Pimples in my hairline on the neck

For about the past year, I get pimples on the back of my neck, within the lower part of my hair line.
I've discussed it with the lady who cuts my hair and she cannot figure out what is causing them.

I've tried rubbing Sea Breeze on my neck twice a day, yet still, I get these huge, sore, pimples or bumps that never seem to come to a head.

My wife is beginning to wonder if they are in-grown hairs.  I have never had this problem before in my life until this past year or so.  They are very sore and I cannot figure out what is causing them or how to get rid of them.

My hair stylist suggested rubbing Tea Tree Oil on them since the Sea Breeze wasn't working.

Any ideas?

[romeo0830]

Hi I am constantly getting in grown hairs on the back of my neck as well, I stopped shaving my neck for 2 months and used cortizone creams and such but nothing gets rid of these bumps. I no they are in grown hairs. I once had one that looked like a huge tumor. If you can imagine the embarasment these portray, if there is anyone out there please help us.

[RedRaiderInTexas]

I don't know if mine are in-grown hairs or not.  They are above the hair line, so mine aren't affected by me shaving my neck.  They are inside my hair growth and they hurt so bad.

I have no idea why I've started to get them.  I never had the problem before, until about a year ago.  It is driving me crazy.

[markusd_]

I have the same exact problem! It has been this way for the past year. I have tried psoriasis shampoo, have put salicyclic acid meds on them, washed my hair every other day instead of every day, etc, etc and nothing has helped. It has actually started going all along my temples now too. is this going to spread all over my head? These aren't in grown hairs.

[Naveed3434]

I've had these for a couple years now, it gets really bad, I thinking I'm picking the pimples in my sleep because I'm starting to see blood on my pillow.  Going to ask my doctor to refer me to a dermatoligist next month.  I've heard of people having this and getting rid of it with certain shampoos, anyone heard the same thing?

[jalo28]

I was not able to find answers here. But it's my opinion - this is actually caused by the pillow. I started to use the Tempur-Pedic style pillow. I get in-grown hairs only on one side of my hairline in the back. My hair already grows really fast. My right hand side of the back of my neck has plenty of in-grown hairs. Once the hair is growing, it meets with pressure and a block (pillow) per say. It does not help that my skin is already oily. This combination has caused hairs to turn back in to my skin and become in-grown. The only solution for me at this point is to grab a mirror and pick these out with a needle. Then pluck them out with tweezers. This activity still leaves irritation or scabs after I take them out.
I have always slept to one side. I experimented (it was hard) sleeping facing the other way. Sure enough, the other side of the back of my neck started to develop ingrown hairs. I hope someone has a better solution to this. I have tried Nair, but I still have to pick at these hairs. Very time consuming. Not too big of a difference.

[D_J324]

All... I recommend that you read about Seborrhoeic eczema. I have the same symptoms and this sounds like the problem.  

Treatment includes:
1) Medicated shampoos containing ketoconazole, ciclopirox, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar, and salicylic acid, used twice weekly for at least a month and if necessary, indefinitely.
2) Steroid scalp applications reduce itching, and should be applied daily for a few days every so often.
3) Tar cream can be applied to scaling areas and removed several hours later by shampooing.

Good luck!

[MG22]

I started using the ZENMED products and found them very good...

The cleaner is good and also the capsules help with the balance of oils in your skin...

"This is a gentle, pH balanced gel cleanser designed specifically for troubled skin. Used twice a day, this formulation will not cause dryness or irritation common with major brand named cleansers."

See: www.healthandgloss.co.uk/acne/page_9.asp

MG.

[cquein]

I personally disagree with the pillow theory, I am pretty sure that I have had a few different types of pillows during this issue. I was also slept on my stomach alot when this first happened and I still had them.  I have had this issue for about 4 years.  The only thing that has worked for me so far is presription meds, I think it was a low dose antibiotic.  It worked great when I was taking them. I would like to find the answer to the problem.  Why the outbreaks?  I can be clear for a month or so and then BAM! Breakout!  Used the same shampoos, tried washing my neck before going to bed.........Whats the answer?

