Newly Gluten Free With ?'s

[AshleyE]

Hi, I am new to this forum, but it has helped me so much. It is so great to read about other people's experiences. I have had headaches my whole life, chronic fatigue for ten years, anemia and I've always beeh slender. About a month ago I started losing weight, I lost about seven pounds in two weeks, which I can't really afford to lose since I'm 5'6" and 110 to begin with. I kept getting colds, and my fatigue was so bad I didn't even want to lift my head off the pillow. The optometrist I work for suggested that it may be celiac, so after doing some research, I stopped eating gluten. I have only been gluten free for three weeks, but already I feel so much better. I actually have enough energy to make it through the day.

Anyway, my question is this: I have never had any type of reaction to my lotions or anything on my skin, but since going gluten free I have little red pinprick-like bumps all over my forearm. Could this be a sign of DH? I checked my lotion, and the one I have been using (along with my shaving cream) has gluten in it. Could my sensitivity to gluten have gone up because I've stopped eating it?

[ravenwoodglass]

Hi, I am new to this forum, but it has helped me so much. It is so great to read about other people's experiences. I have had headaches my whole life, chronic fatigue for ten years, anemia and I've always beeh slender. About a month ago I started losing weight, I lost about seven pounds in two weeks, which I can't really afford to lose since I'm 5'6" and 110 to begin with. I kept getting colds, and my fatigue was so bad I didn't even want to lift my head off the pillow. The optometrist I work for suggested that it may be celiac, so after doing some research, I stopped eating gluten. I have only been gluten free for three weeks, but already I feel so much better. I actually have enough energy to make it through the day.

Anyway, my question is this: I have never had any type of reaction to my lotions or anything on my skin, but since going gluten free I have little red pinprick-like bumps all over my forearm. Could this be a sign of DH? I checked my lotion, and the one I have been using (along with my shaving cream) has gluten in it. Could my sensitivity to gluten have gone up because I've stopped eating it?

Yes, your body is trying to tell you to stop using gluten topically. It is also very easy to accidentally ingest a bit. You also need to make sure your shampoos and other hair products are gluten-free.

[Guest schmenge]

Anyway, my question is this: I have never had any type of reaction to my lotions or anything on my skin, but since going gluten free I have little red pinprick-like bumps all over my forearm. Could this be a sign of DH? I checked my lotion, and the one I have been using (along with my shaving cream) has gluten in it. Could my sensitivity to gluten have gone up because I've stopped eating it?

Prior to my diagnosis I was pretty asymptomatic. My first "glutening" came after about a month and I reacted in a more "typical" way. So yes, I think after "getting off the gluten" your body reacts differently when you do get gluten.

[Ursa Major]

Hi Ashley, and welcome to this board. I know that many people say that you don't get reactions from lotions and shampoos unless you ingest them. But I have the same problem as you, if I use soap, lotion, shampoo etc. with wheat germ, I will have a skin reaction similar to yours, plus insane itching, without getting any gastrointestinal symptoms at the same time.

So, you would do well to go out and buy gluten free personal products, which will likely stop this problem.

[AshleyE]

Thanks for the replies. I checked my body wash, toothpaste and soap. I'm not sure what ingredients to look for on products. Is there a list of ingredients available somewhere? I still need to look into my handsoap and shamoo/conditioner. I use Redken, does anybody know if it contains gluten?

Thanks!

[Lisa]

I use Dove soap and shampoo with out issues. Once you learn to read lables it won't be a problem for you, but it will take come time to know what is safe and what is not..... Believe me, it is truely a slow learning process, but not one than can't be managed. It just takes time to learn alot in a short period of time.

We have all been through it and it does get so much earier. Take heart. There is an end to this short lived tunnel. Being gluten free is not all that bad, and you can eat very well.

Nini, on the site has a beginners starter kit that may be helpful to you now. I am sure that she would be will ing to send it to you. Just e-mail her.

Good luck, and ask away, someone is alway here.

Lisa

[julie5914]

Wait, are they itchy? If not, do they look about as far apart as your hair follicles? Look up keratosis pilaris (chicken skin- nice nickname, huh). It doesn't itch, just looks funny and affects about 50% of people. I use a body scrub and a strong glycolic acid lotion I get from the derm to keep mine at bay.

P.S. I still avoid topical things with gluten in them just to be safe even though I don't get the DH rash.