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Acne agminata

What is acne agminata?

Acne agmina is a rare skin disorder characterized by reddish-brown lumps and bumps on the face, especially the eyelids, forehead, cheeks, and chin.[1,2] It can also affect the armpits.[3 ,4]

It was first described by Tilbury Fox as disseminated folliculitis in 1878.[1]

Other names for the disorder include:

  • Lupus miliaris disseminateus faciei
  • Facial idiopathic granulomas with regressive evolution
  • Barthelemy's acne
  • Kaposi's acne telangiectoids
  • Tuberculodermas of the face [3]
  • Idiopathic facial granulomas with regressive evolution (FIGURE)
Acne agminata

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Acne agminata

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Acne agmina around the eyelid

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Acne agminata

* Courtesy of Dr. Anthony du Vivier.[9] ^ Courtesy of Dr Richard Logan, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, Wales, UK ->

Who gets acne agminata?

Acne agminata is most commonly found in young adults, although any age group can be affected.[5]

What causes acne agminata?

The cause and risk factors for acne agminata remain unknown. Doesn't seem to be a infection, which has been considered because granulomas are seen in histopathology.

How is acne agminata diagnosed?

Acne agminato is often a clinical diagnosis.

Typical microscopic skin changes biopsy include epithelioid granulomas within the dermis, which may be caseous even in the absence of tubercle bacilli.[3]

No further investigations are usually required once a diagnosis of acne agmina has been made, unless other diagnoses such as sarcoidosis or tuberculosis (TB) are suspected, when the following tests may be considered, if appropriate.

  • Blood tests: complete blood count, renal function, interferon gamma assays
  • Imaging: chest x-ray
  • Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux)

Differential diagnosis acne agminata

clinic and histopathological Diagnoses that should be considered include:

  • Acne vulgaris: however, comedones are absent in acne agminata, and the eyelids are usually unaffected in acne

  • Rosacea
  • Cutaneous tuberculosis
  • Granuloma cancel
  • Cutaneous leishmaniasis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Syphilis

What is the treatment for acne agminata?

Without treatment, acne agminata persists for 2-3 years and then returns with scarring.

Various treatments have been tried with some success, including:

  • Doxycycline
  • Dapsone
  • Isotretinoin
  • Prednis (ol) one
  • Combined oral contraceptive