Dowling-Degos' disease mimicking chloracne

Abstract We describe a patient with clinical features that resembled severe chloracne; however, histopathologic findings revealed a reticulated pigmented anomaly. Innumerable comedones, many cysts, acneiform scarring, and flexural and facial pigmentation were noted in this patient, who is a machinist. A serum test for polychlorinated biphenyl was negative, which eliminated a diagnosis of chloracne. The spectrum of clinical features of the histologically well-defined Dowling-Degos' disease is discussed; in this disease lesions can be flexural or acral and can appear as macules, comedones, or cysts.