Post: Why Does the Keto Diet Cause a Skin Rash?

Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, RDN

Keto rash, or prurigo pigmentosa, is a rare inflammatory skin problem. Also called Nagashima disease, the keto rash causes an itchy rash with vesicles (fluid-filled blisters). It often appears on your neck and trunk. The blisters change and crust into darker-pigmented spots that form a netlike pattern.

The keto rash is often linked to the ketogenic (keto) diet or health conditions that produce ketosis . In this state, your body uses stored fat rather than glucose for energy. The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat eating plan. It is most often recommended to treat people with epilepsy that is hard to control.

Treatments for the keto rash include home cures like increasing carbohydrate intake and making up for vitamin deficiencies. Antibiotics and other drugs are often useful when these treatments don’t work.

This article explains all you need to know about the keto rash, its causes, treatments, and ways to prevent it. <p>Maskot / Getty Images</p> What Does the Keto Rash Look Like?

The appearance of a keto rash can vary based on your skin tone and texture. Most case reports are in people in Asia and the Middle East, with some reports in White or Hispanic people. Descriptions of the rash in people of darker skin tones are lacking.

The condition includes the following characteristics: Inflamed, itchy, red papules (small, well-defined skin bumps) or vesicles Symmetrical distribution of spots on your trunk and neck Occasional appearance of spots on your face, scalp, and suprapubic […]

Why Does the Keto Diet Cause a Skin Rash?