Riba Rash Causes

[BoceprevirGal]

I had read (you may have noticed I have been doing tons of internet research, since I found out I had fibrosis, last October) that people in treatment can develope a riba-rash (also Teleprivir has this sx, but I am on Boceprivir), and that cutting ourselves shaving, may trigger it. Aslo, that once a riba-rash starts, it is difficult to cure. So far, so good, I am only having dry, irritated skin, and using natural products, to moisturize, befor bed, etc. But summer is coming, which means shorts and skirt weather, so I'd like to shave now. Has anyone (men with faces, or women with legs, etc) had a problem with shaving, since starting tx?

[BoceprevirGal]

Ahh, that must be tough, losing yr hair.  I get hot easily anyway, becuz I was having these terrible menopausal hot-flashes, so I always try to buy 100% cotton, floppy sun-hats, put out by good co's,like The San Diego Hat Co. Anything with polyester makes my head rly hot.
   You might also try a really beautiful cotton scarf, or bandana, YT does have good tutorials on that!

[Idyllic]

I was a little mislead at first due to use of the word "research" however, true enough she never said any of it was fact based. Anyway,  I remember when I first started checking certain HCV-related things out on line and I used to land on that site in the beginning fairly often. Those ladies lucked out by getting such a cool domain name (hepcsurvivalguide) and I  wish they would have kept up with the web site since at current, most of the info is out dated to the point where it literally conflicts with current types of SOC, (such as the tips about eating fatty food for example).

Plus, I just thought as women who seemed very candid and obviously did much of their own research that maybe they could write more about HCV and menopause &/or perimenopause.

To be fair there *are many very helpful links on that site; unfortunately there are a lot of duds too. I guess that's why I do not find that particular web site very useful and it (as well as a few others) is listed in my "Do not include": box in Google Advanced Search.

***-> Anyway, the thing is, I think the more we learn, the better able were are to hone our research skills and assess reliable data and/or data worth pursuing (be it factual or anecdotal).***<-  I find it a serious part of the learning curve when it comes to understanding this disease and I wouldn't scruple to assert many of us went through that process since there are many sites like that one all over the Internet.♫

______________________
As far as hair: my body hair quit growing when I treated last time around (2007) and this time around it stopped a couple of weeks ago so I didn't really have to contend with any shaving-related issues.

____________
As far as itching: Ironically today is the first day I am uncomfortable with itching. So far I am using most of the ingredients I always hear mentioned on this form. I am trying to remember who said the itch is shifting. It's like one area that I take care of is fine and then another gets itchy. In my case I think it may because I (quite by accident) took one of my doses of Riba and Incivek on an empty stomach yesterday. It was a freak kind of thing :(

[ceanothus]

I want to thank Bill1954 for his valuable comments on anecdotal evidence vs. peer-reviewed research. This level of understanding of basic science is exactly what sets this forum apart from the other online support sites I had visited before finding this group — it makes all the difference, making this a great place to educate ourselves rather than a place that fans wild rumors and spreads all the latest weird ideas.  

As to the rash and shaving: I'm on triple tx with Incivek, on week 22-23, and I've had lots of rash problems since about week 5.  It was a rash with pustules while I was on Incivek, but thankfully it never covered much area. Post-Incivek the rash is more like a classic allergic thing, reminiscent of poison oak. I'm lucky again that it hasn't ever gotten very extensive. I have shaved underarms and legs fairly regularly and see no correlation between the shaving and the rash - which so far has popped up almost everywhere EXCEPT where I've shaved.

I'm also seeing pretty extensive hair loss this time, much more than in either of my 2 previous tx 's. I have not acquired lama lashes or wild eyebrows, but have acquired a classic male-pattern bald spot on the top back of my head, along with much thinning all over. It is definitely noticeable to others. If I work very hard at styling my hair I can get the bald spots to stay covered up for a couple of hours at best, so I'm about to give up on that and am watching YouTube videos to learn more techniques for tying scarves to cover my head and I'm looking for more hats. The biggest challenge to the covering it up approach is the itching. Anything warm makes it itch more, and it's hard to keep a covering in place properly if you are scratching all the time. I wish I had the kind of bone structure that would let me look ok with my head shaved!

