Effective Treatment of Acne Fulminans with Oral Corticosteroids

An 18-year-old man had numerous multiple painful nodulocystic lesions, pustules, and necrotic hemorrhagic ulcerative lesions with crusts on the face, back, chest and upper arm two weeks ago. Systemic symptoms such as fever, general fatigue and arthralgia were not observed. Laboratory findings revealed an elevated white blood cell count with a neutrophilia and C-reactive protein. Oral antimicrobials did not respond. Consequently, oral prednisolone (20 mg/d) for two weeks induced remarkable improvement promptly. A case of acne fulminans without systemic symptoms successfully treated with oral corticosteroids has been reported.