Acne Fulminans: What You Need to Know About It
Acne Fulminans. This type of severe acne is actualy an abrupt onset of acne conglobata that typicaly aflicts young men. The symptoms of the severe nodulocystic, often ulcerating acne, are readily apparent.
As with normal cases of acne conglobata the lesions cover large portions of the extremities and the facial region, including the disfiguring scars that can eventualy develop.
Yet what makes acne fulminans unique in that it also includes fever symptoms, aching of the joints, particularly the knees and hips, and varying degrees of weight loss that depend upon the individual. Often it is brought on by the use of Testosterone.
Acne fulminans is thought to be an immunologically induced disease in which elevated level of testosterone causes a rise in sebum and P acne bacterias. The condition is commonly, albeit inefficiently treated with steroids.
Acne fulminans‘ begins as pain and inflammation in the joints. It eventually progresses into a swelling of the lymph nodes located at the base of the neck, causing inflexibility in the neck within weeks after the nodes swell. This swelling will eventually decrease, but this decrease will be accompanied by an increased inflammation and swelling of the joints, as well as a complete loss of appetite, though these symptoms are often ignored.
After some time, the disease will cause an extreme loss of weight and atrophy of the muscles, leading to the decline of physical abilities. Treatment should be sought immediately in order to avoid hospitalization. If not treated, hospitalization for an extended period of time (usually two weeks) is likely. During hospitalization, the patient is tested for signs of system degradation, especially of the skeletal structure and the digestive tract. By this time open sores will develop on the upper torso.
Some will be the size of dimes, others will be large enough to stick a couple fingers into. They will crust up, causing cohesion to any fabric the sores touch, which is extremely painful to remove. It is recommended to sleep on ones sides until the cystic condition subsides, in order to avoid any uncomfortable situations. Once inflammation goes down, one should resume sleeping on ones front or back, to avoid any complications with shoulder issues in the future (such as spontaneous dislocation).
