Weird "reaction"?

[discountshopper]

I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning with very itchy hands and tops and sides of feet, and pubic area (not cool!). Could not initially see any rash or skin discoloration. Thought a shower would help -- not. The splotchy itching spread to my ankles and up to my knees. Started to see singular tiny blisters in the middles of the itchy areas. Now (10 hours later) my neck, face, scalp, and chest has joined in. The itchy areas are visible with a red splotchy area about 2-3 inches per splotch (about 8-10 at a time) -- and they look like they have a small mosquito bite in the middle. The itching comes in waves -- the spots disappear and reappear at random.

COULD THIS BE GLUTEN?? I rechecked everything I at for dinner last night and might have one culprit -- a pizza sauce that contains unidentified "spices." I have been gluten free for 2 months now and have had dramatic results in health improvement. I've never had an allergic reaction (on my skin) before...?

Anybody -- have you had a gluten reaction like this before? If so, how long does it last -- 10 hours and still spreading is driving me crazy!

Thanks!

[KaitiUSA]

I got little itchy bumps that would come and go pre gluten free. They would usually come on my elbows, thighs, abdomen, knees, or butt.

Even once I was gluten free I would still get it occasionally-I think because my body was detoxing and I still had gluten in my body.

When I am glutened that happens to me and but it does not usually stay long for me. It will get really itchy and appear everywhere it will appear for that reaction and then an hour or sometimes a few hours later it would go away.

For others it may stay longer.

Have you changed products too? They can also cause you to get glutened.

[RiceGuy]

Many report rash-like symptoms. I have the same sort of stuff come and go too. Mostly for me it appears along with fluid retention in my legs and feet. Areas I scratch tend to get way worse and begin to bleed. Then I have to deal with the scabbing Water "bubbles" just under the skin too, where the itchyness seems most intense.

That may be what you are experiencing, or maybe not. I'm sure others will comment on it, and likely have some helpfull suggestions. I only know that it happens more if I eat a whole bag of chips in one or two days, so the retention due to salt intake seems probable. However, last week I tried soy cheese, and have had fluid retention ever since, but no blistering up or itching/rash.

Many have also found new sensitivities after going gluten-free. It seems to be quite common, so you might have a new culprit to deal with.

[discountshopper]

I took some Children's Benedryl about an hour ago (I hate meds) and have had some relief. The spots are not so itchy, although still there and "tingly." Still the hands and feet are the worst. I am now going to be sitting in a car for 2 hours and flying for 6 hours tomorrow. Hopefully this won't be so bad by then!

I also just had a revelation -- I'm at my in-laws right now with all the cousins, etc. My SIL just used my peanut butter with her knife on her wheat bread. She now tells me that she did that yesterday, too, eventhough my PB jar is in my own gluten-free bag of food. Oh thanks! So, there may be other culprits to blame -- but they may be from inconsiderate relatives rather than the food itself! Live and learn -- I'll keep my food in my room next time (or padlock it! ).

[Carriefaith]

I've never had an allergic reaction (on my skin) before...? Anybody -- have you had a gluten reaction like this before? If so, how long does it last -- 10 hours and still spreading is driving me crazy!

I also never had a reaction on my skin before I went gluten free. After a while on the diet, I started getting chicken pox like bumps on my skin after I had an accident. At first I thought I had the mumps or measles since I already had the chicken pox, but I eventually figured it out Within 12-24 hours of ingesting gluten, I get bumps on my skin, which are usually itchy, and they sometimes turn into one large rash. The reaction usually occurs on my arms, legs, butt, and neck and the severity of the reaction depends on how much gluten I ingested.