Central Journal of Dermatology and Clinical Research

Case Report *Corresponding author Zuzana Nevoralová, Clinic, Department of Dermatovenereology, Regional Hospital Jihlava, Acne Conglobata after Pregnancy Vrchlického 59, 586 33 Jihlava, Czech Republic, Tel: 420 721104310; Fax: 420 567311266; Email: Zuzana Nevoralová* Department of Dermatovenereology, Regional Hospital Jihlava, Czech Republic Submitted: 21 July 2016 Accepted: 23 August 2016 Abstract Published: 25 August 2016 Acne conglobata is an uncommon and severe, inflammatory form of acne vulgaris that is Copyright characterized by interconnecting , draining sinus tracts, and severe disfigurement. © 2016 Nevoralová We present a case of a 26-year-old female with a past medical history of mild acne that suddenly developed many papules, pustules, and fluctuant nodules on her face and back OPEN ACCESS after pregnancy that was consistent with a diagnosis of acne conglobata. Resolution of the skin lesions was seen after treatment with oral steroids, antibiotics, and retinoids. Maintenance Keywords therapy has been with topical retinoids. • Acne • Conglobata • Pregnancy ABBREVIATIONS • AC: Acne Conglobata

INTRODUCTION a combination of oral doxycycline (200 mg for five days followed by 100 mg for ten days) and 20 mg orally to reduce . In addition to systemic therapy, topical therapy Acne conglobata is a severe, inflammatory form of acne consisting of ichtoxyl with salicylic acid 2% was recommended. vulgaris. On skin examination, one will characteristically find A rapid therapeutic response was noted within a few days of interconnected abscesses, draining sinus tracts, scarring, and starting this therapeutic regimen. Thereafter, the steroid dose severe disfigurement on the face, chest, arms and back. This was reduced by 5mg every week and isotretinoin 0.3 mg/kg/day condition traditionally affects patients between the ages of 18 orally was started on week three of therapy. to 30. The etiopathogenesis of this condition remains unclear; At baseline, laboratory tests were within normal limits however, it has a strong positive correlation with high levels of (including CRP), only hypertriglyceridemia was present (3.13 and is most often seen in males. Treatment typically mmol/l). On the face, redness, many papules and some pustules includes oral isotretinoin and steroids. In the case presentation to follow, we present a case of a 26-year-old female patient who developedCASE PRESENTATION acne conglobata after pregnancy.

A 26-year-old female referred to our Acne Clinic by a practical dermatovenereologist because of a severe facial eruption that had developed 6 weeks after giving birth. Her major concerns were her appearance and the painfulness of the lesions. Past medical history was significant for mild acne over the past 10 years along with oral contraception use (ethinylestradiolum + dienogestum) A) B) prior to pregnancy. The patient restarted her oral contraception two weeks prior to presenting to our clinic. Review of symptoms was otherwise unremarkable. On physical examination, many papules, pustules and fluctuant nodules were present on her face and back (Figure 1). These findings led to a diagnosis of acne vulgaris and treatment withoral amoxicillin/clavulanate, topical erythromycin and ichtoxyl was initiated. At her follow-up visit, there was no improvement on the aforementioned therapeutic regimen. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and cultures of the pustules were done. CRP levels were C) normal and no growth was noted on the cultures. With a lack of therapeutic response and the subsequent findings, a diagnosis Figure 1 of acne conglobata was made. All previous medications were The patient before the treatment. stopped; and to reduce inflammation, the patient was started on Cite this article: Nevoralová Z (2016) Acne Conglobata after Pregnancy. J Dermatolog Clin Res 4(4): 1079. Nevoralová (2016) Email: Central

