BACKGROUND: Disseminated granuloma annulare (DGA) is a benign and usually asymptomatic skin disease. However, many patients feel aesthetically disfigured and ask for treatment. Until today, no standard therapy is recommended. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral vitamin E treatment compared to the natural course of DGA. METHODS: This single-centre observational cohort study included 38 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed DGA. 21 patients underwent treatment with oral vitamin E, whereas 17 patients preferred a wait-and-see approach. RESULTS: Complete healing (40%) and improvement (30%) were frequently seen under oral vitamin E therapy. However, DGA also spontaneously disappeared in 31% and improved in 25% of untreated control patients. Vitamin E therapy was very well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Oral vitamin E treatment is a safe and probably effective therapy for DGA. As the natural course of DGA leads to complete healing or significant improvement in many cases, 'primum nil nocere' should be the maxim.
BACKGROUND: Disseminated granuloma annulare (DGA) is a benign and usually asymptomatic skin disease. However, many patients feel aesthetically disfigured and ask for treatment. Until today, no standard therapy is recommended. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral vitamin E treatment compared to the natural course of DGA. METHODS: This single-centre observational cohort study included 38 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed DGA. 21 patients underwent treatment with oral vitamin E, whereas 17 patients preferred a wait-and-see approach. RESULTS: Complete healing (40%) and improvement (30%) were frequently seen under oral vitamin E therapy. However, DGA also spontaneously disappeared in 31% and improved in 25% of untreated control patients. Vitamin E therapy was very well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Oral vitamin E treatment is a safe and probably effective therapy for DGA. As the natural course of DGA leads to complete healing or significant improvement in many cases, 'primum nil nocere' should be the maxim.