Aa
red blotchy chest/neck rash
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.
I just read Redandfrustrated's comment on heavy exercise and must comment on that! I have recently been exercising a lot lately and that could also be the reason I've been getting red less, too! The histamine release makes sense, because it is almost always later in the day that my break-out comes and it would also explain the lunch break causing redness. Thanks redandfrustrated, your comments have been fantastically helpful! :>)
I have had the same problem for a few years now (age 24), and like you all, am so relieved to hear/read that I'm not alone. I don't think the doctors take us too seriously with this problem, but it truly can be life altering. It's extremely embarrassing when you flare-up and everyone you talk to just focuses on your blotchy red spots instead of what you are saying. And it's understandable! When you look at yourself in the mirror it looks TERRIBLE!! It's so uncomfortable when it happens, hot and itchy, sometimes so bad it feels like your skin is crawling. And for me, oh boy, if I dare touch my skin when it's starting then it's coming on full blown. It can never be a nice flush for me, it's always BLOTCHY and asymmetrical.
As for the cause, I can only guess. In my case, anxiety is definitively spot on, but I strongly believe it's hormonal sometimes. When I'm on my period, I'm much more likely to get the dreaded rash. But alas! I'm not a doctor, I'm no expert on how our bodies work. A previous poster mentioned a link to adrenaline, which makes sense! Exercise, excitement, nervousness, and competition are usually triggers for me, too.
Another trigger I haven't seen anyone really mention: Eating at work. When I have a long day at work, I usually get time to eat around 2pm, but I just can't anymore, because it's almost a guaranteed trigger of the redness. I'd rather go hungry than turn red and blotchy for 30mins you say?!? ....Yes, I'd rather go hungry. People don't understand, but I'm sure you all do! So, yes docs! It is life altering!!!
No, I'm not allergic to any food, and in all honesty, I've tried different foods...It's not the food! It's the stress of the day up to that point, and some reason the process of eating and digestion just triggers the red spots and blotches. It always starts behind my ears when I'm eating, which leads me to another question, Do any of you also suffer from TMJ?? Because I certainly do. I'll also mention here that my mother also gets the splotchees, too. I've seen my brother get red-faced, but it's rare for him and he has to be extremely stressed and even then he's not blotchy, just flushed, you know.... how normal people get flushed, all symmetrical and pretty-like. Oh, how I wish!
~~~~~~~~My remedies~~~~~~~~
I'm hesitant to try medicines and pills just because I like to avoid medications. Recently, my "attacks" have been less frequent. The cure? Less stress and worrying about it less. Anyway here's some tips:
1. Not getting stressed out -- I know this isn't a cure, it's the only thing that keeps it away and it's impossible for females to "cut out" or cure stress. It's not fair we are forced to show our stress so visually on our skin, I hate it, but the more you think about it, the more it will happen. Doctor and dentist appointments, meetings, parties ALWAYS trigger me, I can't avoid those :(.
2. Makeup - I HAVE to share this one because it is really, really interesting. I use liquid foundation almost every day in the morning. I know where I put it and where I don't (I don't usually put in on the outside of my cheeks close to the jaw). Later on in the day, the rash comes and is ONLY where I didn't put on the makeup (around the jaw)! This has happened many times, so NOW I put on that liquid foundation everywhere! Even down my neck sometimes, I'd rather look more made-up than red and splotchy! I keep it in my purse and put it on the red spots when the attack starts and this sometimes helps, not always, but at least I can look pink instead of bright red.
3. No road rage! - This is a trigger for me. I get mad at someone who cut me off, and then sometimes I drive faster and more aggressive, DO NOT do this! I will show up to the place I'm heading all red. Not a great start. Change your driving habits if this applies to you; relax and take your time while driving, let those people drive fast and crazy, that's there issue. Don't look at the clock on your dashboard, you will get there when you get there. Better to be late than show up beet red!
4. Breathing during attack - So my avoidance of stress and makeup didn't prevent an attack, I'm now bright red and blotchy. I focus on my breathing, the most success I've had is when I breathe in and hold my breath and slowly let it out. The most important part is the holding, that's when I feel relaxed and the heat of my face start to fade. The longer I hold it, the better and more relaxed I feel. Don't hold it too hard, you can get light-headed and that's not good! I slowly count to 4 on breathing in, hold for 4 counts and breath out for 4 counts. Count S-L-O-W!
