The case of a 21-year-old man left with hideous scarring from steroid abuse is highlighted in a Clinical Picture in this week's edition of The Lancet, authored by Dr Peter Arne Gerber, Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany, and colleagues.
The man, who was an amateur bodybuilder, came to the clinic at University Hospital Düsseldorf with fever-like symptoms and when examined had deep ulcerations and abscesses on his chest and upper back (see accompanying photographs). Persistent questioning by doctors revealed he had continuously abused anabolic steroids (testosterone enantate 250mg plus metandienona 30mg twice weekly). He was subsequently diagnosed with severe acne conglobata, that was anabolic steroid induced. He also had shrunken testicles and a very low sperm count.
The authors conclude: "Skin lesions showed rapid improvement after discontinuation of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse and with antiseptic and antibiotic therapy. However, the extensive scarring is likely to remain with the young man for the rest of his life."
Dr Peter Arne Gerber, Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany T) +49 211 811 9315 E) peterarne.gerber@uni-duesseldorf.de
Full Clinical Picture:
http://press.thelancet.com/clinicalpicturefinal.pdf
Below is a link to the photograph from the paper which you can use in your publications, crediting 'The Lancet':
http://press.thelancet.com/steroids.JPG
The Lancet