Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Complications
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You may not want to ignore that annoying neck itch (pruritus). Most of the time, the cause of your itch is not serious. But sometimes, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition, so you don’t want to dismiss this subtle sign entirely.
If your itch lasts for two or more weeks or goes from a local neck itch to affecting multiple parts of your body, the possibility of an underlying condition being the cause becomes more likely. You’ll probably want to know what’s causing it so you can take care of it.
This article will discuss the symptoms associated with an itchy neck, its causes, potential complications, and ways to treat it.
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Symptom of Itchy Neck
Causes of Itchy Neck
Myriad conditions can cause your neck to itch. Most of these are benign and either resolve on their own or improve significantly with the use of dermatologist-approved lotions. The following conditions may cause you to have an itchy neck:
Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause dry skin, which can lead to an itchy neck. Make sure you get an adequate amount of niacin, zinc, iron, and Vitamins D and A.
How to Treat Itchy Neck
Poor hygiene and dry skin are common causes of an itchy neck. Using lotion after a shower can help prevent dry or cracked skin. Therefore, it is important to moisturize, especially during the winter when the air is colder and less humid.
In children, parasitic infections with scabies or head lice are a common cause of itchy necks. A prescription cream is needed to treat scabies, while headlice can be treatedwith over-the-counter (OTC) products like Rid (pyrethrins plus piperonyl butoxide) and Nix (permethrin lotion 1%).
If your itch is due to food orsubstance-related allergies, prevention (avoiding certain foods, soaps, detergents, or substances that trigger your itch) may be the best treatment.
An itchy neck may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If that’s the case, treating your underlying condition is the best way to eliminate your itch. For example, managing your diabetes with medication, a diabetes-friendly diet, and exercise can lessen your itching and any associated symptoms.
In chronic or severe cases of an itch, an antidepressant, immunosuppressant, orcorticosteroidsmay be necessary, although these treatments are often considered after more conventional treatment options have failed.
No matter the cause, wearing loose, light clothing around your neck and using a cool compress, an anti-itch lotion, orhydrocortisone creamcan relieve the itch.
Complications Associated With Itchy Neck
Chronic itching can cause the skin to break, increasing your risk of scarring and infection. Other scratch-induced complications includelichen simplex chronicus(a thickening of the skin) andimpetigo(a bacterial infection that may appear as small vesicles or blisters that ooze or bleed).
Of note,acanthosis nigricans(AN) is discoloration and change in the skin’s texture due to chronically high blood glucose levels. Diabetes-related changes in the body can make it harder to stay hydrated, further drying the skin and causing it to itch and crack.
Moisturizing your neck with a dermatologist-approved moisturizer may help. Ultimately, lowering your blood sugar and maintaining it at a healthy level is the best way to relieve your itch in the long term.
Some allergies carry the risk of developing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that is a medical emergency. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an EpiPen (epinephrine auto-injector pen) to use at the firstsigns of anaphylaxis. These include:
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Itchy Neck?
The most common conditions that cause an itchy neck, like dry skin or eczema, typically do not require testing for a formal diagnosis. A healthcare provider will use your report of symptoms, medical history, and physical examination to make a diagnosis.
If your itch lasts for two or more weeks, affects different parts of your body, impacts your quality of life, or does not improve with standard anti-itch treatment, your healthcare provider may do further tests to determine the cause.
Diabetes
If diabetes is suspected, you may be asked to take a blood glucose orhemoglobin A1C test(a snapshot of your blood glucose levels over the past three months). An A1C level above 6.5% is diagnostic of diabetes.
Tests for Diabetes
Allergies
If food allergies or contact dermatitis is suspected, you may be referred to an allergist for a full allergy evaluation. One allergy test, a skin prick test, is a quick and easy way to check for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 substances simultaneously.
The Difference Between Blood Tests and Skin Tests for Allergies
Skin Conditions
People with eczema or psoriasis usually develop symptoms early on in life and receive a formal diagnosis from a dermatologist in their youth, but this isn’t always the case. Skin conditions can arise at any time.
Eczema is a clinical diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and a detailed physical examination.Eczema typically presentsas a red, itchy rash. Over time, dry, scaly patches and leathery patches may develop.Common triggers include stress, cold weather, food allergies, fragrances, and dry skin.
Your healthcare provider can usuallydetermine whether you have psoriasisafter performing a thorough clinical evaluation. But if there are any questions about the nature of your lesions, a skin biopsy may be performed. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, but it is thought to be an autoimmune condition that commonly presents with itchy, thick, scaly patches calledplaques.
Parasitic Infection
Scabies may also cause an itchy neck. It is usually diagnosed after witnessing one of the unique characteristics, such as the presence of burrows, a distinctive-looking rash, and the scabies parasite itself. A microscopic evaluation may detect the presence of mites or eggs.
If your itchy neck lingers for two or more weeks or is associated with pain, inflammation, or a rash, you may want to check with a healthcare provider. While an itchy neck is rarely a sign of a medical emergency, it may be a subtle sign of an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed urgently.
If you rapidly develop itchy hives on your neck and other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, and swelling, seek emergency medical attention.
Summary
An itchy neck may indicate dry skin, an allergy, an infection, a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or an underlying medical condition. The diagnosis can often be made based on symptoms, medical history, and clinical examination.
Generalized symptoms may point to a broader medical problem that must be resolved to relieve your symptoms. Treatment will be based on the cause of the itchy skin.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: Who gets and causes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of public lice.American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes:Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement_1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing psoriasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Head lice.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: Who gets and causes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of public lice.American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes:Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement_1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing psoriasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Head lice.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: Who gets and causes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of public lice.American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes:Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement_1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing psoriasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Head lice.
American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: Who gets and causes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of public lice.
American Academy of Dermatology.Acanthosis nigricans: diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes:Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement_1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
Kapur S, Watson W, Carr S.Atopic dermatitis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0281-6
NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing psoriasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Head lice.
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