Granuloma Annulare: Any ideas for treatment?

Mine is very itchy over parts of my body and my scalp.

Prednisone worked for me years ago/

Thank you for your interest, My GA does not seem to be like the other folks. The generalized type causes itching that keeps me scratching....night and day. Very frustrating and uncomfortable. It can be anywhere (and everywhere) on my body and scalp. Steroid creams help for a short time.

My GA started 22 years ago on my back, then spread to whole torso, legs, arms. It was very itchy. After several dermatologists, finally got biopsy and diagnosis. And steroid creams. I started taking capsules with Omega 3 oils and using oils or creams to moisturize my skin. Something helped, because it mostly went away, except for my lower legs, where it remained all these years, itching occasionally but mostly causing no harm (except to my pride, because I hated the way it looked).
This spring I was diagnosed with an unusual lung infection, MAC, which required me to go on 3 antibiotics in June. In the past month my GA has flared up, spread to my whole torso, and itches terribly. My dermatologist prescribed a steroid cream, triamcinolone, which has helped a lot. But I can only use it for two weeks at a time, then must take a week off. After 5 days off, the itch comes back strong and I have to use ice packs strapped to the front and back of my body to get to sleep at night! I won't be able to stop the antibiotics until next July... so I may have to endure this GA recurrence until then. I'm 74. Good luck to everyone on this unpredictable journey!

Dr prescribed Atarax for occasions of extreem itching. It will make you drousy and I only use it in home and not going anywhere. Oh my, you mentioned a lung disorder. For 3 months Ive been dealing with cough and wheezing so finally they gave antibiotics. Do they say they could be related? I have autoimmune and connectve tissue disease too.

I have had this 3 years. 2nd year it started moving down below my knees. It is still on my torso but it has faded a lot. The back of my knees and down the sides of my legs is very dark red in big circles. Im 73 with autoimmune issues. To your question. No cure. I am learning more and more. If it goes away, it can return and may be worse. Many have it 2 years and some have it forever. I use steroid cream to help itching and if it goes into a full attack my doctor gave me Atarax. The itch usually starts in the evening and I get big whelts like ant bites. Just maddening. I hope my bit of info helped. A note: contacted center for disease and they gave me a bunch of sites to read. I am looking for some volunteer research sites. I have hopes that if I can help research, help others and learn more, I'm in.

You may ask your doctor about Atarax for the severe itching attacks. Be sure you are going to be taking it easy because it makes you drousy for a long time. My attacks look like large ant bites over the red rings. It can be maddening.

It may be time to have your dermatologist review some new studies on therapy.
If topical steroids are not adequate
Hydroxychloroquine has been helpful in some cases.
Trental is another old line drug that can be tried. The newer generation psoriasis immune response blockers Otezla and
Humira are more difficult to gain approval by your insurance due to cost concerns.
It may help if you have access for referral to a major clinical center or university group.

I was sent to another dermotoligist that worked with more active cases. She was offering the same treatment. I am in Houston area and found no clinical groups and havent had any trials or specific research participation. I have other health issues and my meds conflict with a lot of other drugs. Thank you for the info!

Years ago, I was prescribed prednisone. This time I seem to be ignored. I, too, am itchy over my scalp and bady. Very frustrating.