[jmandss]

I've had these damn things for about a year also.  I even thought it may be some form of skin cancer, because I could not even start the number of times in my life that the back of my neck has been sunburned!  I pick at these bastards all the time and they never heal, just a thick, flakey skin grows over and i pick it off.  yes I know I'm a picker freak.  I can remember my Dad having these bumps on the back of his neck when I was growing probley same age as i am now 45.  I use to stick pins and everything in to his and he would just sit and I would stick the pin in deep looking for ingrown hairs.  damn he was tough,  my wife tried to do that to me, and i almost jumprd through the roof.  my Dad is a much tougher man than me.  I've also noticied that mine are at my hairline, but also in that little fat roll of skin on the back of my neck.  The fat roll may also have something to do with it as I didn't have fat roll 10 years ago.  I'm still not convinced it's not some type of sun damaged skin or even a form of cancer.  Guess I need to have my Dr check it out, mine don't hurt like a true ingrown hair hurts, they just bug the crap out of me.  Let me know if anyone figures it out.

[buggedout54]

Have any of you yet considered or ruled out the possibility of bed bugs? I recently discovered that these were present in my house in a very low-grade early infestation so I never realized it. Even now I am undergoing strenuous treatment for this problem and because they are so elusive and secretive, I am still getting bit by one or more stubborn bugs in the night. There is usually a delay in when the bites appear, often by nighttime they appear and usually come in multiples as the bugs eat once, and come back for subsequent meals in nearby locations.
I believe I am getting bit along my hairline, especially behind my ears and neck because the bug(s) come out from the head of my bed and because they don't like hair, they bite the first place they reach beyond that.

[jesse800]

i have them to they are imbarrasing when i have to get my hair cut i usually postpone my haircut till they go away but they always come back i find when i am healthy get good sleep drink lots of water and eat clean food and exersize they go away i also find when i squeeze them or mess with them the problem gets worse stress could also make them flare up i belive them to be ingrown hairs ...ive also had a problem with ingrown hairs on my genitle region but as soon as i stopped washing with soap everyday i think my ph levels balanced them selves out when only using the shower water ... it could be somthing to do with the shampoo that we use i will try getting a natural kind see if that helps but i definatly think food plays a factor aswell ... there are antibiotics but i try to go without and find a more natural way to heal ...maybe this will help some of you i havnt had an ingrown hair on my genitles in years so if i can get over that im sure the back of my neck should be similar :)

[Allycatzgm]

Hi most likely a change in your testosterone levels. Eating oily foods and salty snacks will keep this problem going.
Switch to Pink sea salt. Baked foods less oily and DON'T use scrubs.
They  tear open pores at a micro level and will make it worse.
Get some salicylic acid at least 20% use it twice a week.
Drink at least 60-120ozs of water a day, soak in a hot bath when you can and get some sun on your back.
Souls be good as new in a month of doing this.
Remember NO WHITE TABLE SALT!! Covers most all takeout foods. Sorry

[john1962b]

I had dealt with these pimples for years until I was recommended a treatment shampoo from a company that produces a seborrea and dandruff shampoo that got rid of them completely. Now I just use them periodically when I notice an onset and it quickly keeps them at bay. I was told they are caused by excess oil buildup caused by heat pr as well as an overactive sebacious gland. The shampoo is manufactured by a company called Alcantara and you can by it from their distributor in Miami. Their phone is 305-593-1260.
They ship anywhere in the US, Its called Regulator shampoo & dandruff prevention shampoo.

[LadyGaza]

I've has the same problem for as far back as I can remember, I'm 29 and a chick so it's not from shaving. It seems like ingrown hairs at times but others feel like pimples. I notice they itch or bother me when I'm stressed or if I've just worked out and my body temp is up. I've tried every kind of acid, zinc and dandruff shampoos, various natural oils and nothing has helped. When I had this checked out by a dermatologist I was told it's Follicular Dermatitis, given some cream and sent on my way. The cream helped a bit but it was short lived much like the natural cycle this problem has anyway with flare ups and then a period where it subsides. Would love to know if anyone has found relief!

[Culebra78]

I've been having this problem for the last 5 years or so - - - and I pick at them and that seems to make more of them pop up.  I finally went to a dermatologist who gave me antibiotics to take for 10 days and a topical solution (Fluocinonide .05%) to put on the area.    The bumps went down within the first couple of days - - - and about 2-3 weeks later they came back again.  So he put me on a different antibiotic (dioxycyclne?).... he said it's a bacterial infection (I think) and that it's kind of hard to kill.  So - I'm on day 5 of the antibiotics.... and the topical solution seems to help.  I haven't had a haircut in forever because I'm embarrassed that it looks so bad.  " (  Will check back!

