Itching Again

[BRUMI1968]

Well, it's been about six months or so gluten-free. About a month ago, my itching came back. I've never had a rash or anything, just intense itching, mostly on the back of my head, on my shins, on my spine, and on my left hip area.

Potential culprits: too many hot showers (sometimes I get inconsolably cold, and take a hot shower), winter.

BUT, it feels just like the itching I had before going gluten-free.

I've got a gluten-free household (except beer and pizza -- easy for me to keep track of, never cooked here, and they have their own sink in the laundry room to handle scrubbing their dishes). I KNOW my shampoos and soaps are gluten free.

I have been eating tea lattes (okay, drinking them) and they have some spice in there - cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and I'm never sure with spices.

But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding this elusive gluten. Any ideas on sneaky hiding places for such things?

p.s. I don't take any meds, but do take some herbal supplements -- I'll look into those.

-Sherri

[daffadilly]

Did you change any soaps, fabric softner??

my guess is you probably got some cross contamination in the house, when they eat pizza with their hands what all do they touch in the house? Do they wash their hands right away???

[BRUMI1968]

No. That's a good point, about them washing their hands. I'll do that. Thanks for the advice.

[lindalee]

Well, it's been about six months or so gluten-free. About a month ago, my itching came back. I've never had a rash or anything, just intense itching, mostly on the back of my head, on my shins, on my spine, and on my left hip area.

Potential culprits: too many hot showers (sometimes I get inconsolably cold, and take a hot shower), winter.

BUT, it feels just like the itching I had before going gluten-free.

I've got a gluten-free household (except beer and pizza -- easy for me to keep track of, never cooked here, and they have their own sink in the laundry room to handle scrubbing their dishes). I KNOW my shampoos and soaps are gluten free.

I have been eating tea lattes (okay, drinking them) and they have some spice in there - cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and I'm never sure with spices.

But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding this elusive gluten. Any ideas on sneaky hiding places for such things?

p.s. I don't take any meds, but do take some herbal supplements -- I'll look into those.

-Sherri

Bully, I suspect my itch is coming from dairy (the chocolate) My area is the head which has subsided to the back of the neck and sometimes the ears. It is not as bad as it used to be. I do the oil of oregano and it goes away and then when I gradually add the sugar or corn syrup it starts up again.

I plan to get Dr. Wilson's book on the low body temperature. Have you heard of it?

I also get red blotches when I shower/shampoo. I use bathing/hair products with no gluten or sodium laurel sulfates so I am beginning to wonder if some crazy proteins are in my hair.

My muscles have been sore -so I am just doing epson salt baths now to rid myself of toxins. This helps me alot. I've got to wash my hair now and I know I will have those blotches, which are usually around the neck(back area), chest and back. I have been drinking bottled water this past month and that seems to have helped.

[gabby]

Since going gluten-free a few years ago, I've noticed some foods make me itch for no particular reason. If I eat onions, or anything that had an onion next to it, I start to itch in about 2 hours and the next morning my muscles will hurt for a few hours. Red and yellow bell peppers do the same to me.

Is it possible some 'innocent' food is doing the same to you?

Just a thought. Hope you get to the bottom of your itching problem...

[jerseyangel]

Hi Sherri,

This probably isn't going to help much, but I get that same kind of itching associated with gluten.

I used to itch all the time, and it went away post gluten-free.

Now, if I get cross contamination from something (most times, I can't identify it either), it comes back--I get it primarily on my upper arms and back. I know what you mean--it's a very specific type of itch. You just "know" that's what it is.

I would suspect anything processed, even if you have had no problem before, and the possibility that you are picking gluten up on your hands around the house. My husband and son do eat gluten in the house, and although they are careful, I still treat it as if someone has the flu--I wash my hands often and pay attention to refrigerator handles, door knobs, drawers in the kitchen, etc.

Hope you can get it under control soon!

[marciab]

This just popped into my head ... How about your warm winter clothes or blankets from last season ?

[JodiC]

Since going gluten-free a few years ago, I've noticed some foods make me itch for no particular reason. If I eat onions, or anything that had an onion next to it, I start to itch in about 2 hours and the next morning my muscles will hurt for a few hours. Red and yellow bell peppers do the same to me.

Is it possible some 'innocent' food is doing the same to you?

Just a thought. Hope you get to the bottom of your itching problem...

