Written by Dr. Diane Mueller
The Lyme Disease Bullseye Rash is called that because it looks like a target or a bullseye. It classically has a red center with concentric red rings around it. Think of a dartboard. For more detailed information on the Lyme Disease Bullseye rash as well as other types of rashes that look similar, you can visit our blog on the Lyme Disease Rash
Below is a list of the most common misperceptions & myths about the Lyme Disease Bullseye Rash:
1) It always looks like a bullseye (incorrect: the rash can have various presentations)
2) It is present in just one place (incorrect: it can be all over the body)
3) It is present in almost all cases of Lyme Disease (incorrect: much of the time it is not present)
4) If there is no rash, there is no Lyme Disease (false)
5) It is present within days after a tick bite (false: it may take as long as a month to appear)
6) It is painful (incorrect: most the time there is either no pain or very minor pain)
7) It is itchy (sometimes it is itchy but it does not have to be)
8) There are no other symptoms: Most of the time there will be flu-like symptoms
At our medical clinic, most of the people that we find positive for Lyme Disease through testing do not remember a tick bit or ever having the classic Lyme Disease Rash.
If you see a target lesion looking type of rash, it is worth getting checked out. However, cognitive or other systemic health problems without a known origin, it is important to consider Lyme Disease as part of the diagnosis.
Now, all of that being said, probably the most important take-home point in all of this is the following:
The early stages of Lyme Disease are self-limiting. If you do not treat it, the early symptoms typically disappear. Unlike colds and cases of flu, the disappearance of early symptoms does not mean the disease is gone.
The disease can go dormant for months to years and manifest as a multitude of chronic diseases. Therefore, taking suspicion of Lyme Disease seriously and getting tested properly is essential.
Most conventional doctors do not thoroughly test for Lyme Disease, and some testing has been shown to have a 66% chance of a false negative. Therefore, working with a Lyme-literate doctor to ensure you have the proper evaluation can save you from a manifestation of late-stage Lyme Disease due to improper assessment and treatment.
Murray TS, Shapiro ED. Lyme disease. Clin Lab Med. 2010 Mar;30(1):311-28. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2010.01.003. PMID: 20513553; PMCID: PMC3652387.
Skar GL, Blum MA, Simonsen KA. Lyme Disease. [Updated 2024 Oct 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431066/
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