abscesses occu and nodules were present (Figure 2). With respects to side effects, , and draining sinus tracts [1]. The comedones often the patient only endorsed mild chelitis while taking isotretinoin. r in a group of 2 or 3. contain foul-smelling seropurulent Hypertriglyceridemia was present on follow-up labs, but it did material that returns after drainage. Sinustracts persisting for not worsen (3.76 mmol/l at maximum). The dose of isotretinoin an extended period of time can be present. When the lesions do was increased to 0.5 mg/kg/day after one month of therapy; eventually heal, they leave scars that can be the usual type of acne cumulative therapeutic dosewas130mg/kg for the entire 9 scar (atrophic) or can be the raised bump normally left behind month treatment course. At the end of the isotretinoin treatment, by a burn or a cut (hypertrophic) interconnecting abscesses and only small redness and. slight scars on the cheeks were present irregular scars (both hypertrophic and atrophic), often producing (Figure 3), which improved greatly with repeated dermaroller pronounced disfigurement. Usually the chest, the shoulders, the treatments (Figure 4) She currently uses topical retinoids for back, the buttocks, the upper arms and the thighs are affected, DISCUSSIONmaintenance therapy. but there are also some reports of facial localization [2]. It affects males more frequently than females. AC usually , occurs in young adults aged 18-30 years, but infants may develop Acne conglobata (AC) is an uncommon form of acne that this condition as well. It usually persists into the fourth decade presents with numerous comedones, papules, pustules, nodules of life. AC may develop as a result of a sudden deterioration of existing active papular or pustular acne, or it may occur as the recurrence of acne that has been quiescent for many years. Severe scarring produces psychological distress. Individuals with this diagnosis are often ostracized and suffer from anxiety and depression. The cause of this condition is unknown, but it has been associated with high levels of testosterone. It can be caused by abuse and sometimes appears in men after A) B) finishing testosterone therapy [3]. It can also happen to someone who has a tumour that releases large amounts of androgens [3],. Figure 2 or to people in remission from autoimmune diseases, such as . Severe AC can be associated with an XXY syndrome [4] The patient before the isotretinoin treatment. a ser Normal HLA-A and HLA-B antigen frequencies have been found in ies of 65 patients [5]. In certain persons, the condition may be triggered by exposure to halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, halogen ingestion, thyroid medication, hypnotics, sedatives, or lithium [6]. Treatment of acne conglobata can be challenging and may require a combination of medicines. Topical s treatment is usually ineffective. The therapy of choice includes isotretinoin 0.5-1 mg/kg/day for 4-6 months along with imultaneous use of systemic steroids, such as prednisone 1 mg/kg/day A) B) for 2-4 weeks. Alternative therapies include oral , minocycline, or doxycycline. Oral tetracycline antibiotics should Figure 3 not be combined with oral isotretinoin because of an increased The patient after the isotretinoin treatment. berisk of pseudotumorcerebri. For treatment of resistant cases, dapsone 50-150 mg/day is recommended; this treatment should carefully monitored [7]. Treatment of AC with infliximab has also been reported [8]. AC has even been successfully treated with a combination of carbon dioxide lasers and topical tretinoin therapy [9]. When severe AC is unresponsive to more accepted options, modern external beam radiation may be an alternative [10]. Intralesional or cryotherapy may also be valuable [11]. Occasionally, surgical excision of interconnecting large nodules may be beneficial [12]. Suicidal ideation, a concern in seemingly healthy adolescents, A) B) should be anticipated in those with cosmetically disturbing skin disorders, especially in adolescent males with AC [13]. It may Figure 4 be wise to order routine screening for psychological disturbance in adolescents with this diagnosis. Use of isotretinoin is not The patient after repeated dermaroller treatments. contraindicated in those with depression [14]. J Dermatolog Clin Res 4(3): 1079 (2016) 2/3 Nevoralová (2016) Email: Central

