Re: Low carb diet leads to mystery skin blisters?

Sure sounds like chicken pox!
"Yeechang Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On 24 August I began an Atkins diet and since have been keeping it
> quite faithfully. (For the record, I'm still in induction, as I
> plateaued after losing a grand total of 5-6 pounds, but then at 6'1"
> and 200 pounds I'm not very far from where I should be anyway.)
>
> Beginning the second week of September my back began breaking out in
> large, symmetrical clusters of red bumps that turned into blisters
> that contain a fair amount of pus. At first I ignored them figuring
> they'd go away. However, they haven't. They've steadily worsened the
> past couple of weeks, and are now spreading to the area below my
> armpits. A few have appeared on my chest and neck. They all itch like
> crazy, especially in the initial stages.
>
> I went to my general physician today, who upon seeing my back
> immediately had me see the head of the dermatology group. The
> dermatologist was also mystified (enough to summon two of his
> colleagues for consultation), but has ruled out hives, insect bites
> (due to the blisters' symmetrical nature), and anything contagious. He
> figures it's one of a family of conditions with immunological causes
> ("IPA" was mentioned during the dermatologists' discussions while
> examining me, I believe), perhaps globules of some kind. We'll know
> more once results of the biopsy he took comes back later this week and
> through next week.
>
> Meanwhile, I of course can't help but to speculate on possible
> causes. I work in an office environment and have not traveled. The
> only skin problems I've had before are acne and, last year, a
> diagnosis of tinea versicolor that has long since been completely
> treated with Nizoral shampoo. I live alone and no one else has used my
> bedsheets.
>
> The only recent change in my lifestyle has been the Atkins. It's fair
> to say bacon (especially precooked) is a large portion of my diet
> right now, along with pepperoni slices, mozzerella string cheese, pork
> rinds, and almonds. For lunch I have a steak and a salad.
>
> I know ordinary bacon is frowned upon by Atkins devotees due to the
> nitrate content, but haven't seen any mention of nitrates causing the
> kinds of symptoms I'm seeing. Is there something else in my diet that
> could be causing what I am experiencing?
>
> -- 
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