• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

Show Search
Hide Search
  • Lyme Disease
    • Signs & Symptoms of Lyme Disease
    • Diagnosis of Lyme Disease
    • Lyme Disease Treatment and Prognosis
    • Lyme Disease Prevention, Tick Removal, & Health and Wellness Tips
    • Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • Lyme Disease Video Education Series
    • Lyme Disease Education Resources
  • About the Center
    • Meet Our Team
    • Make an Appointment
    • Tick Bite and Lyme Disease Rash Telehealth Consultation
    • Address & Directions
    • Refill a Prescription
    • Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
  • News & Impact
    • Impact Report
    • Newsletters
    • Research News
    • In The News
    • Events
    • Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
  • Our Research
    • Research Publications
    • SLICE II Study
  • Make a Gift
Home / Lyme Disease Education Resources / Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bullseye? THINK AGAIN!

Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bullseye? THINK AGAIN!

May 7, 2020 By Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

Rash myths and misconceptions set straight

Lyme disease rash is:

  • Sometimes but not usually a ring within a ring Bull’s-eye rash appearance
  • Often mistaken for a spider bite but is not a spider bite
  • Not always present. Not everyone has a rash.

Characteristics of Lyme disease rash:

  • Large expanding red round rash
  • Greater than 2” in diameter
  • Bull’s eye appearance of rash appears in the minority of Lyme disease cases
  • Uniformly red in the majority of cases

A leading cause of misdiagnosis is the failure to recognize the Lyme disease rash, when present.

Available blood tests are antibody-based for Lyme disease and do not accurately diagnose Lyme disease in the first few weeks of infection. False negative tests are a problem in acute Lyme disease. Therefore, early Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis. Recognizing signs and symptoms can be vital to receiving appropriate early treatment and patient care, especially in the COVID-19 era.

Telehealth Rash Consultation Services

Tick bite and Lyme disease rash consultation* is available by telemedicine appointment at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center. A telehealth visit requires the ability to digitally photograph the patient’s skin rash for the evaluation and to meet certain State insurance parameters.

* Only available currently to patients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Delaware.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month Information


How informed are you about Lyme Disease?

COVID-19 or Lyme Disease Featured

How to Distinguish the Signs & Symptoms of Acute Lyme Disease from COVID-19?

The Path to Better Diagnostic Tests is Through Innovative Research

What are the biggest risk factors for persistent symptoms in Lyme disease?

Tick on a Leaf with Text Overlayed

While you are social distancing, ticks are not!

Filed Under: Lyme Disease Awareness, Lyme Disease Education Resources Tagged With: Johns Hopkins 2020 Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign

Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

The Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center is focused on patient-based research in all manifestations of Lyme disease. Our goal is to translate our pioneering research into improved patient care, education, and health outcomes.

Use of This Site

All information contained within the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center website is intended for educational purposes only. Physicians and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained within this site. Consumers should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something they may have read on this website.

Primary Sidebar

Lyme Disease Awareness Webinar for Patients

Computer Illustrated with visuals related to webinar
Friday, May 29th, 2020 12:00 PM
Find out what you need to know about Lyme disease and tick-borne illness in the COVID-19 era.

Register Today

Fourth Annual Lyme Disease Topics at Johns Hopkins

Fourth Annual Lyme Disease Topics at Johns Hopkins for Healthcare Professionals with tick on leaf in background
Friday, June 5th, 2020
This one-day symposium provides the latest information on Lyme disease and tick-borne disease in the era of COVID-19 and will help health practitioners better understand disease complexities and improve patient care.

Register Today

Footer

Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

  • Johns Hopkins Rheumatology
  • Arthritis Center
  • Lupus Center
  • Myositis Center
  • Scleroderma Center
  • Sjögren’s Syndrome Center
  • Vasculitis Center

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

U.S. News and World Report Rankings Badge

Johns Hopkins Medicine

© 2021 Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center
Patient Privacy