mendylou

Well, this picture is a little hard to tell because it is so "angry" red.  But, the eczema is scaly, not as bright red, and looks more like a bad case of dry skin.  She has it a lot more often and it is spread in specific places that she always gets it.  Back, legs, elbows, in the diaper area if it is really bad.  We use hydracortisone cream on it and it is a noticeable difference when we do.

The DH is mostly in the "diaper area", but I just noticed 4 other places that popped up yesterday and today on the backs of her knees and the insides of her arms.  It is more dotted, bright red, and forms blisters almost right away.  It is SUPER itchy and she complains that it hurts.  Hydracortisone doesn't work very well on treating the DH itself, but helps with the itch.  We ultimately end up treating with anti-bacterial cream because she ends up scratching deep into the lesions.  It takes FOREVER to heal.

 

The third is new.  It has only happened recently, and it was the last rash to show up- not occurring until sometime after she went to bed after the ER visit from attempting a gluten challenge.  It consisted of 3 bumps on her legs in different spots, about the size of a dime or nickel.  They just sort of looked like bug bites from afar, but when you got up close, you could actually see her pulse in them!!!  They would go white and then back red with her pulse.  When you felt them, they were hard, and had a big knot under the skin.  They took quite a while to go away as well.

 

When the rashes intermix, like the above picture, it is really hard to tell the difference.  We generally just throw the book at it.  We use the hydracortisone all over, then use the anti-bacterial cream anywhere there is broken skin.  She typically gets a slather of thick diaper cream in her girly parts and bum so that we aren't putting steroids on her... (*ahem*)... parts.  It probably doesn't matter, but it makes me feel better and keeps her pH from getting thrown off and ending up with a UTI or something.

All of these various descriptions sound familiar to my skin conditions.  I have not had a positive diagnosis of DH, but I know that is what I have based on all my research.   I get the watery filled blisters, the hive like eruptions, and the hard lumps under the skin which are very painful.  All of the m take a long time to heal.  Most of my eruptions eventually create a crater or divet which seems to eat thru the skin from the inside out.  I have to scratch the tops off.  It feels better as the fluid oozes out but it also leaves scars as it heals.  I have decided I will live with the scars if scratching makes them feel better.  I have been gluten free for almost 3 years but I have always had some degree of breakout in that time.  To backtrack I'm sure this has been building under my skin since I was a child so it will take a long time to get rid of all the deposits.  I am 61 and I remember going to the doctor in my teens when I had my first skin breakout which was ALL over my scalp.  He gave me a green bottle of medicated shampoo which did not help.  Thru the years I have seen dermatologists, taken allergy shots for 20 yrs, taken prednisone, numerous other things.  No one ever suggested celiac, it was all too new then.  At age 57 I made the connection talking to a celiac diagnosed colleague of mine. I don't know that this helps you any but I know what you are going thru & at least you don't have to wait until age 57 to find out what you might do to get relief.   I use multiple moisturizing creams to help, recently I found applying menthol in muscle type creams seems to help with the pain.

Hello all.  For the past 3 years, I have had a rash in different areas for different lengths of time.  I have been to the regular doc for steroid shots, to the dermatologist for more steroids and antihistamines, and to the allergist - repeat that cycle 3 times over the years.  The allergist said my histamines were very active and my mast cells were attacking everything.  I showed mild allergic reactions to all the typical environmental allergens.  He put me on 3 different antihistamines to try to break the cycle with very little success.  I'm not satisfied with not knowing what has caused the overactive histamine production in my body - SOMETHING had to cause it.  About 2 months back, a friend told me about his journey with a rash that was more like very dry skin.  He went gluten free and the skin rash cleared very quickly.  So I figured, why not try it?

 

My rash is "welty" and bumpy.  It itches like crazy (though it doesn't disturb my sleep most nights).  When I itch it, it burns like a sun burn.  I don't see any fluid in the bumps but as it "dries in" it gets crusty.  I've had it on the backs of my hands, my chest, my palms (without the bumps), my neck, my cheeks and nose, my upper back, my scalp and the front and back of my elbows - never all of those places at once.  Loose clothing rubbing across it when it's in a flare is almost unbearable.

