An itchy neck rash can result from a number of causes, including:
Hygiene
- improper washing, either not enough or too much
Environment
- overexposure to sun and weather
- heating and cooling systems that reduce humidity
Irritation
- clothing such as wool or polyester
- chemicals
- soaps and detergents
Allergic reactions
- food
- cosmetics
- metals such as nickel
- plants such as to poison ivy
Skin conditions
Nerve disorders
- diabetes
- multiple sclerosis
- shingles
Other conditions
When your neck itches, additional symptoms — localized to your neck area — could include:
Some symptoms may mean you should see your doctor. These include if your itch:
- doesn’t respond to self-care and lasts for more than 10 days
- interrupts your sleep or your daily routines
- spreads or affects the entire body
It’s also time to call your doctor if your itchy neck is just one of a number of symptoms including:
- fever
- fatigue
- weight loss
- headache
- sore throat
- chills
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- joint stiffness
Often an itchy neck rash can be handled with self-care such as:
- over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch lotions
- moisturizers such as Cetaphil, Eucerin, or CeraVe
- cooling creams or gels such as calamine lotion
- cool compresses
- avoiding scratching, even if you have to cover your neck
- OTC allergy medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
If your itch doesn’t respond to self-care, your doctor might prescribe treatments including:
- corticosteroid creams
- calcineurin inhibitors such as such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel)
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)
- phototherapy using different wavelengths of ultraviolet light
As well as prescribing treatments to relieve the itch, your doctor can perform a full diagnosis to be sure that your neck itch isn’t a symptom of a more serious health concern.
There are a number of simple, self-care steps you can do to treat an itchy neck. If the itchiness persists — or if the itch is one of other concerning symptoms — visit your doctor. They can offer more powerful anti-itch medications and determine whether or not your itchy neck is a symptom of an underlying medical condition that needs to be dealt with.