Acne: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99).

  • Acne aestivalis (Majorca acne) – formation of papules on light-exposed (exposed to sunlight) areas of the body; sunscreens are likely involved in formation
  • Acne excoriée des jeunes filles – mild acne due to constant manipulation of the efflorescences, occurring mainly in girls and young women.
  • Acne fulminans – in the case of existing acne conglobata, it can come to a febrile infection, which shows up with polyarthralgias (joint pain) and necrosis (dead areas) of the skin areas altered by acne
  • Acne inversa (also spelled acne inversa; synonyms: Acnetetrade; Hidradenitis suppurativa (misleading term, since the disease does not originate from the sweat glands, but from the sebaceous glands and terminal hair follicles), Pyodermia fistulans sinifica, sweat gland abscess) – chronic inflammatory and relapsing skin disease; preferred sites of manifestation are submammary (“below the female breast (mamma)”), genital and perianal (“in the vicinity of the anus“); Perifolliculitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding a hair follicle, usually originating from folliculitis (hair follicle inflammation) caused by bacteria (usually Staphylococcus aureus)) especially in the armpits and groin and a pilonidal sinus (coccygeal fistula) lead to pronounced scarring overall.
  • Acne mechanica – occurrence of acne vulgaris due to inflammation at pressure points; men and women are equally affected; occurrence mainly in young adulthood; trigger factors are mechanical friction, heat and humidity, smoking, obesity, wet shaving, an altered immune system or even a hormonal imbalance.
  • Acne mechanica – occurrence of acne vulgaris due to inflammation at pressure points.
  • Acne necroticans – belongs to the pyoderma (purulent skin inflammation).
  • Acne neonatorum – mild acne with papules and pustules, which recedes within a few months.
  • Acne venenata (contact acne) – acne occurring due to contact with various substances such as oil, pitch or dioxin; especially in people who have a predisposition to acne vulgaris.
  • Allergic contact dermatitis – special form of allergy. This is expressed exclusively with eczematous changes on the skin. As a trigger, depending on the localization, different substances can come into question.
  • Cosmetic acne – can occur with incorrect skin care.
  • Rosacea papulopustulosa (rosacea that presents with nodules and pustules that can become inflamed, purulent degeneration and persist for weeks; without appearance of comedones/pustules).
  • Seborrheic eczema (synonyms: Dermatitis seborrhoica capitis; Dermatitis seborrhoica infantum; Eczema, seborrheic; Unna’s disease; Seborrheic dermatitis) – greasy-scaly inflammation of the skin.

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Medication

  • Acne medikamentosa – acne triggered mainly by glucocorticoids (drugs against inflammation and allergic reactions).
  • See also under “Causes” under medications