An explanation fro chloracne -- an industrial hazard.

Patients with chloracne were investigated and the results compared with data matched for age and site from patients with acne vulgaris. The ultrastructural appearances of pilo-sebaceous ducts in both groups were similar. The industrial group had significantly fewer C. acnes than the patients with ordinary acne. They also showed a significant increase in the surface lipid percentage composition of squalene, wax ester and cholesterol and this was associated with a significant decrease in the triglyceride free fatty acids and total triglyceride pool. We suggest that the acnegenic agent has produced its effect by modifying the metabolism of the pilo-sebaceous fluid.