Eczema onset from Reta

catscratchfever43

catscratchfever43

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Hello! After going up to 4mg on Reta about two months ago, eczema started flaring up on my eyelids. No prior history of eczema.

My dosing schedule is 4 weeks on, 1 week off. During my off week, I thought the eczema had finally been cured thanks to some new cream I had. Since my dose last week, I

It’s gotten worse than ever, now spreading to my under eye. That cream is useless against it.

Nothing else changed except the Reta from one week to the next. In general, no other symptoms aside from slightly elevated heart rate and mild fatigue.

I’ve seen others have experienced this rare side effect. I wonder whether it’s the Reta itself or if the Reta is revealing an allergy to something somehow. I’m going to be titrating down either way, but would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks 🙂
 
catscratchfever43 said:


Hello! After going up to 4mg on Reta about two months ago, eczema started flaring up on my eyelids. No prior history of eczema.

My dosing schedule is 4 weeks on, 1 week off. During my off week, I thought the eczema had finally been cured thanks to some new cream I had. Since my dose last week, I

It’s gotten worse than ever, now spreading to my under eye. That cream is useless against it.

Nothing else changed except the Reta from one week to the next. In general, no other symptoms aside from slightly elevated heart rate and mild fatigue.

I’ve seen others have experienced this rare side effect. I wonder whether it’s the Reta itself or if the Reta is revealing an allergy to something somehow. I’m going to be titrating down either way, but would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks 🙂

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Maybe not due to the subject, but why do you cycle Reta 4 weeks on, 1 week off? Any particular reason? Cuz tbh have never heard about it...
 
ultima thule said:


Maybe not due to the subject, but why do you cycle Reta 4 weeks on, 1 week off? Any particular reason? Cuz tbh have never heard about it...

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I feel like this typically comes from people not understanding how the drugs works…

I’ve heard people say they want to do short cycles like to so they don’t overwhelm receptors, which sure, maybe if your cycle is 2 years. But in 4 weeks there is no way your receptors would become overwhelmed.
 
I’m not sure about the mechanism. I’ve had eczema since my teens, and it improved as I got older. But I developed a flare on my neck while on reta that simply wouldn’t go away, even after I quit reta. It’s only now starting to clear since I began megadosing KPV.
 
When you go on a diet and reduce your calorie intake, your body goes into starvation mode. It finds ways to lower your basal metabolic rate. In humans, this results in a reduction in sexual function and an increase in the immune system’s reactivity (to ensure the survival of the species...).

Several hypotheses about eczema suggest an excessive immune system reaction to something that was sometimes already present, such as certain Staph toxins on the skin, certain metals, or cosmetics...

You’ll find more details on energy conservation through metabolism in Burn: The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism by Herman Pontzer (at least this part of the book isn’t contested).

Of course, see a doctor.
 
Builderman said:


I feel like this typically comes from people not understanding how the drugs works…

I’ve heard people say they want to do short cycles like to so they don’t overwhelm receptors, which sure, maybe if your cycle is 2 years. But in 4 weeks there is no way your receptors would become overwhelmed.

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Well got a very similar feelings about that, but maybe OP knows about something we don't know 🤔
 
ultima thule said:


Maybe not due to the subject, but why do you cycle Reta 4 weeks on, 1 week off? Any particular reason? Cuz tbh have never heard about it...

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That's a new one on me.
 
ultima thule said:


Maybe not due to the subject, but why do you cycle Reta 4 weeks on, 1 week off? Any particular reason? Cuz tbh have never heard about it...

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My parent was given this protocol from his doctor, so I’m following the same protocol. From what I understand, it’s just to avoid hammering the receptors and keeping weight loss slow and steady. He is an MD and college professor, so I figured he’d know better than me. I understand it’s controversial.
 
eidos said:


When you go on a diet and reduce your calorie intake, your body goes into starvation mode. It finds ways to lower your basal metabolic rate. In humans, this results in a reduction in sexual function and an increase in the immune system’s reactivity (to ensure the survival of the species...).

Several hypotheses about eczema suggest an excessive immune system reaction to something that was sometimes already present, such as certain Staph toxins on the skin, certain metals, or cosmetics...

You’ll find more details on energy conservation through metabolism in Burn: The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism by Herman Pontzer (at least this part of the book isn’t contested).

Of course, see a doctor.

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This is interesting, thank you for the recommendation. Yes, I’ve already seen a doctor and they just want to put me on a steroid which I’m unhappy with given the risk of topical steroid withdrawal. I’m going to go to a dermatologist who specializes in allergens next.
 
miameow said:


I’m not sure about the mechanism. I’ve had eczema since my teens, and it improved as I got older. But I developed a flare on my neck while on reta that simply wouldn’t go away, even after I quit reta. It’s only now starting to clear since I began megadosing KPV.

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This is disappointing to hear. Did you try another GLP? I’ve looked into KPV myself, good to know it is working for you. I’ve read about it doing some healing miracles on a muscular/tendon level but not too much with skin.
 
