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Lyme Disease Rashes and Look-alikes

“Classic” Lyme disease rash
Circular red rash with central clearing that slowly expands

Description:
Circular red rash with central clearing that slowly expands.

Expanding rash with central crust
Image of a red rash with a lesion on persons shoulder.

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
Red, expanding lesion with central crust.

Multiple rashes, disseminated infection
Early disseminated Lyme disease; multiple red lesions with dusky centers

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
Early disseminated Lyme disease; multiple red lesions with dusky centers.

Red, oval plaque on trunk
Image of a large red oval-shaped rash on a person's torso.

Photo Credit: Alison Young

Description:
Red, oval-shaped plaque on trunk.

Expanding rash with central clearing
Image of a circular red rash with central clearing on person's arm

Photo Credit: Taryn Holman

Description:
Circular red rash with central clearing that slowly expands.

Bluish rash, no central clearing
Bluish hued circular rash on person's skin.

Photo Credit: Yevgeniy Balagula

Description:
Bluish hue without central clearing.

Red-blue lesion with central clearing
Red-blue lesion with central clearing on back of knee

Photo Credit: Robin Stevenson

Description:
Red-blue lesion with central clearing on back of knee.

Insect bite hyper-sensitivity
Large red rash on person's leg

Photo Credit: Chris Ha

Description:
Large itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to an insect bite.

Fixed drug reaction
dark red/purple spots on person's arm

Photo Credit: Shahbaz A. Janjua

Description:
A skin condition that occurs up to two weeks after taking a medication. The skin condition reappears at the same location every time a particular medication is taken.

Ringworm (Tinea corporis)
Five large red, raised ringworm rashes on persons

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
Ringworm is a common skin infection that is caused by a fungus. It’s called “ringworm” because it can cause a circular rash (shaped like a ring) that is usually red and itchy with raised edges.

Pityriasis rosea rash
Rash completley covering man's torso.

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
A rash without a known cause that can be a round or oval, pink, and scaly with a raised border. It can sometimes itch. Larger patches than the one shown here are also common.

Granuloma annulare rash
rash on person's leg

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
Reddish bumps on the skin arranged in a circle or ring.

Urticaria multiforme
red splotchy rash on the torso and arms of a toddler

Photo Credit: Bernard Cohen

Description:
Also known as hives. Often caused by an allergic reaction to food, an infection, or a medicine. May burn or itch.

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