5. Don't gossip at work - Generally never a good idea anyway, but most of us here are women and prone to gossip! Sometimes it can cause rifts at work or even parties, but what happens is you can get anxious talking to and about certain people. Best to try to get along with everyone and limit any drama that could cause a flare-up. This has worked great for me at work which was the main setting of all my red blotchyness. Changing my attitude and being more open and friendly (even to those you can't stand!) has really, really helped decrease my stress and anxiety in the workplace.
6. Release the stress - Another way I've calmed and relaxed myself when I know I'm having an attack is clenching my muscles and slowly relaxing them. I usually run to the bathroom to do this, because it's not something that normal people do out in the open, hehe. Go (RUN!) to the bathroom and just clench or contract your whole body, as many muscles as you can, and hold that (you might shake a little), then slowly release all that tension until you are completely relaxed and you feel limp. It feels great, do the breathing too. I almost always come out less red after this and working on my breathing. Again be careful, if you get light-headed you are going at it too hard.
These are my tips! I've kinda accepted this as part of my life because there doesn't seem to be a cure-all without beta-blockers or other forms of medications. It's embarrassing and truly life altering because you start to say no events like parties, or going out to lunch with the office because you know it's inevitable. You can't really live life and feel emotions to the fullest without fear of breaking out. You can ignore it all you want, but it's hard to when you are aware that your skin is hot and itchy and you know everyone else sees it too. If people are nice, they ask if you're okay, if they aren't, they say things like "Omg your skin's all red!" or whisper to others while pointing at you. We all know that situation, it's happened to us all. Maybe someday we will have an end to it.
As for the cause, I can only guess. In my case, anxiety is definitively spot on, but I strongly believe it's hormonal sometimes. When I'm on my period, I'm much more likely to get the dreaded rash. But alas! I'm not a doctor, I'm no expert on how our bodies work. A previous poster mentioned a link to adrenaline, which makes sense! Exercise, excitement, nervousness, and competition are usually triggers for me, too.
Another trigger I haven't seen anyone really mention: Eating at work. When I have a long day at work, I usually get time to eat around 2pm, but I just can't anymore, because it's almost a guaranteed trigger of the redness. I'd rather go hungry than turn red and blotchy for 30mins you say?!? ....Yes, I'd rather go hungry. People don't understand, but I'm sure you all do! So, yes docs! It is life altering!!!
No, I'm not allergic to any food, and in all honesty, I've tried different foods...It's not the food! It's the stress of the day up to that point, and some reason the process of eating and digestion just triggers the red spots and blotches. It always starts behind my ears when I'm eating, which leads me to another question, Do any of you also suffer from TMJ?? Because I certainly do. I'll also mention here that my mother also gets the splotchees, too. I've seen my brother get red-faced, but it's rare for him and he has to be extremely stressed and even then he's not blotchy, just flushed, you know.... how normal people get flushed, all symmetrical and pretty-like. Oh, how I wish!
~~~~~~~~My remedies~~~~~~~~
I'm hesitant to try medicines and pills just because I like to avoid medications. Recently, my "attacks" have been less frequent. The cure? Less stress and worrying about it less. Anyway here's some tips:
1. Not getting stressed out -- I know this isn't a cure, it's the only thing that keeps it away and it's impossible for females to "cut out" or cure stress. It's not fair we are forced to show our stress so visually on our skin, I hate it, but the more you think about it, the more it will happen. Doctor and dentist appointments, meetings, parties ALWAYS trigger me, I can't avoid those :(.
2. Makeup - I HAVE to share this one because it is really, really interesting. I use liquid foundation almost every day in the morning. I know where I put it and where I don't (I don't usually put in on the outside of my cheeks close to the jaw). Later on in the day, the rash comes and is ONLY where I didn't put on the makeup (around the jaw)! This has happened many times, so NOW I put on that liquid foundation everywhere! Even down my neck sometimes, I'd rather look more made-up than red and splotchy! I keep it in my purse and put it on the red spots when the attack starts and this sometimes helps, not always, but at least I can look pink instead of bright red.
3. No road rage! - This is a trigger for me. I get mad at someone who cut me off, and then sometimes I drive faster and more aggressive, DO NOT do this! I will show up to the place I'm heading all red. Not a great start. Change your driving habits if this applies to you; relax and take your time while driving, let those people drive fast and crazy, that's there issue. Don't look at the clock on your dashboard, you will get there when you get there. Better to be late than show up beet red!
