A rare case of acne fulminans

Acne fulminans (AF) is a rare yet the most severe inflammatory form of acne. It predominantly affects prepubertal boys in the form of multiple exuberant pustular and ulcerative lesions over the face and trunk associated with systemic symptoms in the form of fever, polyarthralgia, and osteolytic bone lesions. In spite of multiple mentioned triggering agents, till date, no direct cause has been ascertained. Drugs like isotretinoin for acne and anabolic steroids are known to precipitate this condition. Due to systemic symptoms, the patient may sometimes require an aggressive inpatient treatment to prevent any systemic complications and grossly morbid scarring as a result of the disease. Herein, we report a rare case of AF in a 16-year-old female with predominantly facial involvement who was managed with oral corticosteroids and isotretinoin with excellent response.