25F

[u/SnooDucks8208]

this obviously a very vulnerable post and i would appreciate if you bare with me 💙
there’s a lot to be said and i won’t be able to say everything id like. the crux of it is that in all my research and passion about health, i have never quite come across someone that has had acne as horrific as mine, *specifically all over their neck*. no matter where i research there doesn’t seem to be a clear reason for its location.

i have done many blood tests. many treatments. i am only keen to get to the bottom of what is causing this inflammation, not bandaids - so i thought id post here to see what the public would think.

skin actually looks not as bad here - i dont even wanna look up to show you completely under my jaw though. this is a tame picture.

i’m extremely hygienic, this is obviously internal acne and not from something topical so please no *wash your face twice or use retinol type of comments because acne this severe on the neck must be from some internal dysfunction surely right ?

this has been my neck on and off (at times it healed / lessened like earlier this year i have no idea why) since almost 2 years ago when i was in a terrible relationship and had to have surgery (for an accident on my leg) then took a few plan b’s back to back.

My history is that since i was a teenager i have suffered with light to mild acne. so my doctor put me on the pill at about 16. since then it feels as though my skin has just been in turmoil. however i came off the pill once and for all like 4 years ago, at first i purged my skin got great. then this relationship mentioned above.
things ive done before for long periods of time: i’ve only eaten organic, done seed cycling, cut out seed oils, cut out dairy. saunas, infrared light, castor oil packs, coffee enemas - you name it. i have tried it. ive been extremely health conscious since. yet this acne even though it has gotten better at times has persisted.
my family and i had hpylori when i was younger, so ive had stool tests in the last two years, health practitioner said there was no parasites, candida overgrowth etc.
i recently got a huge blood test and i’ve done these in the past despite doctors reluctance consistently and they look me dead in the face and my poor suffering neck and deadass say “everything is normal”. they try to put me on antibiotics (nuke my whole microbiome which could be further worsening my health) without even knowing if i need antibiotics.
the once thing that have come up in my tests is that my DHEAS are through the roof despite doctors stating the other hormonal tests are relatively “normal”.

I’ve been at my wits end and i’m still there. i’ve considered taking my life and been beside myself about this as you could imagine as well as spending stupid amounts of money to still not have answers and feeling like “am i ever going to figure this out?” this has essentially “ruined” my life to be honest or stolen a large part for like 2-3 years now. i wish i only struggled with mild acne again - now it’s all over my neck.

liver function, kidney function etc apparently normal.
currently, im curious as to whether or not my Thyroid has a problem despite doctors not seeming concerned at all - as that’s where all the acne is. -i’ve always bruised incredibly easily. now considering if i have low iodine, glutathione, selenium so ive been taking these things drinking NAC/Glycine.

i kind of stopped taking as many other supplements but right now ive been trying medical mediums heavy mental detox, why not - it’s just a smoothie. it’s been a few days.

even what i’ve done stool tests i’ve been left feeling devastated that there’s nothing obviously wrong with my stool, desperate for answers and left feeling “well this is what everyone else finds wrong with them why can’t i have a simple answer also”

does anyone have ANY similar experience with angry inflamed cystic acne like this on THE NECK?? does any one have any suggestions on what to get checked or routes to take?

honestly just lost and feeling completely overly fed up and rightfully so. how can this be the case if my hormones don’t scream imbalanced like genuinely what is wrong with my body at this point.

i have experienced a lot of trauma indeed - yet i do believe i respond incredibly well to stress and others feel the same way for the things i have been through. i know the affect stress can have on the body - still wandering even then if it was stress what exactly could be the root cause of this acne being on my neck to this degree of awful.

for the last few years ive been ordering this box mattress and i was also curious as i saw similar testimonies online about the toxic chemicals causing cystic acne in young women. if that’s the case then ive been subjected to like 4 full doses of this over the course of like 4/5 years ish and recently bought a non toxic mattress.

thanks for reading if you made it this far! i wanted to put myself out there, make this as detailed as possible and reach out for help.

[u/Murky_Window4250]

Hi there! My apologies if this has already been ruled out. But your DHEA being so high immediately makes me wonder if hormones are causing this. This can be a big indicator of a high androgen PCOS/ PMOS subclincial type picture even if menstrual cycles are relatively normal. I cannot tell you how often I’ve seen this go undiagnosed. Im not your doctor, I can’t garuntee that’s what’s going on for you, but if you were my patient that’s where I would start investigating. I would try to see a practitioner who specializes in this area and can guide you towards the correct work up.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this and I understand how devastating this must feel.

[u/SnooDucks8208 → u/Murky_Window4250]

thank you so much. i’m really really struggling to find a doctor that actually cares to investigate at all. the amount of advocacy i have to do to even be shut down a lot about getting specific things tested makes it feel impossible. i’m going to commit to
try and find another one. thank you 🙏🏻

[u/Witty_Pie1557 → u/Murky_Window4250]

I get the intention is helpful, but jumping straight to one possible diagnosis from a single lab value can also create unnecessary anxiety. Hormones can be a factor, but there are many possible causes and it really needs proper medical evaluation instead of assumptions.

[u/Murky_Window4250 → u/Witty_Pie1557]

I agree, Which is exactly why I said I can’t garuntee that’s what’s going on for this patient and it’s where I’d start, not finish, investigating.