[Jsuss01]

Just wanted to say same here. I think many years of sports/helmets was part of the cause. Will post if I find a solution.

[Soop7]

I have had the same problem and John's explanation seems most like mine ... my bumps always pop up only at base of hairline and only during the summer.  As soon as we get a cool snap, they magically start going away.  And I don't work outside much except for yard work on the weekends.   Will see if John's solution matches my problem and report.

[DB2112]

The problem for everyone's symptoms including yours that are posted here is bacterial / a form of foliculitus.  Bacteria forms on the base of the neck particularly in males with longer oily hair.  The best remedy is an acne cleanser with 10% benzoyl peroxide.  CVS has their own brand called acne control cleanser.  There is only about two products on the shelf that contain this ingredient so finding the right one should be easy.  Wash the back of the neck with this product and allow it to sit for about a minute every time you shower to let it do it's work.  Hopefully you should see improvement after a week or so.

D

[kinnardwright375]

All you guys experiencing this problem, it is very important that you get it under control and STOP PICKING AT IT. I had the same thing that started out as a folliculitis that turned into staph-induced abcesses that I had to go to a dermatologist for several months to be treated for. The treatment involved an outpatient surgery where I got the back of my neck sliced down to the bone, antibiotics and an MRI. Cultures came back not showing anything and eventually I had to go see a general surgeon and get inpatient surgery. I also had an abcess (abscess) on my *** and inner thighs and had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. My surgeon told me that the multiple sites of infection was due to toxins in my body (same reason I get acne from time to time) and that I need to lay off dairy products, sodas, meats, and seafoods (I have yet to eliminate all those things but I have definitely cut back.) Seafood is the most important because it has the most toxins, along with pork. Drink plenty of water and eat plenty of oatmeal, fruit and vegetables (like salads). Also ask your doctor about Zyvox, it's a very strong antibiotic (strong as IV drugs) and knocked out my staph. Now I'm at the last stage of healing and am take Tramadol with Tylenol and Ibuprofin for inflammation and pain. Good luck guys

[Nugg2584]

So first of all I'm a seventeen year old girl, so maybe this was something different for me like a rash or something. But I had the same exact symptoms. Bumps near my hair line and a little higher on my neck. When I scratched at them my neck would become sore where I had scratched and thin flaky scabs would appear. So when I took a shower I used Suave Mint and Rosemary shampoo and conditioner (I don't know if that was what made the difference or not), then I scrubbed the crap out of my neck with this cushiony and kind of rough loufa with Clean & Clear morning burst face wash and right after I had talked to my mom about it and she looked at my neck for me and said it might be dry skin, so then I put some lotion where all the bumps were. After a day or two they were completely gone, I was actually quite shocked, but happy. :D

So Clean and Clear Morning Burst face wash, rinse & dry, then rub lotion on it. And if that doesn't work try it again but wash your hair with Suave Mint & Rosemary shampoo and conditioner before, maybe that's what did it?

[turbotail]

I'm female, don't shave my neck, and I have them-so no, I don't think they're ingrown hairs. This outbreak I'm having is really bad. The pimple like things are up in my neck hairline but this time there's a lot more and they feel more like boils. They have clear fluid in them, when you can get the headless things to pop. I also have some quarter size tender spots and uneven spots on my head that feel like I bruised myself. Mine seem to come when I'm stressed-I don't think antibiotics or cream will help. They just seem like they're from another planet. They hurt so bad, I can barely brush my hair. Any fresh ideas out there?

Thanks..........

[jobin242]

I get pimples along my hairline and neck. This usually occurs after a haircut or if i have been sweating a lot due to my work outs. Sometimes it can be very irritating and painful. I tried body scrubs and alcohol. You name it I tried it. I FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS! its kinda weird but it was Balmex diaper rash cream. I just applied a thin layer overnight on my hairline and pimples and it brought down the redness a lot. Then i would shower and continue my body wash. It has been the only thing that works. Hope this helps.