Has anyone else had a noticeable impact from normal sun exposure?
I’ve only been keto since last winter here in Utah, USA, and suffered a minor sunburn last weekend that has caused me significant and distressing swelling in the affected limbs. I was wearing all of my normal SPF coverage and such. The only thing that is different from years and years past is my WOE.
Is it possible for my diet to make me more susceptible to severe reactions to sun?
Thanks for your help, my keto family
I don’t know but I had my first sun burn of the season a few days ago, it seemed to take longer to get bad and then it has lingered much longer than in the past. That said I have not had the peeling skin and I was not super red either, probably has a lot to do with my skin being much more oily than pre keto. This is the first noticable skin aliment (other than keto itch) I have had since keto starting as well in Nov, most of mine skin problems healed up quickly.
That is so interesting. Thanks for sharing. I really appreciate it and it is so helpful to know that I’m not crazy
My daughter who is more far skinned, also recently keto in the last few weeks did not have any issues but I think she used SS I did not. My ex was with us as well she is a fair skined red head who gets sun burned if you mention its sunny outside, she was burned but not as bad as me in the end with SS. We were all out the same amount of time, and it was not even full sun the whole time.
Was wondering about that myself … but after a 3 - 4 hour day in prime time sun at New Smyrna Beach Fl last weekend I didn’t notice any unusual sensitivity. I suppose it might be an individual thing.
Susceptibility to sun exposure damage can change for many reasons (and for seemingly no reason at all). I don’t think I’d mark it down to diet without close examination. Many drugs cause sun sensitivity, most notably steroids & corticosteroids, some antibiotics, NSAIDs, anti-depressants, antihistamines, some heart meds & diuretics … it’s surprising how many. There’s probably no reason it COULDN’T be a diet change, but I would be skeptical that it was ONLY that.
I really appreciate your help. Thank you. I don’t take any medications. Literally none. I wish it could be explained by something else. My diet is the only thing that has changed
I suppose I might just have to completely avoid all exposure to the sun this summer. Like, carry a big umbrella 
Lucky you, no meds! I’m slowly getting there. It could just be aging and “normal” skin breakdown as we age, as well. I’m researching ways to try to get my skin into better condition after mistreating it most of my life. Limiting sun exposure is critical, I’m afraid.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am on 75 mcg of Levothyroxin. However, I have been for twenty years so I don’t think of it as a medication. I apologize for that, ummmmm, lapse in my thinking.
That being said, I agree that aging and skin maintenance is challenging. That’s why I am so careful to cover up and wear SPF 50. I just cannot put it together as to what happened.
It’s been four days and my limbs are still bright red, fire hot and the swelling is actually getting worse.
I’m frightened.
My anxiety is up
What else could it be?
I burn less now and tan more. When I do burn, it just goes brown. Definitely a difference but positive for me.
Have you tried antihistamines? You are having what sounds like a histamine reaction. If they don’t help, I’d see a doc for some low-dose steroids to calm things down. 
Thank you so much for all your insights. My husband is a massage therapist and he gave me a lower body, sort of inverse to gravity massage with some essential oils and this morning the swelling is gone.
I don’t know why I had such a severe reaction.
I don’t know if it’s diet related or not.
I’m going to buy some new SPF and KCKO 
Some people claim to burn less on keto from the removal of seed oils. My results seem to be mixed. Arms and legs didn’t burn at all last summer. But also was thorough with the sun screen. An extra long walk this Saturday left me with a slight burn on my face.
The one odd claim I can confirm is mosquitoes leave you alone on keto. My family got destroyed last summer. Not one bite for me.
Very odd, mosquitoes all my life have not been a problem, this is my first season of keto and mosquitoes and they are picking me over my wife, that has never happened before. I was just going with even the mosquitoes know where the good fuel is!
I can not comment on the sun burn but will when I find out, because based on the same bad science as eating I don’t do sunscreen.
Isn’t keto known to aid in resisting radiation, rather than making one more vulnerable? I think the dudes mentioned this in one of their podcasts.
Is it possible the sunblock cream has something in it that you’ve reacted to? Some of the ingredients in most sunblocks can be pretty nasty, maybe Keto is causing you to be more sensitive to the ingredients?
(I don’t use reg sunblock, stuff makes me itch and I’m not prone to burning… reg coconut oil is usually all I need… plus…I’m in Scotland… not exactly blazing heatwaves here lol)
This is a very good point. The chemicals used in them are nasty and some research shows it’s very likely the creams & lotions causing the skin cancers rather than the sun itself.
Exactly this for me as well, I used to turn into a lobster with a hint of sun. Now it doesn’t bother me at all.
This is a very interesting point. I know it’s absolutely possible to suddenly develop a sensitivity to chemicals especially when having altered our body’s own chemistry. I have been using this particular product on my décolletage every day of the year without any issues. On this occasion, I applied an older bottle of the product which was in the camper to my legs and arms. My arms got burned but did not swell or become painful. My legs were so badly messed up, I considered getting medical attention, until this morning. The burn is still present and sensitive but the swelling is gone.
So, the same product produced different results on different parts. I threw out the older bottle in the camper because I decided it was to blame either way.
Just a side note; I was bitten by at least four mosquitoes later that evening and have never been the one in the family to have that happen before.
Very interesting…