red blotchy chest/neck rash

[nurseam]

Just wondering if anyone has a 'miracle cure'!!  For a few years now, I've been getting a red blotchy chest/neck rash in circumstances where I - am drinking alcohol, anxious, nervous, excited, upset - really feeling just about any emotion.  It's gotten to the point where I do not expose my chest/neck ever - and cover up whenever I can.  I had read once that taking Niacinimide could help - and I've been taking about 1000mg of it for a few months, but am not seeing much improvement.  Anyone with any help or suggestions I would REALLY appreciate it.  

[Boogie21671]

I echo everyone's comments.  Nice to have a community who understands.  What I've started doing every time someone asks me if I just got back from the beach or Am I angry or upset?  I flat out say, I appreciate your concern, and your insensitivity, I have a skin condition.  So, thank you I'm fine.  I think as a kid I noticed in myself, and now my 9yo, blushing easily.  It's always so nice when people point that out, too, in a way that's supposed to be funny, "Oh look, she's turning red".  I'm also 40, spent 4 years doing public speaking, sun exposure, anxiety, childbirth/hormones, alcohol, caffeine may all play a part in my face/neck redness, but it's more chronic now not a "breakout" per se.  Did laser treatment couple years ago, did help, but has returned.  Like the propanalyol when I speak or conduct meetings, but as several of you mentioned, am confident, lead a prominent company, but have dermatology appt next week and I will inquire about the beta blockers.  Unfortunately, it is one of those conditions where regardless of the emotions or the moment, it exists or presents itself regardless of the situation.  In my particular case.   Please continue sharing any ideas.  Wish there was some affordable safe skin-bleaching available:)  Being the pale, Irish, red-head with freckles exacerbates doesn't help:(  Thanks for reading.

[Boogie21671]

I echo everyone's comments.  Nice to have a community who understands.  What I've started doing every time someone asks me if I just got back from the beach or Am I angry or upset?  I flat out say, I appreciate your concern, and your insensitivity, I have a skin condition.  So, thank you I'm fine.  I think as a kid I noticed in myself, and now my 9yo, blushing easily.  It's always so nice when people point that out, too, in a way that's supposed to be funny, "Oh look, she's turning red".  I'm also 40, spent 4 years doing public speaking, sun exposure, anxiety, childbirth/hormones, alcohol, caffeine may all play a part in my face/neck redness, but it's more chronic now not a "breakout" per se.  Did laser treatment couple years ago, did help, but has returned.  Like the propanalyol when I speak or conduct meetings, but as several of you mentioned, am confident, lead a prominent company, but have dermatology appt next week and I will inquire about the beta blockers.  Unfortunately, it is one of those conditions where regardless of the emotions or the moment, it exists or presents itself regardless of the situation.  In my particular case.   Please continue sharing any ideas.  Wish there was some affordable safe skin-bleaching available:)  Being the pale, Irish, red-head with freckles exacerbates doesn't help:(  Thanks for reading.

[WesternStarWifeToBe]

Hi, I have had this for 10 years and am so sick of it, you can guarantee in any social situation or when I'm nervous, excited or upset I get huge blotches all over my neck, chest & arms. It started when i was 14.It's so embarrassing as I know everyone is staring and I constantly get asked what is wrong with you or people think I'm nervous, when in most cases I'm calm as a cucumber & don't even realise until someone points it out. It affects me a lot as I'm quite a confident person but when I know I'm going blotchy I feel very insecure, and I'm sick of people seeing my emotions.Well I'm getting married in a couple of months and I have been really worried its going to ruin all my photos and make me feel so insecure on the happiest day of my life. So I did some research and found sooo many people have the same problem and many people found that Beta Blockers worked for them! So I said I was going to take control of this and I made an appointment to see the doc. I was a little worried as ive asked Doctors over the years and they have all said there is nothing you can do about it. So  told the doc everything I had read and he confirmed it all, he said my nervous system is too close to my spine and il get these blotches whenever my emotions change. He said many people take Beta Blockers which is just a tiny pill you take 1hour before you think you may break out. He said they don't hurt you, years ago they were given out to reduce blood pressure but they're now used for other things like even migraines. They slow down the heart rate. So I've been taking them for the last 2 weeks where I've been in situations I would normally break out in rashes, I can very happily announce that I have not seen even the tiniest bit of red since! It's changed my life I feel more confident now and can look forward to my wedding day and know I'll feel beautiful and confident and hopefully the only reason people will be staring is to look at my beautiful wedding dress. I highly recommend this to anyone who has this condition, I wish I found it years ago!

[NicePasty]

I tend to go red when flustered or put on the spot.  I think it would help if others did not find the need to comment upon it- folks can be quite cruel about it sometimes! My old boss even said that I needed to learn how to control it as everyone can see that I am getting flustered!  I wish it was that simple.  

Has anyone heard/read anything to suggest that hypnosis would help this problem?  Beta blockers are not an options for me as I have asthma.

I am amazed how many people have the same problem....makes me think that the non-blotchy  are the odd ones, not us!! Tee hee.

[Bekind21another]

I have been suffering from this same condition for about 10 years. This is a very debilitating thing to have to go through day to day. For a very long time I thought I was the only person in the world that experienced this. I'm so glad to know that I am not the only one who has to deal with this and there are others who understand what it feels like. Its nice to have a support group of fellow turtleneckers!

[mtx84]

I wish I had an explanation but I don't think anyone does. Some people on this forum have had some good explanations, in particular the release of adrenaline which somehow seems to cause the red blotchy skin we all have to deal with. That only addresses part of it though, since the red blotches can happen even when we're not in high stress situations.

No doctor seems to really understand it either and most people don't think it's a big deal unless you are the person suffering from it!!!!!

I don't know if someone will ever find a cure but I'm sure glad we have a forum like this to at least share what we're going through and give helpful ideas. If anyone has anything to share please do.