Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRingwormLyme DiseaseEczemaGranuloma AnnularePsoriasisPityriasis RoseaLupusContact DermatitisHivesTinea VersicolorTreatmentsWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ringworm
Lyme Disease
Eczema
Granuloma Annulare
Psoriasis
Pityriasis Rosea
Lupus
Contact Dermatitis
Hives
Tinea Versicolor
Treatments
When to Seek Medical Care
Treatment of a circular rash depends on the underlying cause. Knowing the difference between ringworm and similar-looking rashes can ensure that you get the right medication to remedy your condition.
Ringworm of the body is related toathlete’s foot (tinea pedis),jock itch (tinea cruris), andringworm of the scalp(tinea capitis).
Symptoms of ringworminclude:
The appearance of the rash can be different on different skin tones, appearing pink or red on lighter skin and reddish, brownish, purplish, or greyish on darker skin.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2022
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2022
Symptoms of Lyme typically appear three to 30 days after the bite and may include:
The bullseye rash affects about 70% to 80% of people with Lyme disease.
If leftuntreated, Lyme disease can cause complications like reactive arthritis, facial palsy (paralysis), persistent fatigue, and memory problems.
Differences Between Ringworm and Lyme Disease
Ringworm and Lyme disease differ in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
Symptoms of eczema include:
Nummular eczemais a type of eczema that causes coin-shaped or oval patches similar to ringworm. They may be reddish or brown and are mainly seen on the arms and legs.
Differences Between Eczema and Ringworm
Ringworm and eczema differin that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Granuloma annulareis a skin condition that affects people of all ages. The skin condition is a circular ring of raised bumps that has a sunken center. The cause is unknown. It is known to be common in people who have diabetes or thyroid disease.
Granuloma annulare is not contagious and will usually clear up on its own.
The most common signs of granuloma annulare are:
Differences Between Ringworm and Granuloma Annulare
Ringworm and granuloma annulare differ in that:
Psoriasisis a chronic autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the time it takes for new skin cells to be made. This causes skin cells to pile up, causing itchy, red, sometimes circular patches. Psoriasis will commonly show up on the hands, feet, knees, elbows, scalp, and back.
Some of the common symptoms ofpsoriasisare:
Differences Between Ringworm and Psoriasis
Ringworm and psoriasis differ in that:
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Te Whatu Ora Waikatodermnetnz.org2023.
Pityriasis roseais a common skin condition that will usually go away without treatment. It most often appears in younger people between the ages of 10 and 35. The cause is still unknown, but it is thought to be viral.
Pityriasis rosea starts with what is called a herald patch. It is round or oval, red or pink, and has a raised edge. It usually appears on the face, trunk, or back and can be from 1 inch to almost 4 inches wide.
Typically, within days to weeks, more oval patches appear and follow the Langer lines (folds) of the front and back of the trunk, arms, and legs. These are usually smaller, 0.4–0.8 inches wide.
Before the herald patch shows up, a person may feel like they have a cold or the flu, with symptoms like a sore throat, fatigue, nausea, and headache. The rash is only itchy in about half of people with the condition.
In cases where the rash or itching is severe, corticosteroids can be prescribed.
Differences Between Ringworm and Pityriasis Rosea
Ringworm and pityriasis roseadiffer in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Discoid lupusis an autoimmune disease that can cause a rash that can look somewhat circular (discoid). The rash is thick, raised, and scaly. Sometimes, it’s also itchy.
Lupusoften starts with a butterfly-shaped rash on the face before coin-shaped rashes appear. The rash is usually on the face, ears, and scalp. They can take days to a few weeks to heal. A rash from discoid lupus can usually be treated with creams, injections, or oral medicines that help with inflammation.
Differences Between Ringworm and Lupus
Ringworm and lupus differ in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Waikato District Health Boarddermnetnz.org2022.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Waikato District Health Boarddermnetnz.org2022.
Contact dermatitiscan happen if an irritant or allergen touches the skin and causes a reaction. Substances like soaps, perfumes, and plants are common causes of a rash from contact dermatitis.
The rash from contact dermatitis can look like a circular patch, depending on what area of skin was exposed to an irritant or allergen.
Usually, the rash from contact dermatitis will go away within a week. The discomfort it causes can usually be managed with topical creams that help with inflammation and itching. Avoiding triggers is key to preventing the rash from coming back.
Differences Between Ringworm and Contact Dermatitis
Ringworm and contact dermatitis differ in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023
Hives(urticaria)are itchy welts (wheals) that can be circular or take on other shapes. They usually happen because the skin is reacting to an allergen or another trigger, like cold temperatures or an infection in the body.
Some people get hives occasionally and they clear up quickly without any issue. However, some people develop chronic hives that can be harder to treat.
Cold compresses, OTC anti-itch creams, and taking care of your skin (e.g., keeping it hydrated) can help treat hive symptoms until they get better and help manage chronic outbreaks.
Differences Between Ringworms and Hives
Ringworms andhivesdiffer in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikatodermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikatodermnetnz.org2023.
Tinea versicolor is less common than tinea corporis outside of tropical regions where it can affect up to 40% of the population. Tinea versicolor is considered opportunistic because the fungus naturally resides on the skin but can suddenly overgrow if your immune system is down. It is not related to poor hygiene.
As with all fungal skin infections, tinea versicolor is treated with antifungals.
Differences Between Ringworm and Tinea Versicolor
Ringworm and tinea versicolor can be especially difficult to tell apart because they are both fungal. With that said, the two diseases differ in that:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022
The treatments for circular rash vary depending on what’s causing it. For example, antibiotics are needed for Lyme disease, while mild skin irritation that leads to a rash may not need any specific treatment.
For other rashes, your healthcare provider will often recommend home treatment and over-the-counter (OTC) products before suggesting prescription medications and therapies.
Home Care and OTC Products
In general, these tips will help you take care of your skin, keep it healthy, and soothe any irritation a rash is causing.
Ringworm:
For other skin rashes:
Prescriptions and Treatments
Treatment options depend on the specific condition:
When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
If you have arashthat is excessively itching, painful, and not going away within a few days, contact your healthcare provider.
Summary
Some rashes look like the common fungal infection ringworm but aren’t. You can also get a circular-looking rash from other conditions like Lyme disease, eczema, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, hives, dermatitis, or granuloma annulare.
You’ll need to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis of any circular rash that does not get better on its own or is getting worse. The type of treatment given will depend on the cause of the rash but could include OTC products for symptoms and prescription medications to treat infections.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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