Our case was clinically a typical example of acne conglobata. feature of the XXY phenotype: a report of five cases, review of all known The affected person was female although AC usually affects XYY subjects with severe acne, and discussion of XXY cytodiagnosis. Arch Dermatol. 1972; 105: 913-919. men. The age of our patient was within normal limits. Facial localization was a less common one. A possible connection 5. Schackert K, Schola S, Steinbager-Rosental I. Acne of the fulminans with hormonal changes after pregnancy as a trigger with our type following testosterone therapy in three excesivelly tall boys. Arch Dermatol. 1988; 124: 414-417. patient was suggested. There is sparse information about acne appearing during pregnancy or after delivery. Ratzer reviewed 6. Plewig G, Kligman AM. Acne conglobata. In: Plewig G, Kligman AM. over 400 women about the influence of marriage, pregnancy and Acne and . Berlin: Springer. 2000; 294-307. childbirth on acne vulgaris [15]. Pregnancy improved acne in 7. Tan BB, Lear JT, Smith AG. Acnefulminans and erythemanodosum 58%. After childbirth 75% of women reported an improvement, during isotretinoin therapy responding to dapsone. Clin ExpDermatol. 13% experienced no difference and 12% became worse. 1997; 22: 26-27. . Reviewing the literature, Ratzer found report of aggravation of 8. Shirakawa M, Uramoto K, Harada FA. Treatment of acne conglobata acne in 2 patients during. pregnancy, but no report of acne during with infliximab. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006; 55: 344-346. lactation. We found only one other reference of AC appearing 9. Hasegawa T, Matsukura T, Suga Y, Muramatsu S, Mizuno Y, Tsuchihashi afterCONCLUSIONS pregnancy [16] H, et al. Case of acne conglobata successfully treated by CO(2) laser combined with topical tretinoin therapy. J Dermatol. 2007; 34: 583- 585. Our case highlights a possible connection between hormonal J Am Acad Dermatol. 10. Myers JN,. Mason AR, Gillespie LK, Salkey KS. Treatment of acne changes after pregnancy and the development of acne conglobata. conglobata with modern external beam radiation. It is important to recognize this condition and its possible triggers. 2009; 6 The sooner this condition is recognized, the sooner appropriate 11. Leyden JJ, Mills OH, Kligman AM. Cryoprobe treatment of acne therapy can be started and permanent disfigurement can be conglobata. Br J Dermatol. 1974; 90: 335-341. avoided.REFERENCES 12. Weinrauch L, Peled I, Hacham-Zadeh S, Wexler MR. Surgical treatment of severe acne conglobata. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1981; 7: 492-494.

1. Katsambas AD, Cunliffe WJ, Zoubolis CC. Clinical Aspects of Acne 13. Harth W, Hillert A, Hermes B, Seikowski K, Niemeier V, Freudenmann Vulgaris. In: Zoubolis CC, Katsambas AD, Kligman AM: Pathogenesis RW. Suicidal behavior in dermatology. Hautarzt. 2008; 59: 289-296. and Treatment of Acne and Rosacea. Berlin: Springer. 2014; 217-221. acne conglobata. Cutis. 14. Misery L, Feton-Danou N, Consoli A, Chastaing M, Consoli S, 2. Patterson WM, Stibich AS, Dobke M, Schwartz RA. Mutilating facial Schollhammer M. Isotretinoin and adolescent depression. Ann 3. 2000; 66: 139-140. Dermatol Venereol. 2012; 139: 118-123. Klepzig K, Burg G, Schill WB. Aknefulminansbeierhöhten 15. Ratzer MA. The influence of marriage, pregnancy and child birth on Testosteronpasmawerten. In: Braun-Falco O, Schill WB, editors, acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol. 1964; 76: 165-168. Fortschritte der praktischenDermatologieungVenerologie. 11, Berlin: Springer. 1986; 514-517. 16. van Pelt HP, Juhlin L. Acne conglobata after pregnancy. Acta DermVenereol. 1999; 79: 169. 4. Voorhees JJ, Wilkins JWJ, Hayes E. Nodulocystic acne as a phenotypic

Cite this article Nevoralová Z (2016) Acne Conglobata after Pregnancy. J Dermatolog Clin Res 4(4): 1079.

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