Hello Jugger,
What you describe sounds like it could be some form of contact
irritant dermatitis, or possibly a mild skin infection.
Irritant contact dermatitis, is a not an allergic skin inflammation,
but is caused by irritants to the skin. Irritants commonly known to
cause skin rashes are acids, lyes, soaps, sizing, bleach, spray
starch, etc.
"Dyes, elastic materials, fabric finishes such as sizing and permanent
press, laundry detergents, and fabric softeners can cause dermatitis
on the torso and arms and legs. "Some of those antistatic laundry
products are really mean," says Shelley. "They can cause terrible
problems. They set off itching, and people scratch, of course, which
only makes things worse. It takes a lot of laundering to get that
stuff out of the clothes." The feet can be affected by dyes, rubber
compounds, and leather-tanning products in shoes, or elastic fibers in
hosiery. Nickel--used in jewelry, bra fasteners, eyelash curlers,
metallic eyeglass frames, and many other products--can produce
inflammation wherever it touches the body. People may become
sensitized to nickel from ear-piercing instruments and from
nickel-plated earrings inserted after piercing."
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdacderm.html
?Your neck especially around the nape is one of the most sensitive and
easily irritated areas of your body. Everyone knows how uncomfortable
a hard, rough and scratchy label can be when it rubs directly against
this area. This is usually caused by the polyester or nylon labels
being cut out using a hot knife. Applying heat to the label fabric
causes the fibres to 'bead' and stiffen creating a hard edge which is
what you feel irritating your neck. Rivers take the extra time to use
a super soft label that has its edges folded over rather than cut with
a hot knife before it is attached to the garment, softening the edge
and greatly reducing the irritability and discomfort.?
http://www.rivers.com.au/tech_info/clothing_sss.htm
?Irritant contact dermatitis is usually treated with the following:
·Compresses, creams and ointments may assist healing
oEmollient creams
oTopical steroids
oAntibiotics for secondary infection (usually flucloxacillin or erythromycin)?
http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/contact-irritant.html
EMedicine recommends having a culture taken to check for the presence
of an underlying infection. (Bacteria that otherwise do not bother
you, may overgrow when you wear a shirt and tie, creating a warm,
moist breeding ground)
EMedicine also recommends Triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog, Amcort),
Mometasone (Elocon), or Mupirocin (Bactroban) -- Topical antibiotic;
inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting RNA and protein synthesis.
These require a prescription, so you?ll need to see a doctor.
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic558.htm
?What causes it?
Factors that contribute to the development of contact dermatitis
include genetic predisposition, duration of exposure, friction,
pressure, heat, cold or the presence of other skin diseases,
especially eczema, which is often exacerbated by allergies.
Pinpointing the causative agent can be difficult. It is important to
consider the total environment: home, work, hobbies, medications,
clothing, cosmetics, etc.?
?How is it treated?
Treatment of contact dermatitis should begin as soon as eruption is
identified. The first priority should be to avoid the offending agent
if it is known. ?Burrows Cool Soaks? (a drying, soothing solution) may
relieve itching and is especially good if there are weeping blisters.
Over-the-counter products such as calamine lotion, hydro-cortisone 1%
cream, or Benadryl may be tried first for mild conditions. Caladryl
lotion should not be used as it may cause later sensitivity to oral
Benadryl. If persistent, worsening or severe, prescription treatments
are available after evaluation by a medical provider. If contact
dermatitis has occurred from exposure to strong irritants, forceful
and prolonged flushing with water should be used immediately, followed
by a visit to Health Services.?
You can ask your pharmacist how to get Burrow?s Solution. No
prescription is needed.
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/general_health/dermatitis.htm
?The first is by means of irritation ? chemical or mechanical. This is
called an irritant contact dermatitis. An example of a chemical
irritant dermatitis is one caused by the detergents or cleansing
compounds mentioned previously. An example of mechanical irritant
dermatitis is one caused by prickly fiberglass particles, or the
scratchiness of wool clothing next to the body. If the irritant is
strong ? for instance, an accidental spill of lye on your hands ? a
single exposure will cause a violent inflammatory reaction. The skin
will become itchy, red, swollen, and often develop tiny water
blisters, called "vesicles", or even large blisters.?
?The face is often affected by hygienic and cosmetic products, for
instance, soaps, shampoos, creams, lipsticks, hair sprays, shaving
creams and after-shave lotions.?
http://www.stiefel.ca/en/about_skin/texte.html
Other possible causes:
Acne
?Acne may be triggered or worsened by external factors such as
mechanical obstruction (i.e., helmets, shirt collars), occupational
exposures, or medications.?
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040501/2123.html
Acne keloidalis
?Acne keloidalis (AK) refers to the occurrence of keloidlike papules
and plaques on the occipital scalp and the posterior part of the neck,
almost exclusively in African American men. Initially, patients
usually develop a chronic folliculitis and perifolliculitis of the
occipital part of the scalp and the posterior part of the neck, which
heal with keloidlike lesions, sometimes with discharging sinuses. They
often coalesce to form one or several large plaques, which gradually
enlarge for years. The lesions are often painful and cosmetically
disfiguring.?
