Is acne fulminans a dermatologic emergency?

Although acne is not usually considered an emergency, this condition, if not treated acutely, can lead to severe cutaneous scarring and its attendant psychological problems. This type of acne usually occurs in teenage males, but there are cases reported in females. The eruption is characterized by rapid suppuration of large, highly inflamed nodules and plaques, resulting in ragged ulcerations and scarring of the chest, back, and, less commonly, face. Often attendant with the cutaneous symptoms are fever, leukocytosis, arthralgias, and myalgias, suggesting a systemic upregulation of the immune system.