Treatment strategies...more ideas!

I am Gluten free for almost year (I am FINALLY seeing some good results).  Also, dairy free and chemical free).

I say someone mention they had some allergy/intolerance tests.  I've had blood work done like you can't belive and it all came back - NOTHING.  However by trial and error I found a TON of stuff that makes the GGA explode.

I had no luck with cream, drugs or light therapy.  Huge waste of money for me AND I now have a 2 inch diameter hole in my leg check google photos for "fat atrophy" when I let the dermo do injections.  I say RUN the other direction if someone suggests that option.  I went to a plastic surgeon (and to fix will cost 3-4 thousand and will not be covered under insurance, cosmetic).

My best suggestion is elimination diet, and you are correct - it will takes months and months to see any result. 

Don't let anyone tell you that creams, shampoo, cat litter, etc can't be the cause of this.  I am SO gluten sensitive that I was having a reaction around my lips to a lip balm that I was using, new balm, no rash.   Thank goodness the GGA on my face went away.   Good Luck to you all. 

I've read quite a few of your replies and some of my experiences resonate with a few of your correspondents!

I totally believe that whatever is happening on the outside is an outer manifestation of imbalances on the inside.  When someone calls it a "disease" I don't think of it as something you "catch" but as a "dis"-"ease" i.e. an imbalance.  Exterior topical creams and stuff may help moisturise the areas but we have to catch what's happening to cause those rings and patches to pop up in the first place.  Not much point treating the symptoms without addressing the underlying cause.

Like most people I've been researching like mad - my own GP practice had no idea what it was and he had to go and ask all the other doctors before one of them recognised the annular ring, and yes it was diagnosed as GA.  They wanted to give me steroid creams which I felt uncomfortable about as I haven't taken any chemical medication for at least the last 25 years - I move in the complementary medicine circles 99% of the time.  I did agree for a couple of months but with no effect whatsoever.

This was only one ring though - on an elbow where I've had other things flare up before including a lipoma I had removed (interesting as I tripped and fell on that elbow about 20 years ago).  However since I saw the GP about my 1 ring in the summer, in the last 4 months patches have been appearing as "watermarks" i.e. patch-type granuloma on the inside of both knees, below and above the belly button, both armpits and groin area.

I'm determined to get to the bottom of this and so have decided the most obvious place to start is with the gut and look at what I'm putting into my system.  I've been eating wholesome organic food since I was 30 (now 64), no animal meat (althoug do eat chicken and fish), never eat processed food, never drink carbonated drinks, cook everything from scratch, supplement, meditate, exercise, and all the things that 'should' help.

I'm interested in the idea that this is a post-menopausal condition, and it's about 8 years since I went through the menopause so not sure why it's popping up now - why did it take so long?

I've decided to go on an auto-immune 30 day elimination diet as I've been following the Paleo way of eating for a while. There is a book on this.  I've cut out eggs, all sugar, all grains (i.e. 100% gluten-free), nuts, seeds, most fruits, all nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, white potato, aubergine), all dairy, alcohol, caffeine so you might think what's left?  Actually quite a lot, and lucky I don't have a sweet tooth so enjoying herbal teas, green smoothies (100% veggie, limited fruit), seafood, salmon, mackerel, herring, turkey/chicken, sweet potatoes, beetroots, parsnips, carrots, green veggies, coconut milk kefir and now starting to learn about how to make fermented veggies to give my gut a chance.  I may well have a leaky gut so here's a chance to heal it.

I'm on day 8 now, and the ring on my elbow has calmed down, so no more inflammation, the patches are still hanging on though.  I will see this through and time will tell - I am aware this could well be a slow process, my skin in general is looking much healthier so "watch this space" - I am very optimistic!

Cheers

Sally