 

So I began a gluten-free diet 2 months back.  After a week of no gluten, my hives started "drying" in.  They didn't hurt or itch as badly.  I wasn't sure if it was a coincedence or not so I started gluten again and it flared again.  So, it seems that my hives are caused by gluten.  However, my rash looks more like hives than individual bumps.  And my hives are the most uncomfortable when I am hot.  I was miserable yesterday after having eaten gluten Thursday - Saturday and the temps and humidity both went up.

 

I'm pretty convinced that my rash is gluten driven.  I have in the past had IBS which seems to have subsided (for about 3 years).  Does my description of my funky rash ring true with any of you?  Regardless, I'll probably try to stay Gluten-Free because what can it hurt?

 

Beth

I also have had a bad time with my skin as the heat & humidity has soared.  I have been gluten free for 2 1/2 years & my skin still erupts.  Often I cannot pin point the source.  I recently attended a wedding reception & was assured my food was gluten free which was probably true, but it was prepared in the same kitchen & with the same utensils, etc as the non gluten free foods.  I believe that is what started this outbreak.  Since we have had high temps & high humidity I have had a terrible time.  My most vulnerable spots are elbows, upper arms across back and buttocks. Heat is an automatic trigger for my skin breakouts.

I'm munching on fresh ones now!  Perfect for parties and no one knows they're gluten-free!

 

1 cup Peanut Butter

1 egg

1 cup sugar

3 T. sugar

 

Roll into 1 inch balls, roll into sugar, bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cool and eat.  Freezes well!

 

Enjoy!

They bake ok with no flour added?

I have been gluten free for 2 1/2 years. I still have DH outbreaks but they are not as severe as they used to be.  I am very sensitive to iodine. It will cause an outbreak within hours. I used to break out all over but now it seems to be confined to my arms and across my shoulders and back and on my buttocks but in a much smaller area than it used to.  I was one of those who seemed to improve immediately and couldn't figure out why I would have major breakouts for no apparent reason.  I believe  I have had this build up under my skin for so many years that it will take many years to get rid of it.  I had skin issues, allergies as a child & I am now 60 yrs old. I also had the migraines, joint issues, asthma, seasonal allergies, etc for all these years. I so look forward to the day that I do not itch.  Don't give up hope, for some of us it just takes longer.

About 15 years ago, I developed an unbearably itchy rash over most of my body, that lasted almost a year. Thankfully, it eventually cleared up but after that, I would, from time-to-time, develop itchy patches and also experience major flare-ups 2 or 3 times a year that would last about a month or so. Last August, I developed a horrible, prickly, burning rash over large parts of my body that lasted 4 months (until December). After eating a muffin one day and experiencing a major flare-up shortly afterwards, I decided to go on a strict gluten-free diet. Within a week, I was almost rash-free! What a gift to be free of that horrible itch and to have soft, clear skin once more! But sadly, my joy was short-lived! For the last 3 weeks, I have been struggling with extremely itchy patches on my arms, hips, back and face - strangely, the rash always seems to return in the same places on my body. I had a biopsy done, which came back stating that the results were consistent with an allergy to medication! I was not taking any medication! No blood tests or any other tests have been done - the dermatologist and my family doctor did not seem to feel that it was necessary. The fact that the rash cleared up so quickly after eliminating gluten completely from my diet (I am hugely vigilant about this) suggests to me that I have a sensitivity to gluten. In addition, my digestion seems to have improved (very little bloating, gas, and constipation now), I have more energy, and I am experiencing much less joint stiffness and pain. But, why oh why, am I experiencing this dreadful rash again?! Thankfully, although it is still bumpy and very itchy, it does not seem to be as extensive (at least, not yet) as it was back in the fall! But, the mysterious rash continues to be very uncomfortable and, at times, I feel as if I am unable to cope. It is certainly a dreadful thing to have to live with, that is for sure! I am wondering if there is anything else I can do. Would taking a probiotic help? When people are sensitive to gluten, might there be other related foods that could also trigger attacks? If anyone has any suggestions, I would be very grateful.