4. Breathing during attack - So my avoidance of stress and makeup didn't prevent an attack, I'm now bright red and blotchy. I focus on my breathing, the most success I've had is when I breathe in and hold my breath and slowly let it out. The most important part is the holding, that's when I feel relaxed and the heat of my face start to fade. The longer I hold it, the better and more relaxed I feel. Don't hold it too hard, you can get light-headed and that's not good! I slowly count to 4 on breathing in, hold for 4 counts and breath out for 4 counts. Count S-L-O-W!
5. Don't gossip at work - Generally never a good idea anyway, but most of us here are women and prone to gossip! Sometimes it can cause rifts at work or even parties, but what happens is you can get anxious talking to and about certain people. Best to try to get along with everyone and limit any drama that could cause a flare-up. This has worked great for me at work which was the main setting of all my red blotchyness. Changing my attitude and being more open and friendly (even to those you can't stand!) has really, really helped decrease my stress and anxiety in the workplace.
6. Release the stress - Another way I've calmed and relaxed myself when I know I'm having an attack is clenching my muscles and slowly relaxing them. I usually run to the bathroom to do this, because it's not something that normal people do out in the open, hehe. Go (RUN!) to the bathroom and just clench or contract your whole body, as many muscles as you can, and hold that (you might shake a little), then slowly release all that tension until you are completely relaxed and you feel limp. It feels great, do the breathing too. I almost always come out less red after this and working on my breathing. Again be careful, if you get light-headed you are going at it too hard.
These are my tips! I've kinda accepted this as part of my life because there doesn't seem to be a cure-all without beta-blockers or other forms of medications. It's embarrassing and truly life altering because you start to say no events like parties, or going out to lunch with the office because you know it's inevitable. You can't really live life and feel emotions to the fullest without fear of breaking out. You can ignore it all you want, but it's hard to when you are aware that your skin is hot and itchy and you know everyone else sees it too. If people are nice, they ask if you're okay, if they aren't, they say things like "Omg your skin's all red!" or whisper to others while pointing at you. We all know that situation, it's happened to us all. Maybe someday we will have an end to it.
I am in the same boat as everyone else! This is absolutely awful! It is controlling my whole life and I don't know how much more I can handle! Being a 22 year old female, there is only a certain amount of times that you can get away with wearing your boyfriends t-shirts to cover yourself up before people start asking questions! I would absolutely love to be able to wear a singlet every once in a while! IS THERE A CURE? Is there anything that anyone has tried that has actually worked? I would really like to go and see a Dr but I just can't build myself up enough to actually go!
This will hopefully be one of my last posts here. I’ve found my ‘cure’ and it certainly wasn’t what I expected. It was exercise. And I mean enough to work up a serious sweat. My face turns bright red and burns and throbs and I usually have a slight rash on my arms and chest. As I continue to work out more frequently (daily) it’s getting better. The objective is to make yourself flush/break out. Because then within a few hours or the next day, I DON’T BREAKOUT!!! It’s amazing. Even in awkward situations I sometimes feel like I’m going to and then I feel something ‘kick in’ and I’m ok.
I’m not claiming this will work for everyone. Some of you might already be serious exercisers. I’m certain my issue is heat hives (see my link in an above post) which were way worse in the winter (indoor heat.) I’m pretty active but in the winter, I always slow down on exercise and that is always when my hives are at their all time worst.
I want to stress that while exercising – YOU WANT THE FLUSH/HIVES TO COME. It’s releasing histamines within the body. I wish I could understand more why this happens to me (and not others) but right now I’m focusing on - heavy exercise - it helps. I run 45 -60 minutes every day, sometimes every other day. Usually it takes me about 10 minutes of running before the flush comes and then it stays for about 30 minutes and then I start to feel cooler. It took about 2 weeks of exercising (I started back at it because I had time off from work for the holidays and had gained a few pounds) before I started noticing my hives weren’t happening as much.
I’m not saying you have to run, it just needs to be something physical that makes the flush/rash happen for probably 20-30 minutes to force the histamine release.
