Shingles or keto rash?

#1

I’ve had an itchy rash on my arm and neck for a few months, Doc said its a long time, but thinks shingles, referred me to a dermatologist.

Realised I’ve read a lot of references to keto rash…any possibility that’s what I have?

(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #2

I suppose it’s possible, though “a few months” is a long time for such a rash to linger. It’s also a long time for a shingles outbreak, too, I believe. And shingles should be quite painful, rather than itchy. Have you had chicken pox, or were you vaccinated against it?

See the dermatologist for a better understanding of what’s going on.

#3

Thanks for replying Paul.
Difficult to see doctors here at the moment (in Sydney) but am waiting on specialist appointment. Saw the endocrinologist today and she said shingles.
Had chickenpox as a child.
Had shingles vaccination a few years ago.

Itchy rash, not painful.
Pretty stressed, five months of rain here in Sydney, everything is saturated and mouldy.

(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #4

It will be interesting to see whether the dermatologist agrees with the endocrinologist, then. But the fact of having had the vaccine may be why the rash is merely itchy, instead of excruciatingly sore.

#5

COVID vaccine causes fibrotic rashes in some people.

I never had chickenpox but had very minor shingles in my late teens. Doctor just placed paper tape over it.

I’ve used magnesium chloride gel or magnesium chloride flakes mixed with water in the past to get rid of minor fungal skin issues. The chloride is excellent at killing fungi.

(Joey) #6

Add me to the “shingle doubters.” Of course I haven’t seen your rash, nor am I doctor (nor am I your doctor :wink: ) But a few months of an ongoing itchiness without meaningful discomfort just doesn’t sound like the way shingles presents itself (plus you’ve been shingles-vaxed).

I’d guess that a low-level non-painful itchy rash is more of a low level systemic reaction. Not likely to be a reaction to keto for that long - if it was ever one at all.

More likely you’ve become allergic to something in your environment - hidden mold/mould source is a very common culprit for long-term rashes that don’t seem to be associated with anything else.

This might be worth watching (Physician with strange rash discusses how bad it got and how it was solved - spoiler: It wasn’t keto)

#7

Yes indeed.
I will let you know the upshot when I see the dermatologist.
We have had rain here for 5 months, very little sunshine in summer.

#9

I replied to these posts individually and got a pop up suggesting I quote and do it all in one.
I shall return tomorrow.

(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #10

That’s not an absolute rule, but something the programmers of the software think desirable. Sometimes I listen to the software, sometimes I don’t.

You can highlight parts of people’s posts, click on “quote” and get multiple quotations in the same post, if you are up for that. Give it a try, sometime when you’re feeling adventurous, and see if it works for you.

(Bob M) #11

I always wondered how people did that. I knew you could do it for one quote, but I didn’t know how to get multiple quotes.

(Joey) #12

See what’s possible! :crazy_face:

#13

I know this isn’t really (or maybe it is?), but I seemed to have developed eczema at times, on my forehead around the eyebrows, and on the tip of my chin. It seems to flare up and receed at different times.
Now this may have coincided with my ketosis journey, but it also coincided with a lot of other things i.e. losing 56 pounds in just over 6 months (possible vitamin/mineral adjustment?), isolation due to Covid leading to excess stress, some personal grief with friends and family passing away, and extra stress at work due to manning issues.
I personally conclude, for me obviously, that stress and not ketosis that causes me to flare up.
I’ve self treated with moisturising cream and hydrocortisone cream. I have a family friend who is a dermatologist, and she reckons stress can bring on eczema, amongst other stressfull things.
Not for a moment saying you have eczema, just relating my experience, and i hope the dermatolgist gets you sorted. Good luck.

#14

Let’s hope it’s not the dereaded monkey pox.

3 week’s isolation they say.

I’m sure it’s not- you have flu symptoms first which you don’t.
just being ‘topical’, pardon the pun.

Good luck mate.

#15

They both look extremely similar, and normal docs have no clue what keto rash is, including most derms.

It’s amazing how many countries (and “special” US States are pretending there’s still a Pandemic going on). If you want to somewhat test it, grab a steroid cream and put it on some, see if it goes away. That’s not a real fix, but you’re not making the shingles rash go away with that.

