Chloracne: Histopathologic Findings in One Case

The study examined a patient with severe chloracne, focusing on the histopathologic characteristics of facial lesions. The findings revealed that nearly every vellus hair follicle was affected, showing dilated infundibula filled with keratotic plugs composed mainly of orthokeratotic basket-weave basophilic corneocytes. Some infundibula also contained eosinophilic laminated or granular sebum. Small infundibular cysts were more prevalent than comedones, and mature sebaceous glands were present at the base of many dilated infundibula without squamous metaplasia. Hyperpigmentation was due to increased melanin production by melanocytes in the basal layer and infundibular epithelium, with melanin granules also found in the corneocytes of the plugs. The study concluded that tiny infundibular cysts, rather than comedones, are the primary lesions in chloracne.