KETO / LCHF RASH - How to get rid of it?

2»

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    anacrisg wrote: »
    kq1981 wrote: »
    It could be coincidental?
    Probably... That would be really weird if they say the rash is "rare"... But maybe we should try to buy a lottery ticket :neutral:

    What? No. The fact "Keto rash" is rare means it is less likely that this rash has anything to do with your diet, and more likely that it's just a coincidence. Rashes just happen randomly. If people in our household started getting rashes on their backs around the same time, the first suspect would be the laundry detergent. Manufacturers change recipes sometimes without warning and they can cause reactions. It's happened to us more than once. Or perhaps you're adding more detergent than you need to the wash, or the machine isn't rinsing properly.

    It's a big assumption that the Keto diet is the cause, imo. You seem very convinced that it is but I can't see why.

    If people only change one variable (the diet), wouldn't you make that assumption first, especially if this is something that has been discussed in the community prior. The OP isn't the only person who switched to keto and got a rash. The only thing I can say, is take one of the couple off the rash to see if it goes away. If it's laundry detergent or another variable in the house, than the rash won't subside for either.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    anacrisg wrote: »
    kq1981 wrote: »
    It could be coincidental?
    Probably... That would be really weird if they say the rash is "rare"... But maybe we should try to buy a lottery ticket :neutral:

    What? No. The fact "Keto rash" is rare means it is less likely that this rash has anything to do with your diet, and more likely that it's just a coincidence. Rashes just happen randomly. If people in our household started getting rashes on their backs around the same time, the first suspect would be the laundry detergent. Manufacturers change recipes sometimes without warning and they can cause reactions. It's happened to us more than once. Or perhaps you're adding more detergent than you need to the wash, or the machine isn't rinsing properly.

    It's a big assumption that the Keto diet is the cause, imo. You seem very convinced that it is but I can't see why.

    If people only change one variable (the diet), wouldn't you make that assumption first, especially if this is something that has been discussed in the community prior. The OP isn't the only person who switched to keto and got a rash. The only thing I can say, is take one of the couple off the rash to see if it goes away. If it's laundry detergent or another variable in the house, than the rash won't subside for either.

    The thing is that skin chemistry is immensely complicated, so you've never changed just one variable.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    anacrisg wrote: »
    UPDATE:

    My SO increased carbs 3 days ago, and the rash is disappearing!! It's like magic! :o He added to the diet a cup of sweet potatoes chips (homemade with butter), he's super happy!! He says once the rash is gone, he will start lowering the carbs until finding a balance... (he started farting again :| )

    My rash was very tiny and is pretty much gone by now! I stopped fasting and started eating more, but still keeping my macros and grams of carbs controlled.

    *** Thank you so much to everybody that have tried to help us! Really appreciated! ***

    Thanks for the update, was wondering how things were going with you guys :)
  • cnurenasue
    cnurenasue Posts: 22 Member
    If it's a histamine issue, you may need to take an antihistamine to break the cycle. Taking diphenhydramine (Benedryl) should take away the itch and start to fade the rash. It might make you sleepy, but it should give you relief.
  • anacrisg
    anacrisg Posts: 39 Member
    cnurenasue wrote: »
    If it's a histamine issue, you may need to take an antihistamine to break the cycle. Taking diphenhydramine (Benedryl) should take away the itch and start to fade the rash. It might make you sleepy, but it should give you relief.

    He took some antihistamine and it didn't work, also applied calamine lotion and it didn't stop the itch... Only thing that works is increasing carbs! It's like magic, I swear!
  • robertsjm24
    robertsjm24 Posts: 9 Member
    "Our goal for our macros were 75% fat 25% Protein and 5% Carbs"

    I know I'm late but, I think you might have a rough time meeting these goals.
  • taco_inspector
    taco_inspector Posts: 7,223 Member
    edited March 2017
    psuLemon wrote: »
    The power of carbs is strong!!!
    anacrisg wrote: »
    ... he started farting again

    Yes, yes it is...

    ... I was gonna ask about nitrates (some Keto folks push-up their intake of cured meats), but if you've got it under control, it's all good!

  • anacrisg
    anacrisg Posts: 39 Member
    "Our goal for our macros were 75% fat 25% Protein and 5% Carbs"

    I know I'm late but, I think you might have a rough time meeting these goals.

    hahahaha lol... typo...I meant 75% fat, 15% protein 5% carbs
  • anacrisg
    anacrisg Posts: 39 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    The power of carbs is strong!!!
    anacrisg wrote: »
    ... he started farting again

    Yes, yes it is...

    ... I was gonna ask about nitrates (some Keto folks push-up their intake of cured meats), but if you've got it under control, it's all good!

