Billy, if the rash persists, ask your Doc if you can possibly take some Benedryl. When John's skin got irritated under the trach neckband, we put some folded soft gauze pads inside neckband, sometimes with a light coat of lydocaine on his skin. Don't know what pain meds you are on, but Hydrocodone was John's favorite. He would fall asleep shortly after taking it. It also helped dry up the mucous. Amy in the Ozarks