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.  

[shell0808]

I have the same problem and its getting worse everyday for me! Is the prophanolol still working for you?

[shell0808]

Hi i was reading your story and its very familiar. I have the same promblem as well, and its about to ruin my career. Have you found any thing that works for you? Please reply back on my email ***@****

[mrmcg25]

i get this rash also, i hate my life right now coz im always thinking about it! I only seem to get it when im nervous or drinking. I tried claritine, diet and calming strategies but they didnt help, im thinking of trying beta blockers now. I just try to live my life tho and avoid thinking about it too much, it only gets really bad when im focused on it, you just need to learn how to switch your brain to another focus..just anything really. I also find if i keep cool i can avoid the rash or at least make it lessen/disappear quickly rather then waiting for it to go by itself. When i get it after drinking it only lasts for a little bit which is good but i hate the first hour of socializing haha. I really want to ask this girl out tho and i know the rash will be present doing this so fingers crossed beta blockers help me out! i know how everyone feels! hopefully theres a breakthrough soon enough on this forum to get rid of it for good without meds!!!

[helloworld67]

Hello, I am 16 years old, and i believe this might be what happened to me today. I have really bad anger issues, my family, and my friends know this, but today, i got severely anger, and my friend notices this red blotchy spots on my neck and chest, and my mom said it could of been hives, but it didn't itch, burn, swell or anything. But after i calmed down, it went away, i would just like to know if that is normal?

[RedandFrustrated]

I felt like I had to return since with my last post I declared myself ‘cured.’  :)  I continue to exercise, avoid caffeine and limit sugar.  I really do feel like that helps although it’s not the easiest thing to do.  But the fall cooler weather is back which means indoor heat and my flushing increased.  I believe that people have this occurring for different reasons.  For me, my main trigger is anxiety and heat.  I was to the point where I was so terrified of the rash/flushing (it was so extreme looking) that I think mentally I was making it happen even more.  And when I could feel it starting, I panicked which only makes it worse.  I honestly felt like I lost the ability to control it and the more it happens, the easier it happens again because your blood vessels are so used to it.  I know this sounds dramatic but fellow suffers KNOW what it feels like to literally break out into a crazy rash (face, neck, chest) when you’re just trying to have a conversation or lunch with someone!  It’s ridiculous to have to live that way.  As you may recall from previous posts, I have been to my Endo, GP, an allergist and therapist.  I went back to my GP and told him I would try anything.  I told him that the combo of Ativan and Propanolol worked for me but I didn’t like taking it since Benzos can be addictive and the other was a blood pressure medicine.  He ran more tests on me (checking for Lupus and Carcinoid Syndrome – I know for me it’s just anxiety but I am thankful he is being cautious and checking everything.)  He had me start on 20 mg Paxil and 40 mg of Propanolol (2 times a day.)  My anxiety is so much better but the Propanolol is what works for me on the rash/flushing.  It’s amazing – there are times that I’m SURE I would flush and I look in the mirror and I’m totally normal.  This has given me my confidence back.  I feel like a different person.  To know that you can speak and your face isn’t going to erupt into flames.  I haven’t even taken the Propanolol twice a day, only once mid morning.  It takes about 90 minutes for it to kick in for me and I MUST take 40 mg, anything less and it can still occur.  Just getting myself more under control, now even when I don’t take it, I don’t go as red.  Anyway, please, if it’s affecting your life, give propanolol a chance.  I’m SO thankful I found this information online and am able to return to ‘normal.’  I’m not one to take medication but my doc assured me this is a low dose (they give minimum 80 mgs to patients with high bp.)  This condition was negatively affecting my life – to the point where I dreaded everything.  Now I have my enthusiasm back and enjoy being around people again.  In a couple of months I will taper off the Paxil but realize that I’ll probably use the Propanolol (at least when presenting) for potentially the rest of my life.  I believe it’s just a reaction that occurs in the body for some people and it’s something that gives me extreme anxiety – it’s not worth it to avoid things when it’s something so easy to correct with a pill.  I feel for all of you out there suffering and that’s why I came back to this post one last time.    

[GIGImadrid]

I'm so sick of this! I've had this condition ever since I was a little girl. I'm now 15 a teenager and it seems to me it has only gotton worse! When I was younger it didn't seem to appear as much as it does now, but maybe because I didn't notice it. It would only appear on my chest when I would cry or get hyper/excited. Now that I'm getting older I've noticed it only seems to get worse. In tense situations or super exciting I begin to get red and blotchey spots on my chest, sides of my face, and on the backs of my arms. Or when I stand in the sun too long these blotches appear on the backs of my calfs and on the tops of my feet when I wear flats or sandles. Examples of this would be... When I have to give a speech or speak in front of the class, or at lunch time when I worry that I wont be able to find my friends, or at Pep assembly and I'm trying to find a seat. Or when I'm nervous, super scared, and super excited and flirty! I don't want to be a plane jane and stay calm and composed for the rest of my life and avoid every situation that makes my emotions arise, but I find myself just wanting to avoid certain activities to save myself from embrassment of this stupid skin condition. Honestly, I guess it's not a huge deal and it doesn't hurt me physically, although it does hurt me emotionally to know that I have to almost constantly worry about this. I should be able to act the way I feel in my everyday life in any situation. The only reason it's a problem to me is because I'm worried about what other people think when they see the red blotches. I felt like the odd one out, but it releaves me to know that I'm not the only one. Doctors' should most definitley figure out what's going on and what treatment that could cure this. Hopefully I can get this figured out for myself. Good luck to all! I hope and wish the best for you! :)