Chaffing on neck when wearing shirt

[simont]

I know this is a bit weird, but after a few years of this I am getting a little fed up. Basically, it appears I am allergic to some shirts. I work in the city and need to work nice shirts for use with a tie, although most days I rarely wear a tie and have the collar open. However, when I wear some of my shirts, towards the middle or end of the day, the back and sides of my neck along where the collar of my shirt sits I get extreme soreness. It is not red or noticeable to an onlooker but it is very sore and feels like burning or chaffing. The shirts it happens on are usually a little stiffer material than the rest, but it happens with both cotton and polyester shirts. I have tried putting vasoline on, completely loosening the collar and various other things. I've tried avoiding expensive cotton shirts like Thomas Pink or other varieties that I have, but it makes no difference and I cannot tell what the difference is between the shirts that don't affect me and the shirts that do. Does this happen to anyone else or just me or does anyone have any ideas why it affects me and what the condition or material of the shirt could be that causes it? Thanks.

[jno]

something in the laundry powder perhaps? Some sorts can cause skin irritation to some people; it may be worth monitoring.

[DavidUK]

When it's cold, I wear a T shirt in bed and have often woken up during the night with terrible itching around my neck. I came to the conclusion that it was the stitching and/or the label on the neck of the T shirt that was the problem. I find wearing the T shirt inside out seems to solve the problem - but that's not much help to you!

I think that, although the shirt or T shirt may be cotton, the stitching may be some kind of man-made fibre that irritates.

[Trotbot]

Try also considering your stress levels and office enviroment (hot, humid). I occasionally get a sore and irritated neck which continues even if I take my tie off. I can usually put it down to a hot office or stress, and the stiffness of my collar and the material is not consistent, although it certainly does happen with Pinks shirts.

Also try washing your neck with a flannel at lunchtime and using talc.

[simont]

jno, I thought about laundry powder, but my wife hasn't changed washing tablets nor fabric conditioner for years so not sure.

DavidUK, the stitching may be a good reason, i'll have to investigate a bit more.

Trotbot, possible stress but then I'm usually have consistent stress levels so I'd expect it to happen every day, but it doesn't. The shirt I'm wearing today is fine. But I do like the idea of talcom powder and washing my neck at lunch. I'll give that a go.

Thanks to all your replies, very helpful!

[mimififi]

It could be the barbed wire I stitch secretly into your shirts just to irritate you for leaving your socks on the floor every night, or maybe the nettles that I iron onto it. I could try taking out he barbs and rinsing the nettles off. We could see if that helps???

And he's right, he does really complain about it, and I haven't changed the washing powder ever and I don't use starch. Its a mystery.

hehehehehehehehe

(hello, Dear, hope you are having a good day in the office.)

[undercovers]

I became allergic to the washing power i had used for about 5 years - not sure if i changed or the product changed its formula or something ... i switched powder to one of those types for sensitive skin and never had the problem again.

[mimififi]

if it were a washing powder issue, I would expect to see you have issues with other clothing in areas other than collars, such as waist bands, cuffs etc. But i can try and change the powder if you like. I think fairy do a sensitive skin one and I think Boots do one for baby clothes which is supposed to be very mild.

COuld try that I guess.

[simont]

... Or possibly i could find a shirt that doesn't affect me and never wash it.

Actually mim, I have noticed a slight chaffing in my nether regions, but just assumed that was because I am always sitting on a chair in my office, so maybe it is washing powder but it only affects sensitive areas such as neck and down below.

I guess it also depends on whether there is much friction between the body part and the item of clothing. In which case underpants and neck are the likely candidates.

Simon

[pinkpiggy]

When serving in the Navy years ago we had this problem, it was eased quite simply by rubbing a clean wax candle along the crease of the colla, it washes off easy in hot water too.

[jno]

I guess if it was washing powder you'd be affected by all your clothes. It was just a suggestion but I think you've ruled it out.