Granuloma Faciale

Granuloma Faciale is a benign inflammatory process which results in elevated papules, nodules and plaques, nearly always on the face but occasionally on other sun-damaged skin.  The lesions can be skin-colored, brown, or erythematous to violaceous, are smooth with a "peau d'orange" appearance.  

Pathology (obtained with a punch biopsy) shows a characteristic Grenz (pronounce "grents") Zone which translates to a clear area between the inflammatory infiltrate and the skin.  It is almost as if the infiltrate were epidermophobic.  One can also see a Grenz Zone in Leukemia Cutis, Cutaneous B-Cell Lymphoma and Lepromatous Leprosy.