What is this blotchy red rash?

[RubyPrynne]

Hi.  I am an 18 yr old female who, for the past decade, has suffered a severely red rash on the upper chest, neck, and cheeks.  For a while I was convinced it was rosacea, but I realized that I only ever get this rash when I talk emotionally or experience radically different temperatures in a little amount of time.  Oh, I definitely get it bad when I am embarrassed or nervous.  But it also comes when I am just talking to friends, family, or strangers.  I am a very social person and I love talking to lots of people so it is definitely not a result of a social phobia.  I usually only get it when I am distressed or shy, but recently this unsightly rash has been making a point to come at least once a day for the past few months, even when I do something as simple as discuss politics with a new acquaintance.

I can't take this anymore.  I don't have money to see a dermatologist or a doctor, let -alone- afford any possible medications they may want to put me on.  I do suffer from very high blood pressure--when I am only slightly nervous it usually shoots up to 150/100, which, apparently, is abhorrent for a teen.  I have no idea if that could be a contributing factor.  

Somebody please help me.  I don't want to make a point of complaining about it, but this governs -everything- I do in public now.  I am skittish around everyone, including my friends and my brother, fearing that the rash will come on.  I know that thinking about it is probably making it worse, but how do you -not- think about it? How do you say to yourself, "Hey, STOP WORRYING IT MIGHT NOT COME IF YOU CHILL?!?"  I have even tried giving myself a massage every day with chamomile and lavender lotion, followed by a soothing rub of tee tree oil to relax myself.  Nope.  I've tried eliminating all possible triggering foods.  Nope.  I've even tried to maintain a cool, even temperature environment.  Nada.  Caffeine? The ******* still comes when I don't have any at all. I've tried deep breaths and meditation, but that doesn't change much. It might slow it down a little from coming on too badly, but it always breaks out regardless of how calm and happy I try to be.  And I'm sorry, but to anyone who suggests, "oh well just avoid your triggers silly!" Excuse me? You want me to avoid my LIFE? I don't know if you know this, but it's kind of just a little bit impossible to avoid people and stress and warm food/drinks and frickin' WEATHER every day.

My God.  I've never even had a real boyfriend in my life, but how could I? Intimacy--even talking about intimate stuff--makes me flare up terribly.  And it is so so so unattractive, and it's to the point I've avoided any potential boyfriends because I see the way they eye my chest and neck when I feel that flush beginning to creep up, and wonderingly ask me if I have eczema (which I DON'T).  I am normally very confident in myself, but this rash just makes me want to live my life with a giant paper bag over my upper torso with two little cut out holes for my eyes so I can see where I'm going.  Yick.  I can't even wear any of my sexy low-cut shirts anymore because I know that the flare-up is going to come.  And I am not going to wear turtlenecks for the rest of my life.  

Please, what do I do? Anybody? ;.;

[greenlydia]

Don't know if this will help you or not, but there is a post which I found on page 7 or 8 that addresses a question similar to yours. Check it out and if you still have questions or concerns, repost and we'll tackle your issue.
Good luck
Peace
Greenlydia

Below is the post title.............
Grered blotchy chest/neck rash
by nurseam, Mar 08, 2008 10:47PM

[RubyPrynne]

Hi,

I have read each answer extensively.  Most of the suggestions involve using medications, which is something I can't afford, and just forcing yourself to relax, which is something else I have done with no success.  

That and the biggest difference between myself and most of the ladies who posted in that thread is that I do not suffer social phobias, and I can still be confident and get a rash. If anything, my anxiety is worsened because of this problem.

So yeah I still do have concerns about this because I don't have hundreds of dollars to fork over each month for doctors and pills and creams.  I barely make enough to get by as it is. :' |  And frankly, I can't just stop my life to "avoid triggers."  

I dunno.  So far the only thing I've read that is even a little effective is medication, so maybe there is nothing that can be done.

[livelovelaugh20]

Hi I am about 21 years old and i have been experiencing this awful condition for about 7 years and it has only gotten worse. I was put on an anti-anxiety medication, prozac and medication for high blood pressure called metropolol. I have been on those for a few years and neither seems to work. i try to calm myself down before it starts but that normally just makes it worse. I felt like i was the only one that has this problem until i researched it a little bit and now i wish there was some way to help us. i have been to several doctors and none of them take me serious and tell me to just chill out and relax, they don't understand because they have never understood the embarrassment of red ugly blotches all over my chest and neck. luckily i have a wonderful boyfriend who looks past the ugly rash i sometimes get, but i still feel very self consicous. i know what you are going through and it is a terrible thing that is uncontrollable and needs to be addressed by doctors and something needs to be done for us to enjoy our lives like a normal person. if you ever found out anything let me know, i'm tired of struggling with not being able to interact with anyone, without wanting to crawl in a cave and stay there till the rash goes away. Thank You, Jen

[SSwann]

Hi Ruby
I too have suffered with this condition for over 20 years, and it has dominated much of my life and career prospects. I haven't had medical help as I don't wish to take medication. However, I did have counseling years ago but with little effect. Essentially, I've learned to live with it. Like most of the posts, it occurs either when nervous or feeling emotional. I'm very sociable but can get easily embarrassed and this seems to trigger the next phase i.e. rash! To compensate, I wear clothing that covers my chest and neck. However, I've decided that I'm not going to let a bloody rash dictate my life, which it has done for many years!! I suppose my greatest fear is somebody highlighting it...'oh you've got a rash on your neck' while simply sitting chatting to folk over a cuppa or having lunch. This had lead to me backing out of social situations - such as having lunch with friends, going for coffee etc. Perhaps we should start an international rash group - we can all rash together! Sorry I can't offer you any advice as to how to fix the problem.
Cheers, Sally

[simmy77]

I have posted in the other thread and although you may not suffer from social phobia, much of what is in the other thread would apply to you.  I never suffered from social phobia at all until I started experiencing the blotchy chest/neck.  I get anxious because I am self conscious of the rash, not the other way around.

In my case, I have learned it is a result of having fair skin and any time I am warm for any reason I got the blotches as a result of the dilation of blood vessels and this shows because my skin is so pale.  I don't have to be anxious for the rash to appear.  I can get it out in the sun or when I go into a warm car, etc.  It is solely related to an increase in body temperature (if I'm nervous, this also happens).

I won't post about medications since you can't try those right now, however that is the only thing that has been at all effective (and not always completely) for me.  I also usually keep a cold bottle of water around which helps sometimes too.