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Seeking Guidance for Skin Issue Around the neck started as a red rash
Dear Mayo Clinic Team,
I have been experiencing the following symptoms and changes in my skin:
Around the neck, it started as a red rash for 4 days (I initially thought it was only a rash). However, on the 5th day, it turned black, as you can see in the attached pictures. This black circle remained around my neck for 3 days. On the 7th day, it transformed into small, rough, and bumpy areas, but the black discoloration is still present (as shown in the attached pictures).
In addition to the visual changes, I've also been experiencing some discomfort. The pain comes and goes, and it feels like a burning sensation, which is quite irritating. The skin in the affected area has become notably dry and itchy, often requiring me to scratch it.
I must emphasize that I have no prior medical history related to skin conditions or allergies. Given the sudden and concerning nature of these symptoms, I felt it was essential to seek professional advice, and I naturally turned to Mayo Clinic for your renowned expertise.
I have attached clear photographs of the affected area to this email for your reference. These images should provide a better visual understanding of the issue.
I am entirely open to your recommendations. If there are any specific precautions or measures I should take in the meantime, please let me know where should i start and what tests should i take and what to do
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This is caused by external chemical or cosmetic contact
with your skin and likely light sensitive inflammation.
Cosmetics especially perfumes or scented personal care
items are suspected. Keep all these from your skin.
Avoid bright light such as sun. Cover it with a scarf or clothing when outside. This type of dermatitis can lead
to prolonged discoloration if not dealt with promptly.
Use 1% hydrocortisone cream 3 times a day .
Hope you get in to a dermatologist soon for best treatment and diagnosis of this important cosmetic area on your neck.
@kmmajzoub Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are not medical doctors on this forum, rather fellow patients and caregivers who can share our common experiences with others.
I agree with @seniormed that this might be a contact dermatitis. That happened to me when I wore a necklace that had some metal that disagreed with my system. I have very sensitive skin. I cleaned the area well, and used vitamin E cream to help heal it up, not wearing anything like a necklace for a long time! Or, perhaps you changed your laundry soap and a shirt collar kept some residual soap, causing the irritation?
Do you have access to a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis?
Ginger
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2 ReactionsI agree with what Ginger said about thinking about maybe if a necklace could have set this off, since that is the area a necklace would touch. I know you said you haven't had allergies before, but sometimes that's how it is-- sometimes these things can show up seemingly quite suddenly when you didn't used to have problems before. Our immune systems are kind of complicated and even the best experts can't necessarily predict how or why these reactions happen. I know that a lot of health care workers, for example, will go years and years being able to use the latex gloves, and then all of a sudden they develop a latex allergy and need to use other gloves. So you wouldn't be alone if this is a new reation.
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1 ReactionI had that happen to me about 5 years ago and it's finally clearing up. It started out as a red itchy rash all over the neck. I waited too long to see a dermatologist. Dermatologist diagnosed it as lichen planus. You need a cream prescription to calm it down. Avoid sun.
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