What looks like a neck rash may not even be a rash and instead be skin cancer.
You’ve developed a neck rash and it may seem like nothing more than an annoyance, but it can have many different kinds of causes.
A true neck rash develops rather suddenly; it’s quite visible when just last week, the area looked perfectly fine.
Chances are very tiny that something that presents like this is skin cancer, since non-melanoma skin cancer grows very slowly.
What is the most likely cause of an actual neck rash?
It “can often be caused by a reaction to clothing or starch or sizing in shirts,” says Glenn Kolansky, MD, with Advanced Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center of NJ.
“It also can be an allergic reaction to type of product placed on the neck including cologne or aftershave.”
How is this type of neck rash treated?
“First is to try to figure out the agent causing the problem,” says Dr. Kolansky. “Treatment is often a topical cortisone agent, over the counter hydrocortisone. If that does not work, a prescription strength product may be required.”
What else can cause a rash appearance on the neck?
Squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer that kills about 3,500 Americans every year. The skin cancer can resemble a rash (when it’s not ulcerating,), but it’s not a rash.
Squamous cell carcinoma, ulcerating
Basal cell carcinoma. The same goes for this skin cancer as far as what it may resemble.
It grows extremely slowly and doesn’t metastasize, but it should be treated if you don’t want local destruction of tissues.
Basal cell carcinoma. Shutterstock/Dermatology11
Actinic keratosis. This is sun damage and only looks like a rash. It must be treated or it runs a 5-10 percent change of morphing into squamous cell carcinoma.
Treatment options for the cancer: surgery, topical prescription cream (basal cell); for the actinic keratosis, treatment is either liquid nitrogen or a prescription topical cream.
Actual rashes on the neck other than contact irritation
Eczema, candida fungus infection, viral infection, poison ivy, bug bites, acne, perfume allergy and atopic dermatitis (image above).
Careless shaving can also cause a rash on the neck. If you nick your skin, bacteria can take up residence and inflame the hair follicles (folliculitis).
Avoid shaving against the grain of the hairs to minimize this problem.
The inflammation may be treated with corticosteroids or antibiotics.
Dr. Kolansky
has received the Physician of Hope Award presented by the American Cancer Society and has lectured at local and national meetings.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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