Acne fulminans

Acne fulminans (pronounced: ak-nee ful-mi-nans) is a severe form of the skin disease acne, which can occur suddenly and without apparent cause. It is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the skin, along with symptoms such as fever and joint pain.

Etymology

The term "acne" is derived from the Greek word "akme", which means "point" or "spot". "Fulminans" is a Latin term that translates to "striking like lightning", referring to the sudden and severe onset of the condition.

Symptoms

Acne fulminans is characterized by the sudden onset of painful, inflamed, and ulcerated nodules and plaques. It is often accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, malaise, and arthralgia. The lesions typically occur on the chest and back, but can also affect the face and limbs.

Causes

The exact cause of acne fulminans is unknown, but it is thought to be an immune response to Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium that is commonly found on the skin. Other factors that may contribute to the development of acne fulminans include genetic predisposition and hormonal changes.

Treatment

Treatment for acne fulminans typically involves a combination of systemic corticosteroids and isotretinoin. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required.

Related Terms

• Acne
• Propionibacterium acnes
• Corticosteroids
• Isotretinoin

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Acne fulminans
• Wikipedia's article - Acne fulminans

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski