So a general question to the group. I am 5 weeks in to this life style. I noticed after I first entered Ketosis that I had red itchy hives on and around my lips. My husband who has been doing this for a couple years now stated that he experiences this “dry lip” feeling every time he gets into Ketosis and it only lasts a few days. Well, mine lasted 3 weeks. It was brutal, like scratch your face off brutal. I initially suspected a food allergy because of where the hives are, but I couldn’t think of any new food I had introduced (Since my husband has been eating this way for a long while and he does the cooking, the only real diet change I had was taking out the carbs). I did realize (finally) that I was eating stevia and truvia and that was new to my diet so I completely cut that out. Still though after about 4-5 days, the rash/hives were still getting worse. After some research on natural remedies I found that tea tree oil can help. I made a roller of emu oil and Tea Tree oil and it resolved in a few days. (So just a tip I’ve learned, this works amazing)
This weekend while out of town with friends, I lost the vote on where to eat and we had amazing Mexican food. Needless today, I am sure it knocked me out of Ketosis as there was nothing even remotely low in carb on the amazing menu. It was just the one meal and I didn’t beat myself up and I got right back on the horse.
The next day though, my lips started to feel a little itchy/dry. By the day after that, my rash/hives are back. Does anyone else experience this to this extent when cutting out carbs? Does anyone have any theories? I am using my roller again, but it is seriously uncomfortable to have to go through. Also, I still haven’t had any sweetener.
*As some back ground information, my mom who is allergic to everything also gets hives on her lips as an allergic reaction. I do not have her allergies that I know of, and if for some reason I do, it coincides exactly with making this lifestyle change.
Hives on lips
The Nutritional Cause of Chapped Lips: Cracked lips comes from B2 and B3 deficiencies. This comes from refined grains. Flour products deplete b-vitamins. Zinc or Vitamin A deficiency.
Personal Note: Just because your supplementing with vitamins does not necessarily mean your actually absorbing them correctly, especially B Complex vitamins as well as fat soluble (e.g. liposomal) vs. water solubility. …Dr. Berg usually recommends getting B Vitamins from non-fortified <=[very important] nutritional yeast because of absorbability factors in the gut lining.
Example:
See also: Histamine Intolerance
Thank you. I am not sure this is it though. My lips aren’t chapped, they are covered in a bumpy itchy rash/hives. I did look into other foods high in vitamin B2 & 3 and I should still be getting plenty through green veggies and red meat.
This sounds more like a version of keto rash unfortunately. While it’s most common on the body, it can develop wherever it wants to. Classic indication that it is indeed keto rash is eating carbs and having it start to go away. However, you could be experiencing it specifically on your lips because of exhaled acetone sensitivity. You could try to prevent it by constantly making sure your lips have a protective barrier of chapstick or lip gloss of some sort. You exhale acetone when you burn ketones.
Thank you for this info. I’m not going to lie though, it totally bums me out 
I initially thought it was Keto Rash and looked into it a bunch but I really didn’t want it to be the case since there isn’t a whole heck of a lot you can do about it. I have tried introducing more carbs by adding a blue berry smoothie daily, it didn’t seem to help. I already struggle with keeping my net carbs below 25 g daily because I eat a ton of veggies. I love the way I feel eating this way, but having 3-4 week lip hives being my consequence for one bad meal in 5 weeks makes me feel like I have no give.
I am day 4 into using my tea tree oil and it’s not working as well this time so it may have been that the hives ran their course last time.
Sorry to sound so whinny and poor me, these itchy bumpy lips really really bum me out.
I will keep trying different remadies and share here in this forum. Maybe I’ll find the cure for Keto Rash! 
That’s not what happens. Keto rash is caused by being in ketosis, not cheating. I left the link above explaining steps to take to minimize keto rash and what keto rash is that should help. But, it may come down to upping carbs to 50g-100g and seeing if that helps it.
I have the same problem. I have been sick for 2 days and unable to stay keto. Now the problem is going away. I love the diet and hate the idea that when I get back on keto, the rash will return. I thought it might be an allergy to strawberries and stopped eating them. Nope, not an allergy.
Hi Lorraine, I know someone who broke out in hives with red food dye. She told me about how red dye is injected into red meat, vegetables, and fruits to make them look fresher. This was years ago, but I vaguely remember her telling me that there was some vegetables not even red in color that were being injected with red dye. Just wanted to share on the off chance this helps you.
For what it’s worth, Megan Ramos of IDM has the following advice/commentary regarding treatment of keto rash:
https://idmprogram.com/wp-content/uploads/01-Keto-Rash.pdf