Axillary acne agminata (lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei with axillary involvement)

Acne agminata (AA) and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) have been used to describe very similar clinical conditions and it is now generally accepted that they are synonymous. The cause of these disorders has not been determined. Clinically the disease presents with often agminated redbrown to yellow papules which occasionally become pustular. Microscopically, superficial granulomatous inflammation with perifollicular caseating granulomas is the hallmark. Axillary involvement with LMDF has rarely been reported; in this area AA has been the preferred term. When only the axillae are affected, it may be difficult to distinguish acne agminata from other granulomatous diseases, especially from granulomas caused by antiperspirants containing aluminumzirconium complexes. We describe a 36-year-old woman with axillary acne agminata.