A bizarre side effect of the keto diet has been linked to a strange, itchy rash.
Researchers in Japan first identified the condition, known as prurigo pigmentosa, in 1971, mostly affecting women. The rash was characterized by red, raised, and itchy bumps on the neck, chest, and back, accompanied by patches of hyperpigmentation.
While initially seen only among keto dieters, the rash has since been linked to metabolic disorders, diabetes, bariatric surgery, and fasting as well.
Doctors are still unsure what triggers the condition but one hypothesis suggests that high levels of ketones in the blood lead to inflammation around blood vessels driven by neutrophils, which ultimately causes the rash.
Effective treatment for prurigo pigmentosa is to exit the keto diet and take an antibiotic like doxycycline.
Researchers in Japan first identified the condition, known as prurigo pigmentosa, in 1971, mostly affecting women. The rash was characterized by red, raised, and itchy bumps on the neck, chest, and back, accompanied by patches of hyperpigmentation.
While initially seen only among keto dieters, the rash has since been linked to metabolic disorders, diabetes, bariatric surgery, and fasting as well.
Doctors are still unsure what triggers the condition but one hypothesis suggests that high levels of ketones in the blood lead to inflammation around blood vessels driven by neutrophils, which ultimately causes the rash.
Effective treatment for prurigo pigmentosa is to exit the keto diet and take an antibiotic like doxycycline.
, a rash from it? Who knew?! 
It's crazy how some things can have weird side effects. I've been hearing about keto diets for years but never thought it could be bad in the long run... 
Do you think it's worth trying though? The benefits of weight loss and energy seem so good... but now I'm all about researching the pros and cons before making a decision 
this kinda thing always happens when scientists finally figure out something new about our bodies... like, what's up with these blood vessels tho? 
and why only women, seems suspicious... also don't keto dieters just wanna feel good after getting into the whole 'burning fat for energy' vibe or something? 
, and she was always complaining about this weird itchy feeling on her skin 
. At first, we thought it was just eczema or something, but then she told us about how much she'd been following the keto diet 
. We were all like "hmm, that's weird" 
.
. Like, who knew that something as simple as a food choice could affect your skin so badly? 
.
. We need to be more careful about what we eat and listen to our bodies, you know? 
My kids would literally freak out about getting an itchy rash, and now I'm imagining the keto dieters who are dealing with this on top of whatever metabolic issues they already have... 
especially if u get itchy rashes 
? keto dieters get rash & now docs dont no what's up 
it just goes to show you gotta know what you're getting into before making major changes to your diet 
. And great news for those who've been struggling with keto - you can basically just get rid of the rash by giving up the diet!