Can Stress cause Acne

[Csaw]

I am a 33 year old, healthy male with no history of acne problems.  Three months ago I had mutual unprotected oral sex with a TS escort.  Over this time I experienced the expected stress and anxiety over whether or not I contracted any STDs.  To this point all of my HIV tests have come back negative, however over the past month I have broken out with acne on my forehead and especially above my eyebrows.  The acne has not responded to any over the counter acne medications.  Can stress trigger acne to this extreme?

I also have a separate concern which I presented in the STD forum and would really appreciate your opinion/comment.  This adds to my stress resulting from the same incidence mentioned above.  About a month after the incident, I noticed a "tingling" sensation on the tip of my penis.  My primary physician diagnosed it as fungus and prescribed me Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP which seemed to stop the "tingling".  I must admit I was using too much and the "tingling" started again about another month later.  I reduced the amount and it seemed to stop again, however now I can't help but "feel" that there is something there.  I can't find any evidence of lesions/warts/ulcerations, but when I stretch the skin on the head of my penis I can see numerous red like dots.  No other area in my genitals is affected, and I can see no evidence of irregular discharges.  What STDs would affect only the head of my penis, or is it a STD at all?  Or, can I attribute all of this to stress?  Thank you for your time Dr.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think your penile lesions are stress-related.  Funguses don't affect the head of the penis, and in any case produce visible rashes.  I think you should ignore the tingling.  If you develop a visible rash of some sort, check it out.

Acne is generally not stress-related, unless you are actually picking and squeezing at the forehead skin.  If you are, just leave the skin alone, and it will heal.  If it's just regular acne--not as rare at 33 as you might think--pick up some OTC benzoyl peroxide gel and cleanser and treat the skin yourself for a few weeks.  If it's not clear by then, have a skin doctor give you some advice.   But it shouldn't be long-lasting at your age.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Csaw]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am circumsized.  Thanks.

[Csaw]

It's now been 13 weeks since the encounter, would any visible signs of any STD presented itself by now?  Thanks!!!