Libre sensor and rash

Gemma.Emily said:

I currently have a freestyle Libre sensor and I have come out in a rash all over both arms, chest and neck. I have read about people having an allergic reaction but most say it is just around the sensor. I'm unsure whether to leave it in or take it out. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

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Hi, Gemma, remove it now and phone Libre immediately. They are very helpful and will replace the sensor, and discuss your issues with you, have you seen a doctor? the rash may not be related, but if it seems to be, best to be safe, and follow Libre guidelines. They are clear that any problems, you must contact them, and customer service is open all day, hardly any wait on their phone line. Best of luck

I agree with @ann34+ if it was a localised rash around the sensor area then i'd be inclined to leave it but as your rash is over the top half of your body then if you haven't done so already then remove it and speak to Abbott today.

Gemma.Emily said:

I currently have a freestyle Libre sensor and I have come out in a rash all over both arms, chest and neck. I have read about people having an allergic reaction but most say it is just around the sensor. I'm unsure whether to leave it in or take it out. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

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Is it fair to assume you've asked yourself already if you have changed washing powder/shower gels etc recently? I would be inclined to consider that anything Libre related would be most intense around the Libre's physical position then radiating out, rather than a generalised rash.

Personally, for me, I would be inclined to talk to them before removing the sensor and gauge their response.

Of course, if you feel unwell, you may feel disinclined to wait.

I have a pretty sensitive skin to adhesives (even Micropore can be problematic to me), but have been fortunate not to have experienced any skin issues when using the Libre.

There have been several threads on the forum discussing skin reactions, but I don't recall anything quite so generalised as yours.

It'll be good to hear what you decide and how you get on.

I had a fellow worker lady who did this once and this is long before the Libre was invented. I asked her if her bra and knicker area were affected and she said it wasn't indicating and external source. The office had been fitted with a new carpet and the fibres irritated her.

Has anything like that happened in your life lately?

Gemma.Emily said:

Thank you all for your advice. I decided the best thing to do was to take it off and after 24 hours my rash had gone down then completely went. Haven't changed anything else so it seems it must be the sensor.

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Good you are ok, and removed the sensor. Did you have any other symptoms, such as mild feelings of breathlessness?
Did you contact Libre? Your contact will also help other users and potential users. Libre are interested. Even if their product may not have caused your rash. They want to know, i imagine, so they can build up a picture of the situation, so that they can adapt their product to make it friendly for all. From their interest and help with me, and their advice to remove, and not to soldier on, i imagine there may have been a number of people who must have had some allergic effects. I am not yet recovered, my arm is ok now on the outside but the deep ache inside my arm, affecting the muscle, in the area the fibre ''needle' was placed, is still there, 3 days on, though the burning inside my arm has lessened. I still do not feel very well. I can't imagine i will use again anytime soon, although my sensor is being replaced. I did not have a wider rash as you did, but i would have been very concerned if i had had , i have had that sort of a rash, with feelings breathing was difficult, with just one low dose of a common antibiotic and even though it was years ago GPs say i must never have it again, as these were signs of a possible serious body reaction.

Gemma.Emily said:

I currently have a freestyle Libre sensor and I have come out in a rash all over both arms, chest and neck. I have read about people having an allergic reaction but most say it is just around the sensor. I'm unsure whether to leave it in or take it out. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

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It is best to remove the item and then call up Libre. You could be having an Allergic Reaction

I started getting terrible "burn-like" reactions from Libre but thankfully it was only underneath the adhesive and never spread. Abbott were particularly defensive when I called to complain, telling me it was not a "known issue". I submitted a "yellow card" report and suggest you do likewise. It's clear from here and various Facebook groups that thousands experience adverse reactions to Libre so I hope they bother to invest in amending the adhesive very soon.

pinewood said:

I started getting terrible "burn-like" reactions from Libre but thankfully it was only underneath the adhesive and never spread. Abbott were particularly defensive when I called to complain, telling me it was not a "known issue". I submitted a "yellow card" report and suggest you do likewise. It's clear from here and various Facebook groups that thousands experience adverse reactions to Libre so I hope they bother to invest in amending the adhesive very soon.

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I take fingerpricks

Make sure you take photos as proof..