    I'll keep it in mind if there's a next time!! Thank you!!! :)
  • Michellelynn219
    Michellelynn219 Posts: 62 Member
    Now that I think about it I had a rash that came on for no reason about the same time that I started my weight loss journey. I had it on my neck and in the bend of my right arm. It was super itchy and nothing had changed, soap, shampoo, etc. I took a look at my log and sure enough, my carbs were very low at that time. My rash is gone, not sure when it left. My carb intake has gone up. Hmmm...strange, I wonder if it was the same thing.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Glad it is better. :)

    As to the, er, farting. That can be partially fibre driven. If he has carbs that are not with high fibre, it may be better. Maybe.

    Or buy Beano. ;)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Glad it is better. :)

    As to the, er, farting. That can be partially fibre driven. If he has carbs that are not with high fibre, it may be better. Maybe.

    Or buy Beano. ;)

    I would think the farting is from protein or fiber.. outside of that, carbs don't really have the much of an association to farting.. at least that I know of or have experienced.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Glad it is better. :)

    As to the, er, farting. That can be partially fibre driven. If he has carbs that are not with high fibre, it may be better. Maybe.

    Or buy Beano. ;)

    I would think the farting is from protein or fiber.. outside of that, carbs don't really have the much of an association to farting.. at least that I know of or have experienced.

    Exactly. Carbs are not the cause but the accompanying fibre can cause gas... I did not realize protein did as well.

    Less gas is a nice perk of LCHF. ;)
  • Gianfranco_R
    Gianfranco_R Posts: 1,297 Member
    edited March 2017
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Glad it is better. :)

    As to the, er, farting. That can be partially fibre driven. If he has carbs that are not with high fibre, it may be better. Maybe.

    Or buy Beano. ;)

    I would think the farting is from protein or fiber.. outside of that, carbs don't really have the much of an association to farting.. at least that I know of or have experienced.

    Exactly. Carbs are not the cause but the accompanying fibre can cause gas... I did not realize protein did as well.

    Less gas is a nice perk of LCHF. ;)

    Correct, yet if you have malabsorption issues (with FODMAPs for instance) undigested carbs can enter the large intestine and be fermented there by bacteria, and the outcome is... gas.
  • anacrisg
    anacrisg Posts: 39 Member
    Now that I think about it I had a rash that came on for no reason about the same time that I started my weight loss journey. I had it on my neck and in the bend of my right arm. It was super itchy and nothing had changed, soap, shampoo, etc. I took a look at my log and sure enough, my carbs were very low at that time. My rash is gone, not sure when it left. My carb intake has gone up. Hmmm...strange, I wonder if it was the same thing.

    Probably!!! Good thing that is gone!!! :)
  • SisalKeenly
    SisalKeenly Posts: 10 Member
    I feel like keto rash must be more prevalent than they are letting on. I never get rashes and I've got it in patches under my arms. It started about 4 days after I started keto and looks exactly like the rash that pops up on google images when you type in "keto rash." I'm guessing that 20 years ago when keto diets were used in the medical field and were carefully controlled by a physician, they saw it a lot less frequently than now when we're all just blindly going by what ruled.me tells us to do.
  • anacrisg
    anacrisg Posts: 39 Member
    I feel like keto rash must be more prevalent than they are letting on. I never get rashes and I've got it in patches under my arms. It started about 4 days after I started keto and looks exactly like the rash that pops up on google images when you type in "keto rash." I'm guessing that 20 years ago when keto diets were used in the medical field and were carefully controlled by a physician, they saw it a lot less frequently than now when we're all just blindly going by what ruled.me tells us to do.

    I agree with you! By now my rash disappeared, I don't fast and I eat enough food especially the days I go to the gym. My bf keeps eating carbs to keep it away... When he doesn't eat enough food or carbs, the rash starts to come back... He is still in ketosis, we bought the stripes to detect the ketones so... I guess is about to get to know your body and trying different solutions... Try to take care of yourself, and be patient, I hope it goes away soon!!
  • Pineapples
    Pineapples Posts: 246 Member
    @anacrisg did the itching/rash stopped? I'm on day 5 and itching like crazy, no rash yet though.
  • Caralarma
    Caralarma Posts: 174 Member
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now
  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now

    Lots of things give you rashes... I get rashes in the winter from dry skin and rashes in the summer from sweating too much.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now

    Peanuts and seafood can cause rashes, does that make them unhealthy?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited August 2018
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now

    Peanuts and seafood can cause rashes, does that make them unhealthy?

    For the people who eat them and get rashes, yes, those foods are unhealthy for them.

    For those who eat them with no ill effects, no.
  • Caralarma
    Caralarma Posts: 174 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now

    Peanuts and seafood can cause rashes, does that make them unhealthy?

    If they cause rashes it's your body's way of reacting negatively so you know not to have those foods anymore. If your body reacts same way to keto then it means dont do it
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Caralarma wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Sorry but how healthy can keto be when it causes rashes on people? I'm even more against it now

    Peanuts and seafood can cause rashes, does that make them unhealthy?

    If they cause rashes it's your body's way of reacting negatively so you know not to have those foods anymore. If your body reacts same way to keto then it means dont do it

    The point was, it may not be right for the individual, but its not unhealthy for everyone else.
This discussion has been closed.