Acne induced by 'Sus' and 'Deca'

A 22-year-old man developed a severe pustular eruption on his chest and back after using anabolic steroids known as 'Sus' and 'Deca' for bodybuilding. He had experienced a similar episode the previous year, which also followed steroid use. The patient was muscular with numerous scars and active pustular and nodular lesions but had a clear face. He was diagnosed with anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS)-induced acne and was advised to continue minocycline treatment and use hydrocortisone ointment. After 6 months, he showed significant improvement. The case highlights the importance of recognizing AAS use as a cause of severe acne and the need for dermatologists to be aware of the colloquial names of these drugs to obtain an accurate patient history. The study emphasizes that AAS can increase skin surface lipids and Propionibacteria acnes density, leading to acne, and that standard acne treatments should be applied once AAS use is stopped.