White House says Trump’s red neck rash was caused by prescription skin cream

The White House said Monday that a red rash visible on President Trump’s neck was caused by a prescription skin cream that was described as “preventative.”

“President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor. The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks,” Dr. Sean Barbabella said in a statement released by the White House.

Dr. Barbabella did not explain why Mr. Trump had been prescribed skin cream.

Mr. Trump, 79, was photographed during Monday’s Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House with a crusty red rash on his neck that included an apparent scab mark. It was above the collar of his shirt, just under his ear.

The president has been photographed with visible bruising on his hands and with makeup and other attempts to cover it up. White House officials have blamed the bruising on the president’s frequent handshaking.

However, more questions were raised during last month’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Mr. Trump, who is right-handed, had bruising on his left hand.

In July, Dr. Barbabella issued a letter saying the hand bruising was from the frequent handshaking as well as from aspirin for “standard cardiovascular prevention.”

Mr. Trump has also been seen with swollen ankles, a condition Dr. Barbabella blamed on chronic venous insufficiency, a “benign and common condition” caused by damaged leg veins.

The president has also received cardiovascular and abdominal MRIs at Walter Reed Medical Center, but has said he was unaware of which specific parts of his body were scanned.