Most people never get shingles, the whole planet minus the kids had the chicken pox, and with the vaccine, you (may) be less likely to get it, my money would be keto rash, especially since the shingles rash is supposedly really painful.

(Joey) #16

I agree, the likelihood of the OP having shingles based on the description seems remote. But to clarify a bit…

  • About 1 out of every 3 people (both in the USA and Australia) contract shingles. In the US, it’s about 1 million people each year. Yes, 33% is not most. But it’s anything but rare.

  • Did you mean the “whole planet minus the kids had the chicken pox,” or did you mean the whole planet minus kids had the chicken pox vaccine? Chicken pox is the problem. Shingles is caused by that same virus that re-erupts later in life - most especially if you’ve had the chicken pox.

  • What’s more, children who’ve never had chicken pox can also can contract shingles directly (from the same virus).

  • The modern shingles vaccine (“Shingrix” - 2x injection regimen) is highly effective. The prior versions, not so much. Depends which vaccine (how long ago) the OP received it as to how protective it is to contracting shingles.

Regardless, we agree that the chances that this OP is describing a case of shingles seems pretty minimal.

#17

See, I can’t get over the 1 in 3 stat, I remember when the whole shingles talk started, the TV commercials etc, I was in my early 20’s I think and I’ve yet to ever meet a person that’s had shingles, if it were really 1:3, HOW?

I meant the whole planet minus the kids (plus I guess some3 adults now) had the chicken pox. All our parents had the chicken pox as well none of my older relatives or people I know have ever had it, not that 'm denying the thing exists, clearly it does, but 1:3?

For now at least, I kinda put shingles and that vaccine in the same boat as the saturated fat killing us “fact”. That was pushed into complete overdrive with COVID, yes, there are people with underlying health issues that can make getting it really dangerous, my parents are probably that group, but for the overwhelming majority it’s a damn cold.

I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I’m vaccinated against a ton of crap like everybody else, but I see why they’re the way they are. I used to thing they were crazy extremists, but that’s how people look at us too. My friends sister went on and on about her kid going hyperactive for days when he’s eat things with red food dye in it, I laughed in her face to the point of tears… and a couple years later that was actually proven to be a thing! I dunno man, my skepticism is real turned up these day with almost anything the mainstream tells me, espeically when it’s coming from the sick care system.

(Joey) #18

FWIW, I personally have family and friends who’ve suffered from shingles. It’s a thing. And they were miserable.

Haven’t run the numbers, but I doubt they add up to 1/3rd of the people I know personally. But here are stats from the CDC in US and Australia’s Dept of Health (since OP lives down under).

https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/shingles-herpes-zoster

I, too, reserve healthy skepticism whenever the government and/or big money is involved. Nonetheless, my wife and I got our Shingrix :tm: :registered: vaccines (see what I did there?).

We both had chicken pox when young. In my 'hood, well-educated parents in our major metro area held pox parties to intentionally expose their kids to it - so we could “get it over with” while still young. So perhaps only older folks are afflicted with memories of stuff that still haunt.

Perhaps that’s also why I’m more prepared these days for a deep stagflationary recession than I am most other economic scenarios on the horizon. It’s a geezer thing.

At least I’m less worried now about shingles given the reported effectiveness of today’s vaccines. :vulcan_salute:

(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #19

Surely this could only have been before the development of the chicken pox vaccine in the 1990’s. I had the disease as a child, and it was dreadful. I would never intentionally inflict it on a child. Although it is supposed to be even worse when contracted in adulthood, so there is that.

(Joey) #20

Yup. Late 1950-early 60s. Looking back it probably wasn’t a brilliant idea. At least we weren’t subjected to leeches. Unfortunately, we were subjected to Ancel Keyes.

#21

Thanks for the replies and info.
Still a bit wrecked but my blood tests have everything improved except blood glucose which is up. Will take Metformin for awhile til it settles,
Sleeping mostly.
Using the cream suggested above, magnesium chloride, for a few days but still very itchy.
Too foggy to figure out the quotes thing.
Took on board all the info and appreciate it.
Will let you know when I get a diagnosis.