It is really going to be hard to impossible to even know if it is related to the reta or not . Skin rashes are very common. There definitely are a range of different generalised or even rarely localised allergic rash type reactions to GLP drugs, but they are not very common, especially in a small area rather than a whole body rash. And experts in drug allergies are not common, maybe one or 2 per major city, and mainly interested in the more severe cases where there is systemic stuff going on making you ill as well as just a rash.

If you think there is a good reason it might be due to reta, just stop it and see if it goes away, cross drug reactions to other GLP drugs are rare so using tirz instead is an option. The other thing to consider is if it is an allergic response to reta , you are very likely to get a reaction at the injection site as well, as that is where the dose is highest. Getting a local reaction does not prove the rash is due to reta as they are much more common than distant rashes, but I would expect a localised injection site reaction to go with it, if the distant rash was due to reta. One of the few tests that can be done to detect drug allergies is to inject a dilute dose of the drug to see if it causes a reaction.

( I had a weird rash that might have been due to ozempic or a different drug/s a year or so ago and spent a lot of time researching drug allergies in general and GLP reactions in particular, never really ended up with a good answer or any useful treatment, despite 3 biopsies, blood tests and a couple of dermatologists so now I just have a red neck , but it almost certainly was not due to the ozempic as I still have it and stopped ozempic over a year ago)

Short term steroid use even on thin sensitive skin like eyelids is not really a problem, there are some potent steroids to avoid on the face, but you are not likely to be prescribed those, but so long as use is for days/weeks rather than months long term issues like skin thinning or rebound effects from stopping it are not likely, but you are doing the correct thing by seeing a dermatologist, they can usually make a specific diagnosis of what sort of rash it is , which often gives a good idea of what might cause it, and then ideally ways of fixing it.
 
catscratchfever43 said:


This is disappointing to hear. Did you try another GLP? I’ve looked into KPV myself, good to know it is working for you. I’ve read about it doing some healing miracles on a muscular/tendon level but not too much with skin.

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I’ve only just started experimenting with another GLP, so I’ll reserve comment until I can share my experience without speculating. Reta caused a lot of problems for me that affected me deeply, both physically and mentally. Perhaps I’ll post about it one day.

KPV has been beneficial for me personally. It may not work for everyone, but I think it’s worth considering. I posted about my KPV megadosing experience here, if you’re interested.

Also, I was never in a caloric deficit during any of my eczema flares, as I didn’t lose any weight on reta. I think that’s important to clarify for the avoidance of doubt.
 
Note that KPV has exacerbated my eczema. But it's worth a try.

My doctor told me to take over-the-counter antihistamines and prescribed a zinc-based lotions for babies' bottoms. It brings great relief.
 
eidos said:


Note that KPV has exacerbated my eczema. But it's worth a try.

My doctor told me to take over-the-counter antihistamines and prescribed a zinc-based lotions for babies' bottoms. It brings great relief.

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I'm just a second week on KPV now, and have an eczema on my thumbs. So far no improvement at all. First week was dosing. 5mg at the mornings, on the current week added another .5mg at the evenings....also cycling Glow...will see how it goes in a couple weeks.
 
Peptide Enthusiast said:


Sorry you’re dealing with that. Skin reactions like eyelid eczema after going up in dose do pop up for some people on Reta, even with no prior history. A few others have mentioned similar flare-ups that seemed tied to dose increases. Some improved after dropping the dose, others needed more time off. Smart that you’re already planning to titrate down. Hope it calms down quickly once you lower it. Have you noticed if it gets better at all during the off weeks, or does it just keep building?

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During the off week, I did find that it healed significantly by the last day so I am hopeful that lowering the dose will help. If I need to come off, I will find out soon. It didn’t spread until I upped to the 4mg dose last week. I’m also finding that the further I get from the dose, the less intense the itchiness is.
 
miameow said:


I’ve only just started experimenting with another GLP, so I’ll reserve comment until I can share my experience without speculating. Reta caused a lot of problems for me that affected me deeply, both physically and mentally. Perhaps I’ll post about it one day.

KPV has been beneficial for me personally. It may not work for everyone, but I think it’s worth considering. I posted about my KPV megadosing experience here, if you’re interested.

Also, I was never in a caloric deficit during any of my eczema flares, as I didn’t lose any weight on reta. I think that’s important to clarify for the avoidance of doubt.

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Please do post about your experience, I’m sure it will be extremely valuable for someone else going through the same thing—whatever you feel comfortable with of course. I was in a maintenance range for most of this week myself. Thanks for the link! Good luck!
 
I just went through a bout of eczema on a single eyelid. For me it happens about once a year this time of year, a week of prednisone will knock it right out easily.

For me it is not related to reta, but it is something that came on one year in my 30s out of nowhere. That kind of skin issue can pop up at any point in life even with zero history of skin issues, and once it starts eczema seems to have a mind of its own. I would not be sure it is even reta related. I generally just use creams for the usual eczema I get on the backs of my legs and elbows and just live with it, but about once a year it will pop up on my eyelids/face and I'll take a round of prednisone.

I feel for you though, eczema on your eyelids sucks big time.
 
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