Is this neck rash a symptom?
Hi! This is my first post here and I was hoping someone could help me get some answers about a small rash I've had on my neck that comes and goes. It's splotchy, not raised at all, light pink. I've had it now for over a year. It's always in the same spot on the left side of my neck, very low near my shoulder.
Some back story. I'm 33 years old and I've had migraines with aura for about four years now. For a long time I got migraines only once a month with my menstrual cycle, but for the past year and a half I've had daily headache pain and about 16 or more full blown migraines a month. I'm currently on Topamax (100mg) daily and naratriptan. I've been on the Topamax (generic) since February (about three and a half months) and since then my migraines and daily pain have decreased significantly. I also have pretty bad vertigo, and my aura includes slurred speech at times, and some other funny symptoms that would probably be considered mild Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
The mystery rash started before I was on any of the medications that I'm on now. At the time it was on dime sized pink spot, but now I have about five of them clustered together. Sometimes it seems like it happens right before or during a migraine and I'm wondering if it's related. It doesn't really itch, and it goes away on it's own after a few hours or a few days. It fades to a really light tan color first.
I saw in the comments section on a blog post on this site some people referencing a small rash on the side of their neck as a migraine symptom and I was wondering if anyone who had this would be willing to give a bit more detail? I haven't seen it in any of the symptom lists. I also get hives in the same general area, on the back of my neck up into my hair line.
I'm going to talk to my neurologist the next time I see her, but I was just wondering if anyone else could give me any info about it if it is a migraine symptom. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the reply! I have wondered that myself. Maybe the sensitivity or allergy to the food is triggering a migraine as well as a rash. It doesn't really itch much, and it lasts for days and days sometimes. I do have eczema in the winter sometimes if my skin gets too dry, but it doesn't look anything like the eczema spots I usually get, and it's always in the exact same spot. Like it's the same spot that's just fading away and coming back. (Only now there are new ones.) It's just so weird!
Bookshelf Cat,
I found one reference of rash and Migraines.https://migraine.com/migraine-headaches-doctors/
I agree with Hammerhead that this could be a food sensitivity that could be triggering your Migraines. Keeping a food diary may help in unlocking this. But definitely talk to your doctor and maybe see an Allergist. Sounds like its been a while since you've been tested for allergies and things can change as we get older. Glad that it doesn't itch, but it doesn't sound like fun either!
Thanks so much for all of the replies. I'm definitely going to talk to my doctor about it. I have another appointment next month. Hopefully we can get it sorted out. In the meantime I think I'm going to do try to cut down on gluten and see if that helps. I've noticed that I've felt better overall when I eat healthier, and when I eat healthier I eat less gluten kind of accidentally because I'm just eating more lean meats, fruits and vegetables and a lot less baked goods and breads.
I agree Hammerhead, small changes do seem healthier than so many radical changes. Everything in moderation. Thanks again. 😀
