People love the keto diet because it helps them shed pounds, but it can come with some unpleasant side effects including keto flu and keto breath. But now we’re hearing about another side effect from the low-carb diet: painful, full-body rashes. And the worst part? This “keto rash” can actually scar you for life.
Dozens of dieters have shared their scary “keto rash” stories on Reddit, hoping for help with the itchy, uncomfortable condition. It seems the rash tends to start near the chest and then spreads to basically every part of the body, even the scalp, leaving brown marks on the skin for good.
The condition is technically called prurigo pigmentosa and research shows a link between the rash and ketosis - that state dieters hope to reach where the body burns fat for fuel. Other studies show factors like sunlight and extreme heat could make the rash worse. Topical creams and anti-inflammatory drugs can temporarily ease symptoms, but there’s only one real way to get rid of the rash: eating a lot more carbs. Once the rash is gone, unfortunately, there’s no way to get rid of the brown marks it leaves behind.