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. [3] X Expert Source Corey Fish, MDPediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare Expert Interview. 17 March 2020. 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.

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. [6] X Expert Source Corey Fish, MDPediatrician & Chief Medical Officer, BraveCare Expert Interview. 17 March 2020.

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.

For example, a bull’s eye rash surrounding a tick bite may be a sign of Lyme disease.

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.

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.

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.

Avoid placing an ice pack (or ice cubes) directly on your skin. It could burn your skin and irritate it even more.

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.

Chamomile oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat a rash. [14] X Research source

After cleaning, make sure your neck is completely dry. Pat your skin gently, rather than rubbing it.

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.

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. [18] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source If your rash persists for longer than a day or two despite treatment, consult a doctor.

Unlike hydrocortisone creams, aloe and calamine lotion are gentle enough to use on a longer-term basis without damaging your skin.

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.