Solid facial edema following acne vulgaris

Solid facial edema is a rare skin condition characterized by persistent, non-pitting, and non-tender edema on the forehead, glabellar region, mid-face, nasolabial folds, and cheeks. Exact etiology is still unknown; however, it is suggested that it can be secondary inflammatory response due to acne vulgaris. A 21-year-old male presented with erythematous swollen patches on the forehead and glabellar region. He had been intermittently treated for his acne vulgaris for 5 years at the local clinic. Focal soft tissue swelling with thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue was identified radiologically. Histopathologically, lymphatic vessels were dilated with chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and dermal edema. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of solid facial edema caused by acne vulgaris in Korea.