[Acne comedonica following radiation therapy]

A 50-year-old female patient underwent extirpation of a moderately differentiated, partially tubular ductal carcinoma of the left mamma and dissection of the left axilla followed by postoperative radiation therapy (total dose 58/48 gy). 2 weeks after the radiation therapy was stopped, treatment with goserelin subcutaneously was started. 6 weeks later numerous open and closed comedons appeared which were sharply confined to the radiation areas of left mamma and sternum.

Because of the clinical diagnosis of acne comedonica following radiation therapy a local treatment with benzoyl-peroxide gel 5% and erythromycin cream 2% was performed, which led to improvement of the skin lesions within a few weeks and total restitution within 3 months. During one year no comedons have occurred although the local therapeutics are not applied constantly anymore.

Acne comedonica in the radiation area is a rarely known side effect of radiation therapy. Although the skin lesions cause no pain or itching they can affect the patient due to cosmetic changes. Local treatment with comedolytic acne therapeutics is effective.