Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
When to See a Healthcare Provider
FAQ
A neck rash is an inflammatory reaction that can occur on the back, front, and sides of the neck. The way the rash looks and feels depends on what’s causing it.
This article discusses the possible causes and symptoms of a neck rash, and what you can do if you develop one.
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
What Are the Causes of a Neck Rash?
A neck rash can develop for many reasons. There are several notable causes of a neck rash, including infections, allergies, skin conditions, and other serious conditions.
What’s Causing Your Skin Rash? 7 Possible Causes
Infections
Types of infections that cause neck rashes include:
Infections and a Neck RashContracting any of the above infections does not guarantee that you’ll develop a neck rash. However, they are all associated with a rash that can occur on various parts of the body, including the neck.
Infections and a Neck Rash
Contracting any of the above infections does not guarantee that you’ll develop a neck rash. However, they are all associated with a rash that can occur on various parts of the body, including the neck.
A Guide to Viral Rashes in Adults and Children
Allergies
The symptoms that develop include redness, itching, andhives.
Hives on the NeckHives can develop because of an allergic reaction. However, they can also occur on the neck in response to high emotional or psychological stress levels.
Hives on the Neck
Hives can develop because of an allergic reaction. However, they can also occur on the neck in response to high emotional or psychological stress levels.
Pictures of Hives to Help Identify a Rash
Serious Conditions
A neck rash could indicate a severe health condition. The most notable health disorder that can lead to rashes of the neck isdiabetes.
Other conditions that can lead to neck rashes include:
Petechiae and purpura are not typically severe conditions but can occur with serious health issues such aslymphoma(cancer of the lymphatic system) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Is a Neck Rash the First Sign of a Serious Health Disorder?If a neck rash is indicative of disease, many other symptoms are typically present. There is little clinical evidence to support a neck rash on its own as an indicator of severe or life-threatening disease.
Is a Neck Rash the First Sign of a Serious Health Disorder?
If a neck rash is indicative of disease, many other symptoms are typically present. There is little clinical evidence to support a neck rash on its own as an indicator of severe or life-threatening disease.
Petechiae vs. Purpura: What Skin Discoloration Can Tell You About Your Health
Skin Conditions
Skin conditions are often one of the most common reasons for developing a neck rash. Skin disorders that can lead to a rash on the neck include:
What Causes Sweet Syndrome?
What Are the Symptoms of a Neck Rash?
The symptoms of a neck rash will depend on what type of rash it is. The most notable symptoms of a neck rash include:
Heliotrope Rash Symptoms in Dermatomyositis
How Is a Neck Rash Diagnosed?
Diagnosing a rash is done through a physical exam. During the rash evaluation, your healthcare provider will examine the rash and note any other symptoms you’re experiencing, either with the rash itself or those that may seem unrelated.
A rash evaluation may include:
How to Prepare for a Rash EvaluationMedications such as antihistamines or antidepressants may need to be avoided up until the test is complete. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to stop taking your medications and which ones should be avoided until you have completed the rash evaluation.
How to Prepare for a Rash Evaluation
Medications such as antihistamines or antidepressants may need to be avoided up until the test is complete. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to stop taking your medications and which ones should be avoided until you have completed the rash evaluation.
The Difference Between Blood Tests and Skin Tests for Allergies
How Is a Neck Rash Treated?
Treating a neck rash depends highly on what is causing it. Allergy-driven rashes tend to clear up after you have removed the allergen. You can also treat them withantihistaminesor topical creams to relieve symptoms.
If you have a skin disorder, you may need a specific treatment to help manage the rash. Many types, such aspsoriasisandrosacea, are incurable. Typically, treatments for skin disorders include:
In some severe cases, oral corticosteroids or immune-suppressing medications may be necessary.If an underlying health condition is causing the rash, that specific disorder will be treated. When that happens, the rash will likely clear up.
Risks and Complications of an Untreated Neck RashThough many rashes go away on their own, leaving a neck rash untreated can be dangerous, especially if an underlying health disorder such as diabetes is causing it. Diabetes and other health conditions can cause significant permanent damage to your health if left untreated.
Risks and Complications of an Untreated Neck Rash
Though many rashes go away on their own, leaving a neck rash untreated can be dangerous, especially if an underlying health disorder such as diabetes is causing it. Diabetes and other health conditions can cause significant permanent damage to your health if left untreated.
Itchy Neck
How to Prevent a Neck Rash
Why There’s a Rash Behind Your Ear
Not all neck rashes are harmful or require immediate medical attention.
Still, you should see a healthcare provider if the rash doesn’t go away within a week, spreads from the neck to other areas of the body, or interferes with your ability to complete daily tasks. Other symptoms that should also alert you to see a healthcare provider right away include:
Stomach Rash: Causes and Treatments
Summary
If the rash doesn’t clear in a matter of days, you should see your healthcare provider. They will diagnose the cause of your neck rash so you can get the right treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychological stress can have a significant impact on both your emotional and physical health. When it comes to neck rashes, stress can cause hives to develop that cover the neck. These hives typically only pop up during times of high stress and can be remedied with stress management.Learn MoreUrticaria (Hives): Causes and Risk Factors
Psychological stress can have a significant impact on both your emotional and physical health. When it comes to neck rashes, stress can cause hives to develop that cover the neck. These hives typically only pop up during times of high stress and can be remedied with stress management.
