What’s this rash - any ideas?

[neckrashnc]

(I’m female, my hair’s just very short!)

Showered this morning, came downstairs - neck on fire at the back . Have managed to get a photo and I’ve got a rash under my hairline .

Hair was coloured three weeks ago (foils) and shaved in at the bottom - but have been doing that for years and never had an issue .

No other skin issues - just this itchy/burning rash .

I use L’Oréal long shampoo, nivea shower gel and usually use wax/hairspray on my hair but never had a reaction before . I’m allergic to a lot of face washes though (most of them - come out in hives with 99% of things - can only use st ives and cerave) . This doesn’t feel like hives - more like sunburn but I live in (very rainy and dull) Scotland so seems unlikely I’ve burnt myself so spectacularly !!

Any ideas? Haven’t got much in the house that would help, I don’t think .

Have you been over-enthusiastic rubbing a towel back and forth to dry your back?

Not especially no, have been scratching it a lot all day though (without realising!)

Scratchy label on nightie/pjs?

Could be yes, I never thought of that . Have stuck on some moisturiser and that’s made the sting worse . Hopefully whatever it is it clears up soon, due to pick up tablets from the chemist on Monday anyway so could ask her to have a look .

I go through times of getting random rashes like that ended up paranoid I had nits 🤮

I desperately didn't scratch and it eventually disappeared.

Shingles?

@Hawkmoth

Shingles?

Oh God I hope not . It isn’t painful, just itchy .

Have you worn a necklace that isn’t gold or silver and may contain nickel?

Wash moisturiser off.. try a cooled mint teabag or a paste made with oatmeal and warm water.. both messy.. but worth it!!

Actually yes ! Most days wear necklaces from new look etc ... That’s probably the answer then - I used to react to nickel in earrings . Thanks !

@RandomMess

I go through times of getting random rashes like that ended up paranoid I had nits 🤮

I desperately didn't scratch and it eventually disappeared.

A cautionary tale.

Many years ago I looked after a neighbours pet whilst they were on holiday.

As a thank you gift she brought back a ‘gold’ necklace.

It looked gold and was hallmarked as such but couldn’t have been because after an hour of wearing it my neck was itchy and I had a slight rash.

I took it off.

I washed my neck but the itchiness was still there.

When I woke the next morning my neck was red raw as the rash had spread and was now a very angry and sore rash, perhaps I had scratched it in the night unaware of what I was doing.

As the day went on my neck got more red and the rash turned to large welts and I started to feel unwell.

That evening I developed large blotches over my body and my neck was very painful.

The next morning I went to A&E as I was in a lot of pain and my neck was burning and red raw and I was very concerned about the rash appearing elsewhere on my body. The only places not affected were thank goodness my face, my bottom, the soles of my feet and my palms.

I was examined and they deduced that because at the time my hair was dyed jet black, some of the dye from my hair had gone into my blood stream where I had scratched. the initial small rash.

I was given pain killers and a course of steroids.

Most unpleasant.