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.  

[splotchynecknomore]

I have been dealing with this same thing for ten years now. It starts out where it's just a little splotchy red on my neck.Then it would turn to my chest and grow to the side of my arms and back. I had been living in turtle necks and did not every want to go to social events. This was hard because I am a broker of a real estate firm.It seemed like making it to the grocery store with out the rash was a huge accomplishment. I decided not to give up because I wanted to live again. I don't know if any of you feel this pain in your chest and your neck, and stomach. I thought I had cancer or something. I went to a few dr. and they were not helpful. Finally I found a good family dr who referred me to a throat and chest dr. He said I have a panic disorder. He prescribed Clonazepam . My life has completely changed. I feel happy again and not anxious that I am going to start getting splotchy. I can be in a high stress situation and no red blotchyness. I feel better too. no more pain in my throat and my chest or stomache. I was also sweating a lot and it seems to have stopped as well.  TRY THIS!!!

[Pobolo]

Hi there, it is very encouraging to hear about your experience. I have the same issue you were having, however not quite in as many situations as you. I have discovered it is worst for me when I have to talk for a decent amount of time in a semi-public situation for example meetings, dinner party etc or I feel I am being challenged in some way. It is really beginning to get me down as I am in a good job, and have been approached to progress to the next level which involves lots of meetings and this puts me off. Saying that, I have applied for the job and hope to be interviewed.

I am not a nervous person, lacking in confidence, but this condition has made me feel more nervous than I need to as I know I am going red in the neck, thus I become nervous about going red...and I get in a vdownward spiral...then I feel people can notice I am going red and I go more red and become so anxious that I can think about what I need to say...it is so dibilitating.

Can I ask, are you someone who has allergies eg. Hay fever, animal hair, anything else?

Anyhing you can suggest would be greatly appreciated? I look forward to your reply.

Thanks

[rednessgone]

I suffered from this for 20 years, I would blush,and have a blotchy neck just at the thought of something stressful or embarrassing, a glass of wine and i would be red from the middle of my chest all the way up to my ears, even if I was on the phone to someone if  looked in the mirror after the call my face and neck would be red. It stopped me putting myself forward for a lot of things in life.
I was getting a travel vaccination in London and as usual I was blotchy from the situation so I mentioned it to the doctor,even though he would have noticed it without me mentioning it.
He said without hesitation "" Your sympathetic nervous system is over reacting to the situation,and its causing your body to go into fight of flight mode"" he gave me a prescription for Propranolol 40mg, and the blotchyness stopped within the first 2 days or less, a 3 month supply of propranolol from Boots Chemist cost me 16 pounds, which is nothing. I would have paid 5000 pounds.
Propanolol is a beta blocker that stops the adrenalin being picked up by receptor in the brain.It had very few side affects for me, I had a little difficulty sleeping and vivid dreams for a while but that is a small price to pay for not blushing at the drop of a hat, of being blotchy if someone asks me directions.
Propranolol has a huge success rate an if it doesn't work there are different beta blockers that will work for you. I can do normal things now,so I hope this helps the many people blushing for no reason.
Make an appointment with your doctor and get your quality of life back.

[dietcure]

I just wanted to add to my above post.  I posted a lot of info on the hypoglycemic diet on this forum 3-4 years ago (under the same name).  That has definitely been helpful too - read my old posts (it is basically a no sugar, no processed food diet).  I think that one of the reasons it helped me was because it cut my wheat consumption down.  Since food allergies would cause histamine release, maybe most everybody on the forum is allergice to one of the major allergens?   Magnesium supplements and eliminating sugar is key too for sure.  It is definitely a complex problem, which I believe is caused by allergies, adrenal fatigue, poor diet, excess stress, etc.  Hope my posts help someone.

[dietcure]

GLUTEN SENSITIVITES CAN CAUSE STRANGE RASHES

NOT TO BE TAKEN AS MEDICAL ADVICE:  DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH/CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR

Going off gluten has virtually eliminated this neck rash problem for me.  Other steps that I had taken prior, that did help too:

Rhodiola 100mg daily to every other day - New Chapter brand.  Check for interactions of course or check with your doctor before adding rhodiola to any medication.  Great antistress supplement.

NO CAFFEINE, chocolate, or decaf products on days of expected stress (decaf products still contain caffeine).  Giving up caffeine entirely is best as the adrenal glands will destress.

Atenolol:  I took atenolol for a while and it made me less mentally sharp.  Not a great trade off - even at just 12.5 mg.  I would likely take it though if I had to give a presentation - for extra security (I do not take rhodiola on those days).   I have not had to give a major presentation since going off gluten.  My day to day social interactions have not caused the rash to erupt, however, like they used to.  I have been off gluten for 4 months.

Read the book Wheat Belly - a life changing book.  Today's wheat has been modified from the "staff of life" in Bible times.  Going off wheat removed my chronic fatigue, depression, and social inhibition as well.

This is my wisdom after trying various things over the last five years.  I believe that God answered my prayers by directing me to go off wheat.  Yes, it is hard to give up wheat, but how badly do you want to feel better?  Blessings.

[joel85]

Yes, I always get it when my body temperature gets high: when I am at the beach, in a jacuzzi, when I get nervous, mad, excited, happy etc. It is so embarrassing. We must find a cure for this.