Learn MoreUrticaria (Hives): Causes and Risk Factors
Depending on the cause, an untreated neck rash can be OK. However, because some health disorders cause rashes to develop on the neck, leaving it untreated can be detrimental. If you have a neck rash, never leave it untreated unless you know the cause isn’t harmful.Learn MoreHow Contact Dermatitis Is Treated
Depending on the cause, an untreated neck rash can be OK. However, because some health disorders cause rashes to develop on the neck, leaving it untreated can be detrimental. If you have a neck rash, never leave it untreated unless you know the cause isn’t harmful.
Learn MoreHow Contact Dermatitis Is Treated
Learn MoreHome Remedies for Eczema
24 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.Giannitto C, Bonifacio C, Esposito S, et al.Sudden neck swelling with rash as late manifestation of COVID-19: a case report.BMC Infect Dis.2021 Feb 27;21(1):232. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-05911-4Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4): 217-224, 227.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Chickenpox: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About measles.Marchand-Senécal X, Barkati S, Bouffard D, Martel-Laferrière V.A secondary syphilis rash with scaly target lesions.Oxf Med Case Reports.2018 Feb 1;2018(2):omx089. doi:10.1093/omcr/omx089Cedars Sinai.Tinea versicolor (Pityriasis versicolor).UK National Health Service.Ringworm.Stamm LV, Strowd LC.Ignoring the “itch”: The global health problem of scabies.Am J Trop Med Hyg.2017 Dec;97(6):1647-1649. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0242Ahlström MG, Thyssen JP, Wennervaldt M, et al.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis.2019 Oct;81(4):227-241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327The American Institute of Stress.Stress affects your body and mind.Duff M, Demidova O, Blackburn S, Shubrook J.Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus.Clin Diabetes.2015 Jan;33(1):40-48. doi:10.2337/diaclin.33.1.40UK National Health Service.Meningitis symptoms.Lora V, Cerroni L, Cota C.Skin manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2018 Apr;153(2):243-255. doi:10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05872-8National Cancer Institute.Definition of petechiae.Kuonen F, Bucher M, de Leval L, et al.Purpura of the face and neck: an atypical clinical presentation revealing a hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma.Case Rep Dermatol.2014 Feb 12;6(1):37-42. doi:10.1159/000360126Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Psoriasis Foundation.Locations and types of psoriasis.Kids Health.Eczema (Atopic dermatitis) (for parents).Sun KI, Chang JM.Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne.Dermatoendocrinol.2017 Sep 27;9(1):e1356519. doi:10.1080/19381980.2017.1356519Desai K, Frey MP, Tan J.The utility of assessing neck acne.J Cutan Med Surg.2017 Jan/Feb;21(1):82-83. doi:10.1177/1203475416673051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.Nguyen T, Zuniga R.Skin conditions: New drugs for managing skin disorders.FP Essent.2013 Apr;407:11-16.KidsHealth.First aid: Rashes (for parents).
24 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.Giannitto C, Bonifacio C, Esposito S, et al.Sudden neck swelling with rash as late manifestation of COVID-19: a case report.BMC Infect Dis.2021 Feb 27;21(1):232. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-05911-4Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4): 217-224, 227.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Chickenpox: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About measles.Marchand-Senécal X, Barkati S, Bouffard D, Martel-Laferrière V.A secondary syphilis rash with scaly target lesions.Oxf Med Case Reports.2018 Feb 1;2018(2):omx089. doi:10.1093/omcr/omx089Cedars Sinai.Tinea versicolor (Pityriasis versicolor).UK National Health Service.Ringworm.Stamm LV, Strowd LC.Ignoring the “itch”: The global health problem of scabies.Am J Trop Med Hyg.2017 Dec;97(6):1647-1649. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0242Ahlström MG, Thyssen JP, Wennervaldt M, et al.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis.2019 Oct;81(4):227-241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327The American Institute of Stress.Stress affects your body and mind.Duff M, Demidova O, Blackburn S, Shubrook J.Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus.Clin Diabetes.2015 Jan;33(1):40-48. doi:10.2337/diaclin.33.1.40UK National Health Service.Meningitis symptoms.Lora V, Cerroni L, Cota C.Skin manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2018 Apr;153(2):243-255. doi:10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05872-8National Cancer Institute.Definition of petechiae.Kuonen F, Bucher M, de Leval L, et al.Purpura of the face and neck: an atypical clinical presentation revealing a hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma.Case Rep Dermatol.2014 Feb 12;6(1):37-42. doi:10.1159/000360126Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Psoriasis Foundation.Locations and types of psoriasis.Kids Health.Eczema (Atopic dermatitis) (for parents).Sun KI, Chang JM.Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne.Dermatoendocrinol.2017 Sep 27;9(1):e1356519. doi:10.1080/19381980.2017.1356519Desai K, Frey MP, Tan J.The utility of assessing neck acne.J Cutan Med Surg.2017 Jan/Feb;21(1):82-83. doi:10.1177/1203475416673051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.Nguyen T, Zuniga R.Skin conditions: New drugs for managing skin disorders.FP Essent.2013 Apr;407:11-16.KidsHealth.First aid: Rashes (for parents).
