Two Cases of Ketogenic Diet-Induced Prurigo Pigmentosa and a Literature Review

Abstract

Prurigo pigmentosa (PP) is a rare inflammatory skin disease that commonly affects Asian women. It is characterized by symmetric pruritic eruptions in a reticular pattern, primarily on the back, chest, or neck. The etiology of PP is unclear; however, it is estimated that neutrophil-mediated inflammation of the skin is induced by various exogenous stressors, such as friction from clothing and sweating. In addition to exogenous factors, some cases are thought to be related to ketosis, diabetes mellitus, fasting, or dieting to lose weight. With the increasing popularity of ketogenic diets, cases of PP are being more commonly reported. To raise awareness of this disease, we present two cases of PP that occurred after following a ketogenic diet.