Inflamed/Swollen Neck

[mcdowell518]

I have been getting an inflamed neck for years now on and off. You can feel when it starts because my neck itches. It feels like pins and needles and it burns. A lot! Its a lot of bumps that spread across the whole front part of my neck. All you want to do is scratch it, but from experience, that only makes it worse. Heat makes it worse as well. 1.000 times worse. I have to keep it cool and keep anything off of my neck, including my hair. It lasts for about a week. When I go to the hospital all they do is poke and prode, and look in awe. I never get an answer or a name for it. I am an african american female, I do not spend that much time in the sun at all. Topical creams help only for a small period of time, but applying them irratates the swelling. This 'rash' sometimes accompanies a cold or bad allergies, but not all the time. In any of the instances I dont recall any new soaps, lotions, detergents, etc. Thank you for reading this.

PS. The picture I just took, symptoms started earlier today, so its not full blown yet.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be hives. The mainstay of treatment of hives is antihistamine which may be necessary for prolonged periods (in excess of 6 weeks). Double conventional doses of these non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine, Loratadine, Acrivastine and Fexofenadine may be needed to get symptom relief. Sedating antihistamines such as Chlorphenamine or Hydroxyzine are used at night to get urticaria control. Short courses of oral cortisone or steroids are taken for short periods (one to three days) to settle more severe symptoms.
You may take Vitamin C along with the prescribed treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. It helps stabilize mast cells so they are less likely to release histamine.

If the symptoms persist, then you can consult an immunologist. He may start with immunosuppressive drugs.

If the hives don’t go after 6 wks of treatment also, then it can be a case of chronic urticaria which needs further evaluation as it may be due to auto antibodies.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.

[teelee509]

same problem-exact same sympttoms and all.  what do you use to get rid of it?