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?

[orphanedhawk]

Since you do so much research, it'd be really great if you'd share links to the information for us.
Thanks in advance~
OH

[Idyllic]

Wow, that sounds really interesting. Will you please post the links for the articles or web sites you have been reading? In the beginning I did lots of research but I just sort of stopped.♪

[BoceprevirGal]

Yeah, I will remember to bookmark, when I'm on my mac.  I usually just put the question in the google bar, etc..like I went back and put in riba-rash and shaving, and there was some posts from men, who did get a rash, when they shaved their faces. But the skin on our calves seem like they would be alot less easily irritated, then the thiner skin of a guys' face.
   Usually, when I do research, I go by personal accounts, and if there is only one, I take it with a grain of salt, but if there are a bunch of people saying it, I take it more as a statistic. Now, the research study imfo is different, because then, we have to look at how many people were in the study,and also, more importantly, what research co. is putting on the study. If it's only one study, which is small, then my Doctor always seems to take the imfo with a grain of salt. I used to have to go to the book-store, in the olden days, before we had the World-Wide Web, but now the imfo out hereis immense, thanks to personal accounts, from people on this site, and others.

[jules2551]

sounds great but i would like links to correlate with all of this

[orphanedhawk]

Of course,but many of us like to read up on the research.
Any person can randomly say anything online.
It's nice to see the source. It gives weight to one's claims as well as allowing others to delve further.

For example:
If I say, drinking coffee helps stop replication of the hep C virus, you might take that with a grain of salt.
If I supply my link to an article from, lets say, hepcadvocte.org, then you may read the full article and decide for yourself whether the statistics are convincing to you or not.

[orphanedhawk]

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.

[jules2551]

would love to see the links!  that would be great

[BoceprevirGal]

Aha, gotcha..back on my mac..here's the link...it's alphabetical, so just scroll down to "S" and look for shaving. The website is out dated (2007) and written by 3 women, none Doctors, mind you, but I thought it was a pretty cool lil website    http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm

[orphanedhawk]

2007 is very old when related to hep C and triple therapy wasn't even approved until May 2011.

Doing SOC, I never experienced the rash mentioned by those on triple therapy.

Thanks for the link.

[Bill1954]

“...Usually, when I do research, I go by personal accounts, and if there is only one, I take it with a grain of salt, but if there are a bunch of people saying it, I take it more as a statistic...”

The problem with repeating anecdotal (personal) experience of others in a discussion group like this is that it tends to perpetuate rumors; some perhaps useful, but most generally aren’t. It doesn’t matter if 1000 patients *feel* something, it doesn’t necessarily validate fact.

Even personal opinions of experts such as doctors are considered rather weak evidence in medical decision making; here’s a list of levels of evidence used by the UK National Health Service:

Level A: Consistent Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial, cohort study, all or none (see note below), clinical decision rule validated in different populations.
Level B: Consistent Retrospective Cohort, Exploratory Cohort, Ecological Study, Outcomes Research, case-control study; or extrapolations from level A studies.
Level C: Case-series study or extrapolations from level B studies.
Level D: Expert opinion without explicit critical appraisal, or based on physiology, bench research or first principles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine

If you’re quoting anecdotal evidence, please clearly state so. If you’re quoting peer-reviewed, published data it really helps to provide links/citations.
Taking these steps greatly increases your credibility as well as that of the site.

“...Now, the research study imfo is different, because then, we have to look at how many people were in the study,and also, more importantly, what research co. is putting on the study. If it's only one study, which is small, then my Doctor always seems to take the imfo with a grain of salt...”

          Of course; small, pilot studies don’t carry much statistical power; you’re doctor is probably wise not applying much weight to data like that. Not many of us in here are trained in medical statistics, so it’s challenging to correctly interpret data. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to include links to published material; forum members can then sort through the study docs and arrive at their own conclusion.

--Bill

[BoceprevirGal]

Ah, thanks, Bill, that helps. Now I see what you mean. The Internet also makes it easier for mass-rumors to be started.  Instead of saying, "I heard", I will post the link : )  

[JasmineT]

Hi bocgal, I didn't have a problem shaing while on tx.  I did triple with incivek.  People are different so some get the rash worse.  I also did not shave much since my hair didn't seem to really be growing.  Used lots of gold bond.  Good luck!

[mykids247]

I didnt have a problem either, the hair didnt grow. Eyelashes grew like crazy, eyebrows looked like a crazy person all on one side and none on the other and the hair fell out like i had mange............so shaving was not a problem. Well not one that I worried about and I live in fla. its summer 12 months of the year. All I worried about was VL and UND, and now SVR all the rest is nada...........unless its the rash then thats a problem.,cough,  thats a problem, blood values but not shaving.

[BoceprevirGal]

Thanks, Jasmine. Yeah, I have no rash yet, but sx tend to pop up on different weeks, so I am just trying to be rly careful with my skin. Probably no chlorinated swimming pool for me this summer, or too much sun, for that matter..ahhh

[mykids247]

my dr. told me pools ok just stay out of the sun, I made that mistake on a cloudy day and the rash on my chest was He** spf 50 in the shade. My pool has half shade and that was were I would go.......

[BoceprevirGal]

Hahah...that's very true. If my hair falls out, it will be summer, so I will keep my hat on, and I have a great hat collection : ) Could other people actaully see the missing hair,  as in "alopecia", or was it just you noticing it, while in the shower> My grey roots are starting to grow in, and I have noticed hair comingout, after I have dyed it. I do look alot older these days, while anemic...dark circles, premature wrinkles, sallow complexion, but who cares, as long as I halt the progression of my fibrosis!

[BoceprevirGal]

My chest is wear my skin is most sensitive also..turns bright red there, at the drop of a hat!

[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.  

[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 ; /

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[James10500]

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