?Other frequently suggested etiologic possibilities are constant
irritation from shirt collars, chronic low-grade bacterial infections,
and an autoimmune process (AK usually responds to systemic steroid
therapy). The use of antiepileptic drugs and an increased number of
mast cells in the occipital region have also been indicated as causes.
The recent findings of Sperling et al indicate that AK is a primary
form of scarring alopecia. Many of the histologic findings closely
resemble those found in certain other forms of scarring alopecia. They
claim that overgrowth of microorganisms does not play an important
role in the pathogenesis of AK. They also found no association between
pseudofolliculitis barbae and AK.?
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic558.htm
Further information:
?If it's not Cotton, it's Rotten.
There is noting better against your skin than natural fibres. For this
reason, all Rivers Cotton Shirts are made from 100% Cotton.
In summer, Cotton is even more important.
Rivers Cotton shirts have high moisture absorption and wickability,
which is the ability to transmit perspiration away from the body. Heat
escapes to keep you cool. Stand next to someone wearing a synthetic
shirt and you will know why cotton is the only fabric for summer.?
This shirt manufacturer is on to something here! Cotton shirts can be helpful!
http://www.rivers.com.au/tech_info/clothing_sss.htm
You?re not alone!
?As seen on: David Hasselhoff, Alan Hansen (in the past).
This is weird, says Charlie Porter. "Some men get neck rash from
wearing a tie, so you need to open a shirt up. I don't know who would
want to do this but it's slightly repressive." Needs to be a
skinny-fit shirt or with button-down collars to work, says Ms
Hayward.?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4553097.stm
Here is a product, patent pending, that may interest you. I have been
unable to find this product being manufactured yet.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20040098785.html
The product the commenter mentions may or may not help you out! This
product, Trend Skin, is made of acetylsalicylic acid, propylene
glycol, glycerine, and isopropyl alcohol, and seems rather expensive
for what it is. Acetylsalicylic acid is aspirin. Propylene glycol is a
natural gas derivative, and gives products "body".
"Glycerine (glycerin, glycerol) is the main by-product of making
biodiesel. The name comes from the Greek word glykys meaning sweet. It
is a colourless, odourless, viscous, nontoxic liquid with a very sweet
taste and has literally thousands of uses. That is, pure glycerine has
thousands of uses -- the biodiesel by-product is crude (and it's not
colourless, and it's not only glycerine)."
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_glycerin.html
Useful things to try:
=====================
Wash your shirts at home, in Ivory Snow or Dreft, use no form of
fabric softener (No liquid OR dryer sheets.
Run your shirts through an extra rinse cycle, to remove all traces of detergent.
Use no starch, liquid or spray, on the collars of your shirts.
Don?t wear your shirts more than once, before laundering.
Use an anti-bacterial soap in the shower.
Use only a mild shampoo, avoid conditioners, pomades and hair
gels/hair sprays. Wash your hair every day. If your hair is over your
collar, consider a shorter hair style to allow an air flow to your
neck.
Make sure your neck is very dry before dressing.
Lightly dust your neck with a medicated powder, before dressing.
When you get home from work, you could try applying an over the
counter ointment like Neosporin. (This is greasy, so you might want to
wear an old COTTON tee shirt.)
Change your pillowcase every night.
Don?t wear any chains or jewelry around your neck.
Loosen your collar and tie when you can, during the day!
Remove shirt labels if possible, or cover with a soft bandage tape.
Can you place a fan in your workplace, to keep yourself cool?
Its important to keep the neck clean and dry (Free of perspiration)
Lastly, if none of these do the trick, check with your doctor, to rule
out anything more serious.
?Medications: New medications known as immuno-modulators have been
developed that help control inflammation and reduce immune system
reactions when applied to the skin. Examples of these medications are
tacrolimus ointment (Protopic*) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel). They
can be used in patients older than 2 years of age and have few side
effects (burning or itching the first few days of application). They
not only reduce flares, but also maintain skin texture and reduce the
need for long-term use of corticosteroids.?
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/dermatitis/#link_i
Neosporin
http://www.neosporin.com/index.htm
Medicated Powders
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp10823_333181_sespider/mexsana/medicated_antiseptic_powder.htm
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp10734_333181_sespider/ammens/medicated_powder_original_formula.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002VAVPQ/sr=1-24/qid=1129008954/ref=sr_1_24/104-7472269-1049517?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3762911&s=hpc&v=glance
Medicated Body Lotion
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002VAVQU/sr=1-14/qid=1129008954/ref=sr_1_14/104-7472269-1049517?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3762911&s=hpc&v=glance
Caladryl
http://www.dermadoctor.com/product.asp?AID=5210&productid=131
This is an interesting product that may help:
http://www.cachebeauty.com/wholsale/sanek.htm
I hope this has helped you out! If any part of my answer is unclear, I
will be happy to assist you further, if you request an Answer
Clarification, before rating.
Sincerely, Crabcakes
Search Terms
============
Contact dermatitis
Irritant dermatitis
neck irritation + shirt collars |
