Atypical facial scarring after isotretinoin therapy in a patient with previous dermabrasion

The increased use of isotretinoin therapy for severe cystic acne has posed new problems for dermatologic surgeons. There have been recent reports in the literature of unexpected “atypical” scarring after dermabrasion in patients who have previously taken isotretinoin. This scarring was considered atypical because it occurred outside the typical “danger zones” (e.g., mandible and malar eminences) where scarring most often occurs after dermabrasion. This is the first reported case of atypical scarring in a patient who began isotretinoin therapy 2 months after dermabrasion.