annular eczema

Last reviewed 10/2020

This is a chronic, recurrent pattern of dermatitis distinguished by well demarcated, coin shaped plaques. It usually occurs in adults, particularly middle aged men, with no previous history of skin disease. The condition may worsen in winter and improve in summer.

The condition may be associated with excessive skin dryness and secondary infection with S. aureus in adults. In children, it is associated with atopic dermatitis (1).

Severe, generalized nummular eczema reaction to combination of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin therapy has been reported in a patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (2).

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Reference:

• (1) Williams HC. Atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2005;352(22):2314-24
• (2) Moore MM et al. Severe, generalized nummular eczema secondary to interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Arch Dermatol. 2004; 140(2):215-7