19 replies to this topic

[Cindy Chabot]

Last Friday I think I had a bad gluten experience. I went out for lunch with some coworkers, and I thought I ate safely. Within an hour of returning to work I felt dizzy and then I quickly ran to the washroom to vomit. Since them I have had itchy skin on my arms, I even wake up from the itchiness. I would appreciate some feedback.
Thanks!

[jerseyangel]

I frequently have itchy skin on my arms, mostly, but sometimes on my thighs and back. Mine happens without having been glutened. I think its another symptom of Celiac. I would love to know if anyone with more experience has any thoughts on this. I have no rash--just itch.

[mart]

I'm no expert, but I can certainly tell you that my 7 year old with celiac disease CONSTANTLY complains of itching on his back and arms. We work very hard to keep him gluten-free, so I think the itching is probably just part of condition.

[jenvan]

Are you aware of DH? It is the itchy skin rash that frequently accompanies Celiacs. Read more here: http://www.csaceliac.../dh_defined.php

[uclangel422]

I have been having the same problem. I do not have a rash or anything that looks like DH but i cannot stop itching. It is dry and windy here in So Cal so i thought maybe that was it. I havent changed soap or detergent or anything but i am so itchy. If anyone knows a way to make it stop, please let me know.

[dlp252]

I have been having the same problem. I do not have a rash or anything that looks like DH but i cannot stop itching. It is dry and windy here in So Cal so i thought maybe that was it. I havent changed soap or detergent or anything but i am so itchy. If anyone knows a way to make it stop, please let me know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Same here, I get itchy mostly on my lower legs and it's been happening on and off for many, many years now. And, it doesn't take much scratching to make huge welts. I've tried almost every lotion available here, and my dermatologist told me to use a couple of creams but they didn't offer much help. There is never any outward indication--no bumps, no rashes, no redness, nothing just itching. I apply lotions and more lotions which don't really help, but at least my skin isn't dry. I also have one spot on my heel that seems to itch from the inside...it has even kept me awake at night--same thing, no outward indication. I've seen two different dermatologists and two allergists for it.

[deb.h.]

This whole road of finding I was gluten intolerant started with a severe itch that I had in my legs for about ten days. I went crazy. i knew I couldn't scratch or i would have no skin left. The doctor said that i had dermographism. No one really knows the trigger but it is a general allergic like reaction in the form of itching. if i were to scratch my skin say a line with my fingernail there would become quite a raised pink line that would take 10 minutes or more to go away. that is how he knew i had it. I have found over the years that staying away from any foods that I am sensitive to especially sulphites. nitrates and preservatives helps alot. I can go months and months without an incident. Gluten doesn't seem to be the direct culprit because i have now been gluten free for three years. It is like an autoimmune reaction.

[Cindy Chabot]

Thanks everyone for your input. I guess I need to try to determine other things that could be causing the rash in addition to possibly gluten.

[dlp252]

This whole road of finding I was gluten intolerant started with a severe itch that I had in my legs for about ten days. I went crazy. i knew I couldn't scratch or i would have no skin left. The doctor said that i had dermographism. No one really knows the trigger but it is a general allergic like reaction in the form of itching. if i were to scratch my skin say a line with my fingernail there would become quite a raised pink line that would take 10 minutes or more to go away. that is how he knew i had it. I have found over the years that staying away from any foods that I am sensitive to especially sulphites. nitrates and preservatives helps alot. I can go months and months without an incident. Gluten doesn't seem to be the direct culprit because i have now been gluten free for three years. It is like an autoimmune reaction.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Debbie, thank you so much for the name!!!! That's it exactly. One day my legs looked like a raised road map! Now at least I know what it's called.

[Claire]

I do not have celiac disease. I have not yet tested for non-celiac gluten sensitivity. I am a postive Type II, Delayed Food Reactions - all grains except oats and rice.

I itched steadily for 10 years! Mostly this was in the evening and into the night. I used to have a friend spray me with Solarcane before I went to bed so I could sleep.

I had every allergy patch test known to man. All negative.

I finally found my way to a chiropractor/nutritionist who took the blood samples and sent them to Immuno Labs in FL. - thus the Delayed Food Reaction diagnosis.

No one mentioned gluten. I just stopped eating produdcts that had flour in them. Within a week the itching had virtually stopped. I would have brief 'attacks' - usually much milder than what I had for so long. This almost always happened when I went to a restaurant.

There were other foods on my reactive list. Most trigger GI issues rather than itching but to this day itching is still my first warning that I have gotten something I can't handle.

Initially I itched head to heels. Later it became localized. Sometimes an arm, then after awhile that would change to a leg. It would move around the body - always remaining in one spot for quite awhile and then change location.

It still happens but not often and nothing really serious like it once was. I am Gluten-free Casein-free and watch a whole lot of other reactive foods. Claire

[darlindeb25]

My sister and I both have suffered through this itching too. We found quite often it is set off by the water. We both had water softeners installed in our homes, which helped tremondously, we live in an area with very hard water. There are times here that I will get to itching after a shower too--it's usually worse after a shower and yes, I do read the ingreds of my soaps, shampoos, etc. Sometimes at work, out of the blue I will start itching. It gets red with streaks like all of you have stated and then goes away after a while. I to believe it to be a celiac thing. I also agree that doctors dont realize how much we go through as celiacs and yes, I also feel we know more about this disease then they do. The doctor I am going to admitted to that fact, but he also said he will be happy to learn all he can from me--that's a start. Deb

[kevsmom]

I have to take a pair of scissors or a letter opener to scratch my back all the time. I can't get my 17 ear old son to scratch it for me ("euw mom " ) There is no rash. As far as I know, I have not been glutened, but I'm still learning.

[elisabet]

My son had very itchy skin,he also couldn t have a proper night sleep,after eliminating gluten ,casein ,and soy, he dosen t itch at all,it took about 6 weeks to see the difference,and dot better and better with time,he gets the itchy skin if gets gluten or casein.

[Cindy Chabot]

Thanks for that thorough reply Kim. A couple of people have mentioned a relationship between casein and rashes. I have not heard about this before. Does anyone have any information?