[Bill1954]

.

[BoceprevirGal]

thanx for the support, nygirl, and everybody else, I had a rough day today, and all you peopleon here have made it better for my

[BoceprevirGal]

Good advice, bee

[BoceprevirGal]

Thanx pooh...

[BoceprevirGal]

Naw, it was just a website started by some fellow heppers. But while I was in the movie theatre, I noticed I felt little tiny bumps, on my back, by my shirt sleeve. I'm gonna stop wearing my down jacket, it's spring in Cali, gonna try to air out the skin...sigh

[BoceprevirGal]

Yeah, I am starting to get the fiber-glass under the skin feeling, so I am trying not to itch, etc, which usually works good, with rashes. Now I am feeling little bumps, on my back, near my arm-pit. Maybe I cursed myslef with this rash Q! I wish I hadn't worked so hard today, or gone out tonight

[beeblessed]

Hi there,

"(men with faces, or women with legs, etc) "  HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Sorry, ya made me LOL.  I have nothing to add other than, I agree with Pooh, as well as Rivil.  I really wish MedHelp would post a link at the top of the forum page for Newbies, so things will be a bit more smooth.

Oh yeah, I did notice that I shaved less and then didn't have to at all, while on tx.  IF you get the rash.....let your doc know so they can help you.  The remedies that worked for me were:

No perfumes, no dyes in washing detergent
Gold Bond Medicated Lotion -- green bottle, red top
Loose, breathable clothing
Crystal roll on deodorant - has no fragrance, no aluminum
And...sleep cooler

Think positive!  You may not get certain sides at all, but be prepared all the same, as things change day to day.

Bee :)

[James10500]

Thats a pretty good survival guide you linked to. Thanks I'm sure many a new person can get something out of it. I'll pass it along.

[BoceprevirGal]

Yeah, Bill1954 explained it to me well, without the link, rumors can easily go wild. He posted a great way to scrutinize the study sources up there, as well.
   I'm learning, and in the long run, when I finally go to college, this precise way of researching will totally come in handy : )
   I saw that you have been on this site since 2005, wow. You have done a great amount of work, promoting Hep C education, and I saw you did 72 wks of treatment, and cleared! I have a great amount of respect for you~

[BoceprevirGal]

Yeah, I have had that kind of razor rash, from shaving my legs before, I have rly sensitive skin.

[1oftheclub222]

I personally have no issue with shaving and rashes, but I do have a rash (little red bumps), on my back, chest, and starting a little on my face, but not too bad there.  

I am on dual therapy, not sure if it is the Riba or the Peg, I think both state they can cause a rash.  My doc gave me a stronger strength of hydrocortizone, stronger then over the counter cause that wasn't working, neither was just lotion.  I also take benadryl at night.  I have had the rash for about 8 weeks (just finished 10 weeks today). Not sure if it will go away, i'm guessing since I had it for 2 months, probably not, ha... I know this isn't as bad as the Inc rash, some of those poor people truely have a rough time.  Mine is just constantly annoying, it always itches but most of the time I can resist scratching.

[rivll]

I think had she said, " In my research I came upon individuals who posted ideas and solutions for the problems... Or "I have heard from other folks that tried this..." no one would have mentioned the importance of citing her sources. I think she presented it in a more social way rather than as medical evidence. It is good and important to correct that. No disrespect intended to those trying to help by sharing their opinions/experience.

[pooh55811]

"I had read ..... that people in treatment can develope a riba-rash .....and that cutting ourselves shaving, may trigger it. Aslo, that once a riba-rash starts, it is difficult to cure. ..... Has anyone (men with faces, or women with legs, etc) had a problem with shaving, since starting tx? "
--------------------------------------------

To answer your last question, I have shaved my axillae once since being on treatment and had zero problems with the shaving causing a rash.