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.
Giannitto C, Bonifacio C, Esposito S, et al.Sudden neck swelling with rash as late manifestation of COVID-19: a case report.BMC Infect Dis.2021 Feb 27;21(1):232. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-05911-4Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4): 217-224, 227.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Chickenpox: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About measles.Marchand-Senécal X, Barkati S, Bouffard D, Martel-Laferrière V.A secondary syphilis rash with scaly target lesions.Oxf Med Case Reports.2018 Feb 1;2018(2):omx089. doi:10.1093/omcr/omx089Cedars Sinai.Tinea versicolor (Pityriasis versicolor).UK National Health Service.Ringworm.Stamm LV, Strowd LC.Ignoring the “itch”: The global health problem of scabies.Am J Trop Med Hyg.2017 Dec;97(6):1647-1649. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0242Ahlström MG, Thyssen JP, Wennervaldt M, et al.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis.2019 Oct;81(4):227-241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327The American Institute of Stress.Stress affects your body and mind.Duff M, Demidova O, Blackburn S, Shubrook J.Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus.Clin Diabetes.2015 Jan;33(1):40-48. doi:10.2337/diaclin.33.1.40UK National Health Service.Meningitis symptoms.Lora V, Cerroni L, Cota C.Skin manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2018 Apr;153(2):243-255. doi:10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05872-8National Cancer Institute.Definition of petechiae.Kuonen F, Bucher M, de Leval L, et al.Purpura of the face and neck: an atypical clinical presentation revealing a hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma.Case Rep Dermatol.2014 Feb 12;6(1):37-42. doi:10.1159/000360126Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Psoriasis Foundation.Locations and types of psoriasis.Kids Health.Eczema (Atopic dermatitis) (for parents).Sun KI, Chang JM.Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne.Dermatoendocrinol.2017 Sep 27;9(1):e1356519. doi:10.1080/19381980.2017.1356519Desai K, Frey MP, Tan J.The utility of assessing neck acne.J Cutan Med Surg.2017 Jan/Feb;21(1):82-83. doi:10.1177/1203475416673051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.Nguyen T, Zuniga R.Skin conditions: New drugs for managing skin disorders.FP Essent.2013 Apr;407:11-16.KidsHealth.First aid: Rashes (for parents).
Giannitto C, Bonifacio C, Esposito S, et al.Sudden neck swelling with rash as late manifestation of COVID-19: a case report.BMC Infect Dis.2021 Feb 27;21(1):232. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-05911-4
Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4): 217-224, 227.
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Chickenpox: Overview.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About measles.
Marchand-Senécal X, Barkati S, Bouffard D, Martel-Laferrière V.A secondary syphilis rash with scaly target lesions.Oxf Med Case Reports.2018 Feb 1;2018(2):omx089. doi:10.1093/omcr/omx089
Cedars Sinai.Tinea versicolor (Pityriasis versicolor).
UK National Health Service.Ringworm.
Stamm LV, Strowd LC.Ignoring the “itch”: The global health problem of scabies.Am J Trop Med Hyg.2017 Dec;97(6):1647-1649. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0242
Ahlström MG, Thyssen JP, Wennervaldt M, et al.Nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis: A clinical review of immunology, epidemiology, exposure, and treatment.Contact Dermatitis.2019 Oct;81(4):227-241. doi:10.1111/cod.13327
The American Institute of Stress.Stress affects your body and mind.
Duff M, Demidova O, Blackburn S, Shubrook J.Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus.Clin Diabetes.2015 Jan;33(1):40-48. doi:10.2337/diaclin.33.1.40
UK National Health Service.Meningitis symptoms.
Lora V, Cerroni L, Cota C.Skin manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2018 Apr;153(2):243-255. doi:10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05872-8
National Cancer Institute.Definition of petechiae.
Kuonen F, Bucher M, de Leval L, et al.Purpura of the face and neck: an atypical clinical presentation revealing a hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma.Case Rep Dermatol.2014 Feb 12;6(1):37-42. doi:10.1159/000360126
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Locations and types of psoriasis.
Kids Health.Eczema (Atopic dermatitis) (for parents).
Sun KI, Chang JM.Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne.Dermatoendocrinol.2017 Sep 27;9(1):e1356519. doi:10.1080/19381980.2017.1356519
Desai K, Frey MP, Tan J.The utility of assessing neck acne.J Cutan Med Surg.2017 Jan/Feb;21(1):82-83. doi:10.1177/1203475416673051
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.
MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
Nguyen T, Zuniga R.Skin conditions: New drugs for managing skin disorders.FP Essent.2013 Apr;407:11-16.
KidsHealth.First aid: Rashes (for parents).
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