How to Treat a Rash on the Neck

Determining the Underlying Cause

Evaluate your circumstances before the rash appeared. Where you were and what you were doing before the onset of the rash can provide important clues as to what caused the rash. Think about anything new or unusual that you might have been exposed to. If you wore a new necklace for the first time, tried a new lotion or soap, or ate a new food, your rash may be an allergic reaction. Make note of how much time passed from the initial exposure until the development of the rash. This might give you some insight into the severity of your allergy. Retinoids, found in many personal care and cosmetics products, may sometimes cause a rash or irritation around the neck. Allergic reactions may develop with age. Consider substances you haven't come into contact with in awhile, even if you never had a reaction to them before. Your rash may have resulted from an insect bite, poison oak, or poison sumac – particularly if you've recently spent time outdoors.

Make a list of accompanying symptoms. Sometimes a rash appears in isolation. However, you may have other symptoms that occurred at the same time, or shortly after, the rash itself. Only eliminate symptoms if you know they are unrelated. If your throat feels tight or you have difficulty breathing, that may be a sign of anaphylaxis – a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. Having a list of symptoms and keeping track of them with a timeline will make it easier for your doctor to figure out what's going on.

Examine the rash more closely in a mirror. The appearance of the rash can give you some clues as to what caused it, as well as how you should treat it. Note the rash's color, texture, and location. It may cover a relatively continuous area, or be more spotty. Consider the condition of your skin as well. If your skin is dry, flaky, or scaly, it may need to be moisturized. If your skin is swollen or inflamed, this typically indicates some sort of allergic reaction. This type of rash may also be itchy. Do your best to avoid scratching a rash – scratching usually makes it worse and may prolong the healing process or result in spreading the rash to other locations.

Look for a sting or bite mark. Insect bites and bee stings are common causes of rashes. Commonly, the rash will seem to emanate from the bite or sting mark. However, look for a mark not just on your neck, but also along your scalp, shoulders, back, and chest. For example, a bull's eye rash surrounding a tick bite may be a sign of Lyme disease.

Figure out if the rash is spreading. A rash may spread on contact, or it may gradually spread on its own. If you can't tell whether the rash is spreading, you might draw a line around the rash with a pen or marker. Check later to see if the rash has extended beyond your line. If the rash was caused by contact with poison oak, poison sumac, or similar, it will easily spread. If you've touched or scratched at the rash with your bare hands and then touched somewhere else on your body without washing your hands, you'll likely have the rash there as well. A rash from an insect bite or bee sting may continue to expand after the bite or sting occurs. This typically indicates that the venom or other substance that caused the rash is still in your system.

Trying Home Remedies

Stop using any new skin products. If you have recently started using a new skin product such as a lotion, soap, or facial treatment, stop immediately. If the rash goes away, you may want to consider discontinuing the use that product permanently.

Wash the area well with gentle soap and warm water. The skin on your neck is delicate under ordinary circumstances, but you want to take special care when that skin is inflamed by a rash. Use lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, and don't rub or scrub the skin. If your rash was caused by contact with an item or substance you're allergic to, the rash may start to calm or disappear the moment that item or substance is removed from your skin. For example, if you wore a new necklace and developed a rash, taking off the necklace and cleaning your neck may be all you need to do to treat the rash. After washing your neck, dry your skin well by patting it down with an absorbent towel. Avoid rubbing your skin to dry it – you could spread the rash.

Make a baking soda compress. To make a compress, use one part baking soda to three parts lukewarm water. Dip a clean washcloth into this mixture and press it gently to your neck. You can also use coconut oil instead of water. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the compress and wash your skin gently. Leaving baking soda on your skin for too long may cause further irritation.

Use an ice pack to calm heat rash. If you've been out in the sun and have a heat rash, cool the skin with an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) wrapped in a soft towel or an old t-shirt. Leave the ice pack on your skin for no longer than 20 minutes. Avoid placing an ice pack (or ice cubes) directly on your skin. It could burn your skin and irritate it even more.

Add a nutritional supplement to your diet. There are several nutritional supplements available that can treat and help heal an inflammatory rash. If your rash was likely caused by inflammation or an allergic reaction, these supplements may provide you some relief. Vitamin C has antihistamine properties that can reduce inflammation, and is also a powerful antioxidant that boosts your immune system. Take up to 2,000 mg daily. Nettle leaf extract has antihistamine properties as well, and can be effective in treating hives. Take up to 300 mg three times a day. Quercetin is the anti-inflammatory flavonoid present in green tea, red wine, and onions. In supplement form, it can reduce inflammation and calm allergic reactions. Take up to 1,000 mg three times a day.

Try essential oils. If you have access to essential oils, mix 2 or 3 drops of geranium, rose, or lavender oil with about a half a teaspoon (2 to 3 ml) of coconut oil and apply it directly to the affected area. Chamomile oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat a rash.

Using Conventional Medical Treatments

Clean your neck thoroughly. Before applying any medicine to the affected area, make sure your skin is clean. Pat, don't scrub, using a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. You may want to simply splash your neck if it is irritating to touch it. After cleaning, make sure your neck is completely dry. Pat your skin gently, rather than rubbing it.

Take an antihistamine for an allergic reaction. Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl, may help treat rashes caused by exposure to something you're allergic to. Avoid taking an antihistamine if you're unsure about the cause of your rash. If you feel a tightness in your throat or have difficulty breathing, that may be a sign of anaphylaxis. Seek medical attention immediately. An over-the-counter antihistamine may not start working quickly enough to remedy these symptoms.

Use a hydrocortisone cream or ointment. Numerous 1 percent hydrocortisone treatments are available over-the-counter in creams, ointments, or gels. Applied directly to the affected area, they can help calm inflammation as well as relieve itching or burning. If your skin is particularly dry, choose an ointment or thicker cream over a gel. The gel may dry your skin further. Long term use of these products can seriously damage your skin. If your rash persists for longer than a day or two despite treatment, consult a doctor.

Calm itching with aloe or calamine lotion. Calamine lotion works just as well for other rashes as it does for bee stings or insect bites. If you have any aloe lotion or gel, such as those used to treat sunburn, that can calm a rash as well. Unlike hydrocortisone creams, aloe and calamine lotion are gentle enough to use on a longer-term basis without damaging your skin.

Consult your healthcare provider if the rash worsens. Generally, if your rash doesn't get any better after a few days of treatment, get a doctor to take a look at it. Let them know how the rash developed and what you've been doing to treat it. They may order allergy tests or prescribe medication. If you try a treatment and it has no effect on the rash, stop doing it. You don't want to risk further irritating your skin or making the rash worse.