AIP and DH

[Gullettgirl02]

I'm self diagnosed. I have been told by some medical professionals that it's eczema. It's not eczema nor the other dermatitis thing someone once said they thought it was. I am 99.9999% sure it's DH. I have had it for at least 5 years. It started with my fingers and now it's gone from just my fingers to my hands, both top and bottom. There is a patch behind my neck under my hairline and I've recently started itching up my arms, underarms, and sides. I definitely have gotten the gluten rash with the nasty little red dots and have woke up scratching. So in trying to rectify the situation, I recently learned about AIP. Today is Day 1. I've been trying to research it more because I saw where you're only on it for a few weeks or until symptoms subside. My question is this...What do I do after it begins to clear up? I know I need to do some reintroduction to see what might be triggers, but after all that, what do I do? Do I follow a paleo diet thereafter? Thanks in advance!

Edited September 22, 2019 by Gullettgirl02
too wordy

[cyclinglady]

The AIP diet might be a great place to start in helping to identifying food intolerances.   It is very strict to start with and then you slowly add in foods and track symptoms.  

If you suspect that you have DH (celiac disease which manifest s in the skin) and can confirm it using the AIP diet, you will need to remain gluten free for life.  There is no cure.  DH is tricky.  The antibodies develop under the skin and take longer to get out of the skin.  Those with DH must be very strict.  Even a tiny amount of gluten can trigger symptoms (so no eating out until you are feeling well and are willing to risk the rash coming back).  I strongly encourage you to read through the DH section of the forum and follow the advice of some very savvy DH patients.  

Keep us posted.  I think the AIP diet has the potential-of healing or helping (remission) autoimmune disorders.  

[dhark]

8 hours ago, Gullettgirl02 said:

My question is this...What do I do after it begins to clear up? I know I need to do some reintroduction to see what might be triggers, but after all that, what do I do? Do I follow a paleo diet thereafter? Thanks in advance!

For the reintroduction phase of AIP, a lot of people find Eileen Laird's resources helpful. She's got a podcast called Phoenix Helix with a few episodes on the topic, and has an ebook out that has good info in it about reintroductions. Give her a Google!

[Gullettgirl02]

Thank you both so much! Will be coming through the forums for some more helpful tips and will check out the podcast!! Thanks again!!!

[Metoo]

My situation was similar, my rash started on my fingers, then eventually spread to my elbows, and chest/neck area!  

 

I will say after 3 months of strict gluten free my rash really did not subside much, it calmed down but hadn't really gone away.  I eventually when on Dapsone for a stint to get it to clear then went off Dapsone.  Still struggled with occasional breakouts (different rash though slightly then DH) due to another intolerance, until I got that in check.  

[RBnorth66]

I'm trying to figure out what to do after AIP elimination diet.  I have DH and would like to try re-introducing a food, but which one?  I eliminated all AIP foods and added coconut and avocado.  I would like to try adding coconut back in.  

 

What do I look for?  Do I wait a week?  

What did you find out?

[Scott Adams]

I will assume you've been on your diet for a few weeks, but normally you would add a food back and record any issues you have afterwards. A "gut test" like this isn't the most accurate way to figure out additional food sensitivities, and there are companies like Cell Science Systems and their ALCAT tests that do this more accurately, and I'm in the process of doing this myself.