How to Stop Granuloma Annulare: Can Natural Remedies Help?

The most common treatment for granuloma is leaving the rash alone and letting it heal. However, if you want the rash gone sooner, then there are a few treatments that might get rid of it. Clearing up granuloma is tricky because it doesn’t always respond to treatment, so you might need to try a few different procedures before you find one that works. Follow your dermatologist's suggestions to determine the best treatment.

1. 1
   Try vitamin E supplements for a natural approach. If you'd like to avoid medicines or chemicals to treat granuloma, then vitamin E might help. Studies show that a daily vitamin E supplement could help granuloma clear faster. ^[7] Try having 400 IU (international units) of vitamin E each day for 8 weeks to see if this helps. ^[8]
2. 2
   Apply corticosteroid cream to the affected area. Corticosteroids can heal inflammation on your skin, so this is usually the first treatment that dermatologists recommend to clear the rash. You don’t need a prescription for these medications, so get the type that your dermatologist recommends for you. Then, apply it according to their directions to see if this helps you. ^[9]

   • General instructions for corticosteroid creams are to rub it onto the affected area twice a day for 2 weeks, then contact your doctor if you don’t see any improvement. However, follow the specific instructions from your dermatologist or the product directions. ^[10]
   • In some cases, your dermatologist might recommend covering the area with a bandage to keep the medication on your skin.
3. 3
   Have steroid injections for a stronger treatment. If creams or vitamins don’t clear the rash, your dermatologist may try injecting corticosteroids under your skin. This delivers a direct dose that might be better for clearing the rash. Usually, the dermatologist will give you an initial round of injections, and then ask you to come back for follow-up injections every few weeks. This might clear the rash within a few months. ^[11]

   • Steroid treatments usually work best for localized granuloma that hasn’t spread. If it covers a larger area, then they’ll probably try something else. ^[12]
4. 4
   Try light therapy to clear the rash. Light therapy uses UV rays to heal problems on your skin. There are two types of light therapy, PUVA and laser treatment. Your dermatologist can do either in their office. For PUVA treatment, you’ll take a drug called psoralen, which makes your skin more sensitive to UV light, and then the dermatologist uses a wand to shine UVA rays onto the rash. For laser treatment, the dermatologist will focus a ray of strong light onto the rash. Both try to prevent inflammation on your skin. You’ll probably need several sessions to see any results. ^[13]

   • For PUVA treatment, you may need to return for a few repeat visits before the rash improves. Laser therapy often shows faster results, but not always.
   • Light treatment and phototherapy slightly increase your risk of skin cancer, but they’re safe as long as you use them exactly as directed. ^[14]
5. 5
   Remove raised lesions by freezing them. This is the most aggressive treatment for granuloma because it involves physically removing the lesions. It’s used if you have raised lesions instead of a simple rash. The dermatologist will freeze the lesions with liquid nitrogen. They’ll then either remove them or let the freezing process destroy them. ^[15]

   • Although a skilled dermatologist can do this without causing injuries, there is always a risk that your skin will scar after this treatment. Consider if this is worth the risk to remove the rash.
6. 6
   Take prescription medications for widespread cases. Oral medications are a less common treatment for granuloma, but sometimes they’re necessary for widespread cases. A number of medications might be effective to treat rashes over a wide area. Take the medications that your dermatologist prescribes exactly as they tell you to. ^[16]

   • Oral steroids work similarly to topical corticosteroids and can reduce inflammation on your skin.
   • Although granuloma isn’t caused by a bacterial infection, some antibiotics are effective for clearing the rash. Dapsone and Accutane, usually used for acne or dermatitis, might help.
   • Antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine are also effective for treating granuloma. This may be because they suppress your immune system.
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