I’m so excited to share this with all of you and I really hope it helps someone else. I was at my wit’s end, trying to figure this out and to just happen upon this ‘cure’ feels like a miracle to me. And as I continue to not flush and hive throughout the day, my confidence is returning and I’m beginning to feel like the old me again. Please just try it for a couple of weeks and see if you see any improvement. It’s not as easy as swallowing a pill but it may work and heck; it’s healthy for you too. :)
That being said, I’m not opposed to medication. I’ll never be fully comfortable presenting to work people in an overheated conference room so in those situations, I may pop a Valium, wear something high necked and smear my neck in Dermablend Cover Crème (it DOES help!) I’ve had one work presentation so far and my neck became slightly red but I had the Dermablend on and it was nothing compared to how I used to get. I couldn’t believe it. No one commented on it and I had to like LEAN IN to the mirror (after the meeting) to see it.
I’ll update if anything changes but for now I’m labeling myself as cured. Good luck!
I’m not claiming this will work for everyone. Some of you might already be serious exercisers. I’m certain my issue is heat hives (see my link in an above post) which were way worse in the winter (indoor heat.) I’m pretty active but in the winter, I always slow down on exercise and that is always when my hives are at their all time worst.
I want to stress that while exercising – YOU WANT THE FLUSH/HIVES TO COME. It’s releasing histamines within the body. I wish I could understand more why this happens to me (and not others) but right now I’m focusing on - heavy exercise - it helps. I run 45 -60 minutes every day, sometimes every other day. Usually it takes me about 10 minutes of running before the flush comes and then it stays for about 30 minutes and then I start to feel cooler. It took about 2 weeks of exercising (I started back at it because I had time off from work for the holidays and had gained a few pounds) before I started noticing my hives weren’t happening as much.
I’m not saying you have to run, it just needs to be something physical that makes the flush/rash happen for probably 20-30 minutes to force the histamine release.
I’m so excited to share this with all of you and I really hope it helps someone else. I was at my wit’s end, trying to figure this out and to just happen upon this ‘cure’ feels like a miracle to me. And as I continue to not flush and hive throughout the day, my confidence is returning and I’m beginning to feel like the old me again. Please just try it for a couple of weeks and see if you see any improvement. It’s not as easy as swallowing a pill but it may work and heck; it’s healthy for you too. :)
That being said, I’m not opposed to medication. I’ll never be fully comfortable presenting to work people in an overheated conference room so in those situations, I may pop a Valium, wear something high necked and smear my neck in Dermablend Cover Crème (it DOES help!) I’ve had one work presentation so far and my neck became slightly red but I had the Dermablend on and it was nothing compared to how I used to get. I couldn’t believe it. No one commented on it and I had to like LEAN IN to the mirror (after the meeting) to see it.
I’ll update if anything changes but for now I’m labeling myself as cured. Good luck!
Sounds like we've all got similar problems. An increase in adrenaline seems to be the most likely cause, at least in my case. I break out in a big red rash over my chest, neck, and sometimes upper forehead during any kind of exercise, in any kind of heat, or whenever nervous or embarrassed.
Do we really have to live with this for the rest of our lives though? It seems like the only effective treatment is through the use of beta blockers and antihistamines. It's simply not practical to use it every time I'm going to the gym or going to work. Sure, I could use it for some of the major events in my life, but even then, I'd always have that fear in the back of my mind, like what if it doesn't work again? We need the medical community to hopefully give us a workable solution, or at the very least an explanation.
Do we really have to live with this for the rest of our lives though? It seems like the only effective treatment is through the use of beta blockers and antihistamines. It's simply not practical to use it every time I'm going to the gym or going to work. Sure, I could use it for some of the major events in my life, but even then, I'd always have that fear in the back of my mind, like what if it doesn't work again? We need the medical community to hopefully give us a workable solution, or at the very least an explanation.
Hi All, I have this too along with Rosacea and Serb Derm and a Balsam of Peru allergy..... I have a line on my neck where it goes red and continues up and includes my head. However its at its reddest on my neck. I have started flushin recently in social situations as i suffer from Anxiety... Obviously my body feels that making my neck and face bright red will help my with this anxiety.. !!! Ridiculous... Anyway Ive had this for about 10yrs and its getting worse.. My old colour is now almost gone altho I can see it in parts of my face and its really depressing .. Its heart breaking... I have researched everything and tried most things... Recently Ive looked into the flushing.. It looks like it is linked to the sympathetic nerve system and the fight or flight mechanism... Ive seen all the comments about beta blockers etc but I havent seen anyone mention ETS surgery... Its keyhole surgery and seems to be very good.. here is a link to a story on it http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-107003/Surgery-cured-blushing.html and I really hope it helps someone , even one person, as i know firsthand just how utterly crippling these kind of rashes etc can be..... good luck
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