Key points
Erythema migrans rash is a common symptom that occurs in over 70 percent of people with Lyme disease. Erythema migrans rashes have certain characteristics that help differentiate them from other types of skin lesions. Review the images below to learn what erythema migrans rashes look like versus other skin conditions.
![Illustration of different forms of erythema migrans on dark skin and light skin.](/lyme/media/images/EM-rashes.jpg)
Erythema migrans rashes
Resources
“Bull's-eye” or target lesion
![Close-up image of a circular, reddish, skin rash.](/lyme/media/images/Classic-Lyme-Disease-Rash.jpg)
Expanding rash with central crust
![Close up image of a red rash on the skin with hair next to it.](/lyme/media/images/Expanding-rash-with-central-crust.jpg)
Expanding erythema migrans
![Close up image of a small, light, circular rash on dark skin.](/lyme/media/images/Expanding-erythema-migrans.jpg)
Multiple rashes, disseminated infection
![Close up image of a human's back, with multiple red rashes in the shape of ovals across their lower back.](/lyme/media/images/Multiple-rashes-disseminated-infection.jpg)
Red, oval plaque
![Close up image of someone's skin with a large red flush in the skin next to sparse hair.](/lyme/media/images/Red-oval-plaque.jpg)
Expanding rash with central clearing
![Image of a human's limb with a red circular ring flushed in the skin.](/lyme/media/images/Expanding-rash-with-central-clearing.jpg)
Bluish hued rash, no central clearing
![Close up image of a human's skin with a large red and blue colored rash and raised texture in the center.](/lyme/media/images/Bluish-hued-rash-no-central-clearing.jpg)
Expanding lesion, no central clearing
![Image of a black person's back of knee showing a light colored circular rash taking up the majority of the back of the calf.](/lyme/media/images/Expanding-lesion-no-central-clearing.jpg)
Red blue lesion with central clearing
![Close up image of a person's back of knees, with a purple hued rash developing on the back of the right knee.](/lyme/media/images/Red-blue-lesion-with-central-clearing.jpg)
Skin conditions that are NOT erythema migrans
Insect bite hyper-sensitivity
![Close up image of a person's light-colored skin with a red circular-shaped flush spreading across the skin.](/lyme/media/images/Insect-Bite-hyper-sensitivity.jpg)
Fixed drug reaction
![Close up image of a person's limb with a dark hyperpigmented circular shape appearing right next to a growth of hair.](/lyme/media/images/Fixed-drug-reaction.jpg)
Ringworm (tinea corporis)
![Close up image of a person's torso from the side, with multiple raised, redish skin lesions in circular shapes going down their side.](/lyme/media/images/Ringworm-tinea-corpis.jpg)
Pityriasis rosea rash
![Image of a person's torso with small, raised, reddish-brownish rashes spotted throughout their entire stomach surface.](/lyme/media/images/Pityriasis-rosea-rash.jpg)
Granuloma annulare rash
![Image of a person's legs taken from the top. They have multiple circular rashes sparsely](/lyme/media/images/Granuloma-annulare-rash.jpg)
Urticaria multiforme
![Close up image of a white infant's chest and arms. They have multiple defined spots of red color flushed in their skin.](/lyme/media/images/Urticaria-multiforme.jpg)