New Acne in 36 year old female

Hi,

About 3 months ago I started to develop some bad acne on my back (never had before) and some intense itching/burning on my neck and nape of neck.  The itching feels like bad contact dermatitis but is not red and there is no rash.  It seems to come and go, some days severe.  I currently see an endocrinologist for hashimotos thyroiditis and mentioned the acne and itching to him.  He did some hormone tests.  My testestorone level was slightly high, saw my gyno and he figured I might have polycystic ovarian syndrome since later that month i felt like a cyst pop on my ovary.  He retested my hormones and felt my ovaries, everything normal. Thryoid was normal and only meds I am on is synthroid.  No significant allergies to speak of.

However, the acne is still there and bothersome as well as the itchy neck.  Any ideas??  Could the two be related at all due to my hormones??

I am paranoid about having lymphoma since while i was scratching and feeling around my neck found an enlarged lymph node (which is moveable and soft) am seeing my internist next week.  No other symptoms though than that.  Is itching with lymphoma more generalized to the whole body or in one location like mine.  It just seems to have come out of nowhere and since i have never had acne as a teenager, it's totally new for me.

Any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Localized itching is not usually a sign of either acne or systemic disease.  As often as not, it's a sign of stress, such as the stress of worrying whether you have lymphoma or something similar.  Please show your internist the lymph gland, and I'm confident you'll get the reassurance you need.  Treat the itch with any over-the-counter preparation containing menthol or camphor.  As for the acne, you might want to ask a dermatologist about that.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff