I too have had this rash from time to time... Unfortunately there is nothing that I have ever had to solve the rash itself. However, the solution is in not letting the rash take over your being. You are who you are! If you are having to do a speech, having sex, or any other stressful environment that causes the crazy red blotchiness... you have to simply tell yourself that it is you, and not worry about the other people, because if they are judging you on your skin tone, then they are not worth worrying about!
You are certainly not alone. I started having this ridiclous redness for about 7 years now and it seems to be getting worse each day. I often get it if i'm embarass, excited, nervous or during intercource. I am very ashamed of it, and thought only me had this problem. I was coming through customs the other day and praying that it woudn't come, but it sure as hell did!! IWhen I feel the heat around my chest and facial areas i no it's there...how embarassing! I just wish there was a way for me to relax and just prevent this redness from coming and taking me over for at least 10-20 minutes.
Rgs,
Klm.
I turn blotchy red when I'm nervous, really happy, really hungry, sunbathing, in a hot car, during sex, or for no reason at all! It started my freshman year of high school when I met my first love, and hasn't stopped since. I've tried everything! Pills, wearing high collared sweaters and shirts and it still happens. I'm going to try acupunture next. I heard of a newscaster once that had something like this and they called it "blushing". She had surgery to remove some vessels and the problem was solved!
I read on another website where accupuncture cured a guy of this and he swears by it. I have the same thing and it was uncontrollable when i drink alcohol until i started taking Pepcid AC Max before i drank and it is a miracle drug! I take it everytime now before i drink and never break out, so you might want to try it just in your normal everyday life and maybe it will help.
I have posted in the other thread and although you may not suffer from social phobia, much of what is in the other thread would apply to you. I never suffered from social phobia at all until I started experiencing the blotchy chest/neck. I get anxious because I am self conscious of the rash, not the other way around.
In my case, I have learned it is a result of having fair skin and any time I am warm for any reason I got the blotches as a result of the dilation of blood vessels and this shows because my skin is so pale. I don't have to be anxious for the rash to appear. I can get it out in the sun or when I go into a warm car, etc. It is solely related to an increase in body temperature (if I'm nervous, this also happens).
I won't post about medications since you can't try those right now, however that is the only thing that has been at all effective (and not always completely) for me. I also usually keep a cold bottle of water around which helps sometimes too.
Hi Ruby
I too have suffered with this condition for over 20 years, and it has dominated much of my life and career prospects. I haven't had medical help as I don't wish to take medication. However, I did have counseling years ago but with little effect. Essentially, I've learned to live with it. Like most of the posts, it occurs either when nervous or feeling emotional. I'm very sociable but can get easily embarrassed and this seems to trigger the next phase i.e. rash! To compensate, I wear clothing that covers my chest and neck. However, I've decided that I'm not going to let a bloody rash dictate my life, which it has done for many years!! I suppose my greatest fear is somebody highlighting it...'oh you've got a rash on your neck' while simply sitting chatting to folk over a cuppa or having lunch. This had lead to me backing out of social situations - such as having lunch with friends, going for coffee etc. Perhaps we should start an international rash group - we can all rash together! Sorry I can't offer you any advice as to how to fix the problem.
Cheers, Sally
Hi I am about 21 years old and i have been experiencing this awful condition for about 7 years and it has only gotten worse. I was put on an anti-anxiety medication, prozac and medication for high blood pressure called metropolol. I have been on those for a few years and neither seems to work. i try to calm myself down before it starts but that normally just makes it worse. I felt like i was the only one that has this problem until i researched it a little bit and now i wish there was some way to help us. i have been to several doctors and none of them take me serious and tell me to just chill out and relax, they don't understand because they have never understood the embarrassment of red ugly blotches all over my chest and neck. luckily i have a wonderful boyfriend who looks past the ugly rash i sometimes get, but i still feel very self consicous. i know what you are going through and it is a terrible thing that is uncontrollable and needs to be addressed by doctors and something needs to be done for us to enjoy our lives like a normal person. if you ever found out anything let me know, i'm tired of struggling with not being able to interact with anyone, without wanting to crawl in a cave and stay there till the rash goes away. Thank You, Jen
Hi,
I have read each answer extensively. Most of the suggestions involve using medications, which is something I can't afford, and just forcing yourself to relax, which is something else I have done with no success.
That and the biggest difference between myself and most of the ladies who posted in that thread is that I do not suffer social phobias, and I can still be confident and get a rash. If anything, my anxiety is worsened because of this problem.
So yeah I still do have concerns about this because I don't have hundreds of dollars to fork over each month for doctors and pills and creams. I barely make enough to get by as it is. :' | And frankly, I can't just stop my life to "avoid triggers."
I dunno. So far the only thing I've read that is even a little effective is medication, so maybe there is nothing that can be done.
Don't know if this will help you or not, but there is a post which I found on page 7 or 8 that addresses a question similar to yours. Check it out and if you still have questions or concerns, repost and we'll tackle your issue.
Good luck
Peace
Greenlydia
Below is the post title.............
Grered blotchy chest/neck rash
by nurseam, Mar 08, 2008 10:47PM