Sounds like you have a sensitivity to nightshades. (potatoes, onions, peppers etc)

The itching sounds like it may be related to a yeast overgrowth. If you have been on antibiotics lately or have been consuming a large amount of simple sugars this could be your culprit. I had so much yeast that it turned into systemic candidasis. There was so much it was in my lungs. (sputum sample found this). Since eating much less sugar and reintroducing acidolpholus and bifidus back into my diet I am doing much better. Hope this helps.

[happygirl]

Sounds like you have a sensitivity to nightshades. (potatoes, onions, peppers etc)

Onions are not a member of the nightshade family. Potatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomato, tobacco, etc. are members. Onions are not. Please do not post incorrect information. Open Original Shared Link

Sherri, I don't have any good answers for you, but I hope you find some answers and stop the itching!!!!!

[Mother of a Celiac]

Well, it's been about six months or so gluten-free. About a month ago, my itching came back. I've never had a rash or anything, just intense itching, mostly on the back of my head, on my shins, on my spine, and on my left hip area.

Potential culprits: too many hot showers (sometimes I get inconsolably cold, and take a hot shower), winter.

BUT, it feels just like the itching I had before going gluten-free.

I've got a gluten-free household (except beer and pizza -- easy for me to keep track of, never cooked here, and they have their own sink in the laundry room to handle scrubbing their dishes). I KNOW my shampoos and soaps are gluten free.

I have been eating tea lattes (okay, drinking them) and they have some spice in there - cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and I'm never sure with spices.

But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding this elusive gluten. Any ideas on sneaky hiding places for such things?

p.s. I don't take any meds, but do take some herbal supplements -- I'll look into those.

-Sherri

Hi Sherri,

Your post has given me a sense of relief. While I know this is really hard to deal with, my 6 year old daughter has been itching for several years and we just found out she has Celiac. We took her off gluten for a week and a half after we found out and it seemed to get a little better. Now we have had to put her back on some gluten every day before she has her biopsy (hopefully no longer than a couple weeks from now). The itching has definitely returned and is a great source of stress for us, as nothing really helps it, not even benedryl. I never new that this was a symptom of Celiac and was thinking she had something wrong with her liver or other allergies, which are still possible, but so thankful for your post!! I hope that your's gets better soon!

[mushroom]

I would think if you are definitely gluten free that it must be an additional food intolerance. Think of what you have been eating a lot of since going gluten free, and that would be the likely culprit. After I quit gluten I itched intensely from soy (they put in so many gluten-free processed foods), then from potatoes, and then from citric acid (the last because I was eating too much of it).

[ravenwoodglass]

Hi Sherri,

Your post has given me a sense of relief. While I know this is really hard to deal with, my 6 year old daughter has been itching for several years and we just found out she has Celiac. We took her off gluten for a week and a half after we found out and it seemed to get a little better. Now we have had to put her back on some gluten every day before she has her biopsy (hopefully no longer than a couple weeks from now). The itching has definitely returned and is a great source of stress for us, as nothing really helps it, not even benedryl. I never new that this was a symptom of Celiac and was thinking she had something wrong with her liver or other allergies, which are still possible, but so thankful for your post!! I hope that your's gets better soon!

If she was diagnosed through blood tests it is pretty certain that she is celiac. It sounds like she has DH. An option to the endoscopy which does have a chance of a false negative, would be having a celiac savvy dermatologist do a biopsy of the skin next to her lesions. If she has DH that would be a firm diagnosis of celiac and the endoscopic exam would not be needed.

[purple]

This just came to mind. I had friends years ago that got into poison ivy. They kept getting the itchies b/c they forgot to clean their car. Does your family eat fast food in the car you drive?

[Mother of a Celiac]

If she was diagnosed through blood tests it is pretty certain that she is celiac. It sounds like she has DH. An option to the endoscopy which does have a chance of a false negative, would be having a celiac savvy dermatologist do a biopsy of the skin next to her lesions. If she has DH that would be a firm diagnosis of celiac and the endoscopic exam would not be needed.

We just had the biopsy done last Friday that came back as a definite positive. She has never had any rash or any lesions associated with the itching, it just seems to be an all over type of itch that seems worse on her arms, behind her legs on her stomach, and her back. We ran blood tests while she was having the endoscopy to check her liver and kidney function, which I was also concerned about, and they thankfully came back normal. Her itching still has not gone away though. The first time we had her off gluten it did seem to really subside, but not so far since we've had her off the past 9 days....stomach aches haven't completely gone away yet either. Wondering how long it normally takes for symptoms to subside or if this is definitely a case of cross contamination. I guess it is hard to tell so soon.

