Annually recurring erythema annulare centrifugum: a distinct entity?

Four patients presenting a peculiar clinical variant of erythema annulare centrifugum are reported. The lesions were clinically and histopathologically indistinguishable from classic superficial erythema annulare centrifugum but constant annual and seasonal recurrences for many years or decades were observed. No clear precipitating factor could be identified. No associated symptoms were present and the eruption regressed spontaneously after a variable period of days to months. Annually recurring erythema annulare centrifugum seems to represent a rare distinct clinical entity that has received little attention in literature. Clinicopathologic features of this peculiar clinical disorder and the differential diagnosis with other recurrent seasonal eruptions are reviewed.