Itchy red rash on stomach

[MK1122 1]

Hi everyone

I had my sleeve last week on Thu 3rd nov and everything has been great with no complications and no side effects until 1 week post op I developed a red itchy rash on my stomach area only no where else on my body.
I put the itching down to incision healing but it has gotten worse over night by already across my entire stomach and has kept me up itching like hell!! I have contacted my doctor for advice but wondered if anyone else has experienced this?

I still have my sutures and bandages on, they come off on day 10.

[MountainClover 81]

You may be allergic to the tape or the adhesive on the tape. Have you tried hydrocortisone cream or benadryl cream?

[MK1122 1]

On 11/11/2022 at 06:26, MountainClover said:

You may be allergic to the tape or the adhesive on the tape. Have you tried hydrocortisone cream or benadryl cream?

No not yet as it only has got worse now and I thought I’d wait to hear what my surgeon says but thank you for the advise

[catwoman7 11,221]

I didn't have this with my RNY, but I DID have it with my second plastic surgery. The surgeon said it was likely a reaction to whatever tape or adhesive he used. He put me on prednisone for 10 days because it was too early to remove the tape (at 10 days out, it still got removed earlier than normal, but at least it was safe to do so at that point. And HE removed it, not me - he insisted he had to be the one to do it - not me and not my PCP)

[MK1122 1]

On 11/11/2022 at 13:37, catwoman7 said:

I didn't have this with my RNY, but I DID have it with my second plastic surgery. The surgeon said it was likely a reaction to whatever tape or adhesive he used. He put me on prednisone for 10 days because it was too early to remove the tape (at 10 days out, it still got removed earlier than normal, but at least it was safe to do so at that point. And HE removed it, not me - he insisted he had to be the one to do it - not me and not my PCP)

Yes my surgeon called me this morning and said the same thing, I’ve had a reaction to the bandages but as I am on day 8 I am not allowed to have them off yet.
I’ve been given liquid form anti-histamine with an eczema wash and cream, he doesn’t want me to use the hydrocortisone and changed my bandages that are breathable for sensitive skin. I have to bear this for 2 days and then I can be freeeeeee lol

[leerightland 2]

I had the same thing but it was an reaction from the blood thinner shots. They where very ichy but tried very hard to not scratch it. I used benadryl and it finally went away after a week ..but still can see the marks where the rash was.

Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

[qtdoll 535]

Does it feel better yet?

[MK1122 1]

On 11/14/2022 at 21:39, leerightland said:

I had the same thing but it was an reaction from the blood thinner shots. They where very ichy but tried very hard to not scratch it. I used benadryl and it finally went away after a week ..but still can see the marks where the rash was.

Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

That’s interesting, where you injecting in your stomach area? I’ve been injecting in my thigh area as instructed

[MK1122 1]

On 11/15/2022 at 05:46, bbykitty said:

Does it feel better yet?

Yes much better thank you, it’s clearing up

[leerightland 2]

In my stomach and my upper arms and everywhere I injected the rash appeared.

[kko2ffs 0]

I'm adding to this thread as I had a similar experience. I had gastric sleeve surgery on 12/14/22. Exactly 1 week later I had a severe rash all over my abdomen. The itching was unbearable. I couldn't stand to have anything touching the area and wore nightgowns all day and night for 2 weeks! The doctor told me to take Allegra and Rx'd a hydrocortisone cream. They helped a lot - as did cold compresses. It took about 2 weeks for the rash to go away.

[Bariiime 15]

On 11/11/2022 at 01:15, MK1122 said:

Hi everyone



I had my sleeve last week on Thu 3rd nov and everything has been great with no complications and no side effects until 1 week post op I developed a red itchy rash on my stomach area only no where else on my body.

I put the itching down to incision healing but it has gotten worse over night by already across my entire stomach and has kept me up itching like hell!! I have contacted my doctor for advice but wondered if anyone else has experienced this?



I still have my sutures and bandages on, they come off on day 10.

hi I have this on my upper chest and chin smh they say it's normal and possibly from the reglan they put me on... ughhhh it's so itchy.

[BrigitteLM 22]

Last week (4th week post-Op) I developed a rash on one of my ankles/feet that has now spread to both my feet/ankles, calves, upper thigh, and as of today now both my forearms.

Last week I switched from Premiere Protein to Fairlife protein, I was in the sun, I had a pedicure after shaving, someone else used my shower, and I started eating soft foods. SO much changed last week that I’m stressing out about what’s caused my rash. It’s not anywhere near my surgery site - nothing on my stomach.

Through Kaiser I was able to get a steroid cream prescribed that I’ll pick up and meanwhile using a hydrocortisone cream, but I want to know the cause so I can make it go away or keep an eye on this. Super frustrated as my surgeon’s P.A. responded back to me saying, “This isn’t related to surgery” and yet so many people report rashes after the surgery.

Any motivational words or advice would be greatly appreciated. Everything with eating and weight loss has been going so well - so this is just so out of left field and I wasn’t prepared or expecting this.

[neiltkool 0]

I started to develop a rash very similar to what you are describing when I was also about four weeks out from surgery.

I suspected it might have been this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6558236/

Fortunately I was able to clear my rash with just slight modifications to my diet. I added just the tiniest little bit of carbohydrates to my intake with some apple sauce, sliced banana, etc. Previously I had been very, very strict with no carbs for approximately six weeks.

Good luck. -Neil

[Bariiime 15]

On 04/12/2023 at 01:58, BrigitteLM said:

Last week (4th week post-Op) I developed a rash on one of my ankles/feet that has now spread to both my feet/ankles, calves, upper thigh, and as of today now both my forearms.

Last week I switched from Premiere Protein to Fairlife Protein, I was in the sun, I had a pedicure after shaving, someone else used my shower, and I started eating soft foods. SO much changed last week that I’m stressing out about what’s caused my rash. It’s not anywhere near my surgery site - nothing on my stomach.

Through Kaiser I was able to get a steroid cream prescribed that I’ll pick up and meanwhile using a hydrocortisone cream, but I want to know the cause so I can make it go away or keep an eye on this. Super frustrated as my surgeon’s P.A. responded back to me saying, “This isn’t related to surgery” and yet so many people report rashes after the surgery.

Any motivational words or advice would be greatly appreciated. Everything with eating and weight loss has been going so well - so this is just so out of left field and I wasn’t prepared or expecting this.

it's definitely related to the surgery... i have learned that the surgeons don't like to admit it. I have gotten the run around with my issue... tried several things and even was turned away from surgeon office and was told to see a dermatologist. Finally did that and was told again it's from the surgery I had that caused the rash. It have something to do with the gut bacteria being invaded. I now have all these medications and washes I need to use on my face and chest in which i'm scared it will mess up my skin more. You can find some info here and ai hope it helps. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7377524/