Definition
A skin rash on the neck is also called exanthema among medical professionals. The rash can have various causes and can present itself through different symptoms. Some patients suffer from an itchy rash, others develop small pimples. In most cases, the causes of the rash are harmless, but the rash on the neck should still be examined by a doctor.
Causes
There are several causes for a skin rash on the neck. The most harmless cause of a rash on the neck is the so-called stage fright or just excitement. Many patients, when they are very excited, develop large red spots that spread around the décolleté and neck.
The reason for this is the dilation of blood vessels. So the red spots on the neck are a similar phenomenon as the red color of the cheeks when a person is excited. This “rash” on the neck disappears by itself as soon as the patient is no longer excited.
Other causes
Another cause of a skin rash on the neck is an inflammation of the affected skin areas. This can be caused by viruses or bacteria. For example, measles, chickenpox or an infection with herpes viruses can cause a skin rash in the area of the neck.
In this case, however, not only the neck is affected, but also other parts of the body, such as the stomach, arms or face. As soon as the rash spreads over the body in general and there is no vaccination or a past illness, it is important to see a doctor. The following topic might also be of interest to you: Skin rash Measles In rare cases, the disease can break out even though you have been vaccinated, especially if you have had contact with infected persons.
If the rash is limited to the neck, infectious diseases can usually be ruled out. It is much more common for women in particular to have a rash on their neck when wearing necklaces to which they are allergic. A very prominent example is the nickel allergy.
Nickel is often contained in fashion jewelry and can lead to an allergic reaction. This can lead to red patches and even to wheals, pustules, pimples and itching. The allergic reaction always occurs when the affected jewelry is worn.
In some cases, patients are also allergic to certain fibers in a scarf, for example wool. In this case, too, the allergic reactions described above occur, whereby a patient rarely shows all the reactions, but rather has one or two of them more pronounced. Another cause of a skin rash on the neck can also be a mild allergic reaction to food (for example to pineapple or nuts) or it can be an intolerance (gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance).
In addition to an allergic reaction, a rash on the neck can also be an indication of severe acne. The acne is usually first noticed on the face, but can then “wander down” via the neck to the back. The cause of acne is usually an excess of the male sex hormones, the androgens.
There are patients who have an excess of androgens (especially during puberty), but other patients take the androgens themselves in order to promote muscle building. As already mentioned, acne usually occurs on the face and then spreads to the neck and back. If a patient only has a rash on the neck, which looks similar to acne, it is probably more likely to be heat spots, which may occur repeatedly and can become quite large.
Especially patients who very often wear a scarf and sweat more (rash from sweating) suffer from the rash on the neck. More rarely, various autoimmune diseases lead to a rash on the neck. Especially in men, inflammation of the hair root can occur more frequently, which then leads to a kind of large pus pimple.
This is called folliculitis. Since men usually have more hair in the area of the neck than women, this phenomenon occurs especially in the male sex. The beard hairs can also become inflamed, in this case it is called folliculitis barbae.
A skin rash, which appears suddenly or even creeping along the neck and décolleté, can have very different causes.So there is usually an allergic reaction behind it. Sometimes recently changed shower or washing gels are to blame for the allergic reaction. As a rule, the complaints on the neck and décolleté begin shortly after the product change.
Initially, the allergic skin reaction is initiated by a reddening of the skin, which is soon accompanied by an annoying skin itching. The initially only very small skin conspicuities on the neck and décolleté begin to spread soon after. The skin can also take on a very dry and flaky appearance.
These can all be indications of an allergic reaction. Recently used cleansing and care products should then be changed. Frequent skin cleansing can also lead to a rash in the neck and décolleté area.
The reason for this is a destruction of the so-called acid mantle of the skin. This is a natural defence barrier against pathogens. The more frequently the skin is washed and comes into contact with water, the thinner this protective mantle becomes, which results in the skin becoming dry and cracked, as well as being severely reddened and itchy and burning. In this case, one should reduce the frequency of washing and apply nourishing and greasing products to the skin. An improvement of the symptoms can be expected after only a few days.