To address your other point:  "that people in treatment can develope a riba-rash .....and that cutting ourselves shaving, may trigger it. Aslo, that once a riba-rash starts, it is difficult to cure"

It is true that people in treatment can develop a rash attributed to the drugs. It is true that the rash can be persistent. But I would disagree that cutting ourselves shaving can "trigger" the rash. In my opinion, cutting ourselves is not going to "trigger" a drug rash. Drug rashes are "triggered" (caused) by a reaction/sensitivity to the drugs which are already in our system. Some of us are sensitive to the drugs and develop a rash. As long as we are on the offending drug, we may have problems with the rash."

Mayo Clinic:
Causes of Allergic Reaction:
"A drug allergy occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies a drug as if it were a harmful substance instead of a helpful remedy. Your immune system then reacts to the medication. Chemicals released by this reaction cause the signs and symptoms associated with an allergic reaction."
Nonallergic adverse reactions:
"In many cases, what appears to be a drug allergy is actually a reaction that doesn't involve the immune system. Although they may seem like an allergy, drug reactions may be a drug side effect or signs of a drug sensitivity — not an allergic reaction. "

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-allergy/DS01148/DSECTION=causes

Certain factors such as heat, scratching, rubbing, or chemical irritation, may aggravate (but not cause) an existing drug sensitivity/rash to worsen.  

[Dee1956]

Sorry, should have said I did not have a rash,  just severe itching,good luck to you

[James10500]

I shaved my while on tx and I had Riba rash all over my back.  Were those clinical studies you read?

[nygirl7]

One more thing, those of us who've been here sometime, have seen some real lulus show up here saying all kinds of silly unsubstantiated things.
Links help us distinguish reality from someone's misconceptions."

LOL OHawkie wanna buy a Juicer to cure your hepC?  Some supplements (if you push them on here you get 50% off!)    ;)

No never had any problem shaving, the interferon however did give me a bad case of rash on SOC and then I developed autoimmune skin problems from it. After treatment they finally eventually subsided.

[Dee1956]

Hi I don't know anything about shaving causing riba rash however during tx my platelets got so low that I could not shave my legs so I had to use Nair or equivalent.  The one time I tried to shave I ended up with very red irritated skin with lines showing where the blade had been, kind of like bleeding under the skin.  It was worse than the hair.  So, I can imagine men who have to shave every day having problems when their platelets are lower than normal.  Thanks for the question.  
Best wishes to all
Dee

[working dog]

my skin is still very sensitive...i still get some rashes...just spent a night in a hotel bed...it was tough..itched all night...same old fiberglass feeling...still only 4 months post though...and my rash isn't that bad...i think i need to drink more water...my hair is straight!...first time for that......darker then before tx.......all in all i feel pretty good...billy

[JasmineT]

No llama eyes here unfortunately.  Fortunately no Groucho eyebrows either.  My hair was fairly thick starting, i let it air dry so it kept some wave and looked thicker.   No one noticed the loss but me.

They told me not to put color in my hair as this would make the hair loss worse..  I used and still use nioxin, shampoo'd less, used cocnut oil couple times a week on my scalp and hair to try to keep it from being dry and itchy, and took biotin supplements. Can't say whether any of these things helped, except the coconut oil for the itchy scalp and hair breakage which really helped me especially while on incivek.  

Have blown dried my hair once post tx, it looked crazy thin so still air drying but am happy I have hair still.  You have a great attitude, that will help you through regardless of what happens to your hair.  Best of luck on svr.

[BoceprevirGal]

Oh, hehheh. I just went and read yr profile, and see we have similarities.  I will be 50 yrs, in July, and I'm also on Victrelis, and was UND at my week 4 vl test. I also enjoy working out, mainly cycling around town, and swimming (not in as good shape as you though!)
    Next tuesday will be week 8, and I am noticing the people in my support group noticing a change in hair patterns, around 12 weeks.  My Dad has those Groucho Marx eye-brows, I'm trying to imagine me with them ; /

[brianmo]

No hair on my legs either .  My eyelashes, well that's a different story. I love my llama lashes but doctor said they will go away!  Eyebrows look like Grocho Marc's !  Hair on head, now that's a different story.