Acne conglobata is a highly inflammatory disease presenting with comedones, nodules, abscesses, and draining sinus tracts.

It can be caused by anabolic steroid abuse and sometimes appears in males after stopping testosterone therapy.

It can also happen to someone who has a tumor that is releasing large amounts of androgens, or to people in remission from diseases, such as leukemia.

Inflammatory papules, papulonodules, nodules and pustules may coalesce, and abscesses in the skin may form sinuses that interconnect.

A component of the follicular occlusion tetrad, acne conglobata may be seen with hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonidal disease and dissecting cellulitis of the scalp.