These Seven Common Skin Conditions Are Associated With Celiac Disease

Mr. Adams Thanks this is important information to let people know. I have always had gi issues growing up in addition to that I have many memories of hives, eczema, and canker sores. While these issues then morphed into shingles, Puppp, and DH as I entered my 3rd and 4th decade. 

Excellent article on skin conditions! Decades ago, I self-diagnosed due to my doctor's apparent lack of knowledge on gluten intolerance. He recommended an over the counter gas relief product, which contained gluten.

I have had all of the skin conditions in your article except psoriasis.

The first indicator/s of a gluten attack for me (very few since the beginning), are ulcers, stomach cramps, followed by really horrible diarrhea. The most impressive part of my recovery was the eventual total absence of headaches. Since recovery, I have never had another headache. It's been several decades for me.

I used to take part in the celiac.com forum back when.

Pat Bridges, now 77

I was diagnosed with celiac 6 years ago. If I have been inadvertently “glutened”, dry scaly patches appear above my eyebrows! Anyone else?

3 hours ago, Guest Sheri said:

I was diagnosed with celiac 6 years ago. If I have been inadvertently “glutened”, dry scaly patches appear above my eyebrows! Anyone else?

So - not the eyebrows, but my son gets red patches and dry flaky skin around his hairline. He has psoriasis in his scalp which was really quite bad before his diagnosis. Small doses of gluten (like from contaminated pans) cause skin problems and lethargy before they make him sick.

I had severe psoriasis for a number of years. Then I was diagnosed with celiac disease. After being gluten free for 2 years, it dawned on me that my psoriasis was gone! No one would believe me that it was connected. But there was no other explanation. 

Adding another skin condition to your list...Amyopathic Dermatomyositis. An itchy, autoimmune, sun sensitive rash that can affect the scalp, eyes, face, chest, shoulders, back, outer thighs, elbows, knees, knuckles and cuticles.

I have white blotches on my arms and legs, they came from nowhere last summer. My Dr. said it is a fungus under the skin, not requiring antibiotics. the internet says it is Vitilogo, which is not curable. I also have the other celiac issues, blotting, gas, diarrhea, ect. I feel better if i don't eat gluten, but the blotches never get better.  Are they  autoimmune, will they go away eventually?

I’d post this in our forum.

19 hours ago, Paula L.S. said:

I have white blotches on my arms and legs, they came from nowhere last summer. My Dr. said it is a fungus under the skin, not requiring antibiotics. the internet says it is Vitilogo, which is not curable. I also have the other celiac issues, blotting, gas, diarrhea, ect. I feel better if i don't eat gluten, but the blotches never get better.  Are they  autoimmune, will they go away eventually?

Probably not if it is autoimmune.  You can have more than one autoimmune disorder going on at the same time.  A Gluten Free diet might help calm the immune response (inflammation) but it is strongly recommended to get tested for celiac disease prior to eliminating gluten from your diet.  Ask your doctor for a celiac blood panel.  

Here is more advice:

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Join our forum.  You will get better responses from those who have celiac disease or NCGS.  

I have had psoriasis since I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with Celiac at the age of 40 (I’m now 49) When I get “glutened” my psoriasis flairs up.

It would make sense since wheat and flour are contributors of inflammation.

On 4/2/2019 at 9:37 AM, Guest Sheri said:

I was diagnosed with celiac 6 years ago. If I have been inadvertently “glutened”, dry scaly patches appear above my eyebrows! Anyone else?

Yes, mine is associated with sebohoreah (spelling?) of the scalp. My scalp is extremely itchy. I now use an Aragan shampoo seems to work better than all the sterioid shampoos I was given RX's for!

On ‎6‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 6:14 PM, Paula L.S. said:

I have white blotches on my arms and legs, they came from nowhere last summer. My Dr. said it is a fungus under the skin, not requiring antibiotics. the internet says it is Vitilogo, which is not curable. I also have the other celiac issues, blotting, gas, diarrhea, ect. I feel better if i don't eat gluten, but the blotches never get better.  Are they  autoimmune, will they go away eventually?

If you really have vitiligo (see a dermatologist to confirm), then yes, it is autoimmune, and no, it will not go away. It is not related to Celiac Disease other than the fact that people who have autoimmune disorders often have more than one. I have three (that I know about).  

I have had vitiligo since I was 16. I was originally diagnosed with a fungus as well by my doctor, but when I saw a dermatologist, he knew what it really was. Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks and destroys the cells that manufacture the pigment (color) in your skin and they will not grow back. So your skin is permanently without pigment in those areas, and it usually spreads. I personally didn't mind it spreading because when it was only in some places and I was "splotchy" it was WAY more noticeable, especially in the summer when the pigmented areas tanned. After 30 years, I have so few pigmented spots left (and they're more toward the central part of my body covered by clothes) that there's no contrast, so people just think I am very, very light skinned. It doesn't look weird anymore - there are plenty of people who have very little pigment naturally.  

I would definitely see a dermatologist, though. There are other things that can cause white patches that might be treatable (that fungus IS actually a real thing, it just wasn't my thing). And if it does turn out to be vitiligo, you need to start being a lot more careful about your sun exposure. Pigment is the body's natural defense against sun damage, and if you don't have it...there's no barrier. You will burn quickly and are at higher risk of skin cancer.