Clinical features of acne

Acne vulgaris is the most common disease involving the pilosebaceous unit, affecting in particular the face, back and chest (although occasionally it may be more widespread).  These are the areas of  skin containing most sebaceous glands, which helps to explain the clinical localization of acne.

This chapter describes the clinical details of adolescent acne and certain other types of acne: infantile acne, occupational acne, iatrogenic acne, pomade and cosmetic acne,  acne conglobata and acne fulminans. Although acne is rarely  misdiagnosed, the final section of the chapter deals with its differential diagnosis.