Acne fulminans is an uncommon form of acne that follows a rapidly progressive course and which is associated with systemic findings.
Synonym: acute febrile ulcerative acne
It most commonly occurs in adolescent males.
Dermatologic findings:
(1) There is a sudden appearance of massive inflammatory lesions on the chest and back.
(2) The lesions often ulcerate, then heal with scarring.
(3) The face and neck are usually spared.
Systemic findings:
(1) fever
(2) polyarthralgia
(3) myalgia
(4) leukocytosis (10,000 - 30,000 per µL, with neutrophilia)
(5) elevated ESR and C-reactive protein
(6) proteinuria
(7) bone tenderness with osteolytic bone lesions
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Specialty: Dermatology, Infectious Diseases, Pedatrics, Otolaryngology
