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Granuluma annulare

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ann44562
ann44562

i have GA for one year now I am 58 year old women it is all over my body., I have  been using topical cream not really doing much. my Dr told me I need to go on a very low carb diet. has this worked for anyone

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • deb090697
    deb090697 ann44562

    Posted

    Hi ann - sorry to see that you are joining our club.  I'm 48 and I have this for 8 years and it's a real pain.  I'm not sure what your doctor is going for with low carbs but it's better advice than I got which was too bad, tough it out.  Be careful of the creams, they will thin your skin and make it very painful for a long time even if the rash goes away.  It seems there are many causes for GGA but for me it turns out that I'm extremely sensitive to foods (gluten - coffee - potatoes - all nightshade veggies - spices) my list goes on and on but there are a lot of people who find that just one food is a problem.  I'm also very allergic to latex.  I've been gluten free for just about 1 year now and have removed a lot of other items from my diet and I've seen a HUGE reduction.  All but 2 of my "spots" are inactive and the two that are left visible look more like a deep bruise.  I used to have huge red, depressed rings with bubbles all around the edge that ITCH and BURN like you can't image.  But even a tiny mistake and I can feel the GGA under my skin.   I'm newly researching that the GGA may be linked to another Auto-Immune having to do with MAST cells.   I've had some testing done and am waiting for results.  You might start to keep a food log and makes notes anytime the rash gets worse.  Remember you can be having a minor reaction 3 days later.  Even consider some food/allergy testing you might find something that will help.   Good Luck 
    • ann44562
      ann44562 deb090697

      Posted

      Thank you so much for sharing with me what you have been going through. I am covered all over with this rash. Sometimes it itches really bad and now I know why my skin is burning. I didn't even think about the cream causing it. I am going to start low carb diet on monday. I will take your advise and keep a food log. My doctor said if in one month no change she is going to put me on methotrexate. I have taken this before for RA. I really do not want to go back on that so hoping the diet works. Was it really hard to go gluten free ? What is mast cell testing?
  • sally54400
    sally54400 ann44562

    Posted

    I personally found the steroidal topical creams useless... very expensive and still had many outbreaks through 3 months of application.

    I have said this before many times in this forum, but will continue to reiterate: try Traditional Chinese Medicine -- specifically acupuncture and herbal pills. Your TCM doctor may recommend a gluten-free diet (mine did).

    I have had very good results with this course of treatment: although this has taken a long time (2+ years), I just have a few remaining spots on the tops of my feet and the back of one hand.

    I shower you with support and hopes for healing. This is such an obnoxious condition. Please also, make sure you get a skin biopsy. My rashes were never itchy.

  • deb090697
    deb090697 ann44562

    Posted

    Unfortunately, Yes. It's hard to go Gluten free because there are so many foods that have secret gluten in them, hidden I mean.  The obvious ones are pasta, crackers bread.  THe hard one are sauces, dressings, soups.  There are a lot of alternatives out there and they taste good but it takes a while to get used to thinking differrently. It's something you can do.  One bright side, I've lost almost 30 pounds and feel better than I have in 15 years!  The Mast cell thing is really complicated. I'm not sure that it applies just to the GGA, my family has an Auto-Imumune issue. We all suffer with some problem or other that the doctors can't define.  If I get it figured out I'll be sure to post more details.   Good Luck!
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