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Chloracne appears as comedones and straw-colored cysts on the face. Cysts may also occur in the axillae and groin. The condition usually appears within 2 months of exposure and resolves within 4-6 months after cessation of exposure. Chloracne is associated with dry skin, conjunctivitis, scarring, peripheral neuropathy, and liver abnormalities. Chemicals that can cause chloracne include: dioxin, pentachlorophenol, PCBs, PBBs, furans, polyhalogenated naphthalenes (polychloronaphthalenes), DDT (crude trichlorobenzene), Propanil, Methazole (both tetrachloroazoxybenzenes), 1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene, and Dichlobenil. [Rosenstock, p. 714-5] Acneform lesions may appear as early as 1 to 3 weeks after dioxin exposure. Most cases of chloracne resolve within 1 to 3 years. There is no acceptable dose-response model for chloracne in exposed human populations. Chloracne may develop weeks or months after exposure and may be dependent upon individual predisposition. [ATSDR Case Studies: PCB Toxicity] |