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Chloracne M002

Document
Last amended 
10 September 2020

In this section

Current RMA Instruments
Reasonable Hypothesis SOP
62 of 2020
Balance of Probabilities SOP
63 of 2020
Changes from previous Instruments

SOP Bulletin 216

ICD Coding
  • ICD-9-CM Codes: 706.11
  • ICD-10-AM Codes: L70.8
Brief description

Chloracne is an acne-like skin condition associated with (heavy) exposure to dioxins or certain other polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.  Chloracne typically involves the face and may also affect other areas of skin.  It is an extremely unlikely current diagnosis.  Most of the chemicals known to cause the condition are now obsolete or banned.  Sufficient exposure to cause the condition should only potentially occur in very rare and unusual circumstances.

Confirming the diagnosis

The diagnosis is made clinically based on the characteristic appearance of the skin lesions and a compatible history of exposure to a relevant chemical.

The relevant medical specialist is a dermatologist.

Additional diagnoses covered by SOP
  • Nil
Conditions not covered by SOP
  • Acne#
  • Acne vulgaris#
  • Cystic acne#
  • Drug-related acneiform facial eruptions# 

# Non-SOP condition 

Clinical onset

Onset will be based on the timing of the development of characteristic skin changes.

Clinical worsening

Further exposure to causative chemicals after onset of the condition is curently exceedingly unlikely but historically possible.  Worsening would be evidenced by an increase in the severity of the skin lesions.