Findings

Note a hair follicle filled with keratin and sebum, and small foci of inflammation in the follicular wall and adjacent dermis.

Impression

Cystic (inflammatory) acne

Clinical Pathologic Correlation
Endocrine factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of acne because sebaceous glands respond to testosterone and progesterone. Free fatty acids, released by a bacterial lipase, are believed to cause inflammation. Hence, antibiotics are used to treat inflammatory acne.

Preparation

Fixed, H & E stain

View

Light micrograph

Specimen

Skin

Image Credit

Katsumi M. Miyai, M.D., Ph.D
Department of Pathology
School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego