Question: Over the past three weeks I have had a recurring, very red, complete-coverage rash only on the front of my neck. This is the only place I shave with an electric razor (have done so for years) but this rash has started recently out of nowhere. It's not blotchy, bumpy, weepy, or appearing as pinpoints and it does not have scales or puss. It appears the rash follows the exact shave area exactly. I have stopped shaving for the past week and now my neck seems a bit better in terms of the widespread red rash, but is appears to still be reacting to what looks to my untrained eye to be folliculitis barbae. I have always had an issue with razor rash and ingrown hairs, right in those pockets on either side of my throat. In fact, I believe my recent attempts to eliminate these is why I'm having this recurring rash now: About a month ago I tried shaving with a normal razor and first noticed this red rash all over my throat, which I assumed at the time was caused by the shaving cream (which I never used before since I always dry shave only my neck with an electric razor). Since then I have used my normal electric razor with brand new foil and blade; tried fancy electric shaver pre-oils (which seems to be mostly just a ton of alcohol); and a myriad of other post-shave creams and solutions over the past few weeks (including a lot of hydrocortisone and even the Desonide). Also, I noticed last week that the shaver I was using this whole time was not cleaning itself correctly so it may have been riddled with bacteria every time I shaved when this all first started. My guess is that I did a lot of harm to my skin in this area (which is exactly where the rash is appearing) and, combined with the cold weather and dry indoors, has caused my skin to be overly sensitive. This rash really all started out of nowhere and has not always been a problem. There was a gradual build-up. It seems the pattern is that I get the rash, it clears up a bit while my hair grows over three days, I shave it and it looks perfect, then the rash starts again 12 hours later from a combination of either rubbing against a collar or rubbing against ITSELF in the folds of my neck. I've tested this latter idea out lately and it seems to hold true that the redness comes back exactly in these folds when my chin is down for several minutes (reading in bed, for instance). Could it be the new stubble growth is irritating already severly-weakened skin? If stubble is the problem I can shave every day but I would still need something to address the razor burn and ingrown hairs. If so is there a way to toughen this skin or protect it from itself with an ointment (or help it heal itself more quickly)? Would the folliculitis combined with overworked skin have anything to do with this rash in the first place? Could seb derm play a part? Again, the rash is only where I shave. My hope is that I've simply overtaxed my skin with all these products and the stubble/collar rubbing is causing the rash and it just needs time to heal. My derm prescribed Denoside but it seemed to worsen the condition when applied here (but works like a charm in a couple of very small, scaly spots on my scalp). I think the razor burn is a separate problem which I would also need to address. Please let me know your thoughts. Ideally I wold like to continue to be clean shaven on my neck (I just use clippers on my face) and am hoping this rash will eventually heal and be eliminated by not shaving for several days (I can deal with a little folliculitis barbae). My worry is that it's something more serious than just dry skin or folliculitis barbae. The rash was really red and very stubborn! Thanks, XXXXXXX

Thanks Dr. Kakkar, I'm still very concerned with the red rash that I described, as this was the most concerning to me (I already assumed I had pseudofolliculitis barbae as well). Again, it's a recurring, very red, complete-coverage rash only on the front of my neck that started recently out of nowhere. It's not blotchy, bumpy, weepy, or appearing as pinpoints and it does not have scales or puss. The entire front of by neck turns bright red, almost like an allergic reaction. I believe I've always had pseudofolliculitis barbae but the rash that covered the front of my neck seemed very different. Could I have just overtaxed my skin with all these products and the stubble/collar rubbing is causing the rash and it just needs time to heal? My derm prescribed Denoside but it seemed to worsen the condition as I described above. Have you ever seen anything like that? Could it just be shaving extremely dry skin? Would seb derm appear out of nowhere like this and appear as I bright red rash? Thanks, XXXXXXX

Thank you very much for your thoughtful, detailed response. My only follow-up is that I'm a little nervous about being on steroids as I've heard horror stories about people becoming dependent on them and having much worse reactions after a certain period of time. Can I treat just the psuedofolliculitis with just an antibiotic ointment? Would OTC ointments like Neosporin help? Any long-term dangers with antibiotics? I've also ready these can be fungal. Do you see that as a possibility in the case I've described? Thanks again!