and for that time I was prescribed ointments, antibiotics etc. Finally, he referred me to another dermo who dismissed all previous treatments as focused on JAX inhibitor in ointment form. I'll let you know if it helps in 3-4 months.

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I have had GA for 20 years. It started with just a few small lesions on my knees and elbows. My derm treated me with steroid creams and then steroid injections which combined seemed to work. 5 years later the lesions were all over my body- too many to continue with the steroid treatments. I started on Humeria (not FDA approved treatment for GA) and it completely cleared the GA! Then in 2020 I broke out head to toe with some type of Eczema, which was awful. Painful, extremely itchy oozing sores everywhere. I started on Dupixent injections which completely cleared the eczema. I was still taking the Humeria for the GA so I was on 2 biologic injectables but my skin was clear and no side effects. I had blood work done every 6 months to monitor for any side effects and all was good. In 2024 my husband changed employment along with our insurance and the new insurance company declined declined declined authorization for me to take both medications. I made the decision to go off the Humeria because the worse of the two was facing the horrible conditions of Eczema. After stopping the Humeria, my GA came back slowly but soon was all over my body again. My derm did some research and found a case where a woman was treated with Rinvoq for extreme GA and it cleared. We decided to try it and since it is FDA approved for Eczema, I went off the Dupixent and started ocean’s day pill of Rinvoq. Within two weeks not only did it work for the eczema it completely cleared my GA!! (Rinvoq unfortunately is not FDA approved for GA). But it should be!!! Hope this helps someone

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Thank you!
I've been applying tofacitinib ointment 2 X's daily for 3 month and can't determine if it is (very slowly) working or the GA is diminished on it's own. Recently, I've noticed more dime-size GA appearing on my legs and arms. I return to Dr in a month. I'll ask about Rinvoq.

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I'm 51 and diagnosed with GA at ten years old. Went into remission when pregnant three times, but it became invasive in my late 30s into my 40s. Hydroxychloroquine is the only treatment that put me in remission outside of my pregnancies in my 20s and early 30s (tried creams, meds and nothing all prior). I was in remission for three years thanks to Hydroxychloroquine before I got Covid the first time in 2020 and it came back within that month. I have tried two separate, three-month interval Hydroxychloroquine treatments with no results. I had Covid two more times since 2020, too. The Covid has something to do with my not being able to go into remission, it's obvious, but nonetheless, I hope you tried Hydroxychloroquine since your original post last year and have had positive results. It's a shame more has not been done with GA treatments, but the attention to something non-threatening doesn't get a spotlight.

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