[Roadki11]

Just a thought, how often do you wash your hair?

What environment do you work in?

Do you walk past a bakery/flour mill etc. on the way to work?

Could be you're getting "passive" glutening that isn't taking effect until you wash it from your hair onto your skin.

[4berrys]

Well, it's been about six months or so gluten-free. About a month ago, my itching came back. I've never had a rash or anything, just intense itching, mostly on the back of my head, on my shins, on my spine, and on my left hip area.

Potential culprits: too many hot showers (sometimes I get inconsolably cold, and take a hot shower), winter.

BUT, it feels just like the itching I had before going gluten-free.

I've got a gluten-free household (except beer and pizza -- easy for me to keep track of, never cooked here, and they have their own sink in the laundry room to handle scrubbing their dishes). I KNOW my shampoos and soaps are gluten free.

I have been eating tea lattes (okay, drinking them) and they have some spice in there - cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and I'm never sure with spices.

But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding this elusive gluten. Any ideas on sneaky hiding places for such things?

p.s. I don't take any meds, but do take some herbal supplements -- I'll look into those.

-Sherri

I get that SAME itch! And yes---it's an itch that only occurs when I get something made from gluten ingredients---whether it is labeled gluten-free or not. I would say anything processed, whether labeled gluten-free or not, can be suspect because there is still NO standard for gluten-free in the US. So Gluten Free could mean 10ppm, 5ppm or all the way up to 20ppm IF they are testing raw ingredients and finished product. Then consider that a lot of companies used shared equipment with gluten products---even if the final product still says gluten-free and does not indicate the use of shared equipment. If you have an additional 'allergy' to wheat, you might not be able to tolerate even things that truly have no gluten left, but are derived from gluten grains. Currently, my husband and I eat basically nothing that has been processed and we also are avoiding all grains. Last week I had some hot sauce (that says gluten-free on the website, but never responded to my email asking for the sourcing of their acetic acid) and a popular raw apple cider vinegar---and got the leg-itch somethin' fierce! This is about the 3rd try with these products, and I proved without a shadow of a doubt that my itching definitely returns with something I am ingesting---and totally goes away when I remove certain products.

Australia is lucky---they have Gluten Free and Low Gluten products and apparently, gluten-free really means 100% gluten-free!

Good luck sleuthing!

[Mother of a Celiac]

Well, it's been about six months or so gluten-free. About a month ago, my itching came back. I've never had a rash or anything, just intense itching, mostly on the back of my head, on my shins, on my spine, and on my left hip area.

Potential culprits: too many hot showers (sometimes I get inconsolably cold, and take a hot shower), winter.

BUT, it feels just like the itching I had before going gluten-free.

I've got a gluten-free household (except beer and pizza -- easy for me to keep track of, never cooked here, and they have their own sink in the laundry room to handle scrubbing their dishes). I KNOW my shampoos and soaps are gluten free.

I have been eating tea lattes (okay, drinking them) and they have some spice in there - cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and I'm never sure with spices.

But otherwise, I'm having a hard time finding this elusive gluten. Any ideas on sneaky hiding places for such things?

p.s. I don't take any meds, but do take some herbal supplements -- I'll look into those.

-Sherri

Hi Sherri,

It just dawned on me, and I know that your original post was definitely awhile ago, but I noticed the photo of your dog and was wondering if your dog food is gluten free?? I ask because we have two dogs (Amstaf and pitbull/boxer mix, both of which are the sweetest dogs I know) and I am switching to gluten-free food for them because of our daughter who is Celiac.

Hope this helps!!

[dilettantesteph]

I have had problems with spices. You seem to suspect them. Why don't you eliminate them for awhile and see if you improve.

[Lynayah]

Spices: If you wish to make your own spiced tea, or if you are worried about spices in general:

For a certified gluten-free source of spices which are available in bulk at really good prices, check Open Original Shared Link

I just found this site today and am very excited about it. Hope this helps.

[Tidings]

Hello folks,

The dreaded "SHIN ITCH" returned last night about the time I was trying to fall asleep. Have not been bothered with this annoying, intense itch on the front, shin-area of leg(s) for a long time, but suspect that something in the Eggplant Parmesan dinner I made last night might have had some GLUTEN or a similar substance in it to set off this skin-itch reaction.

Below are the ingredients used in the Eggplant Parmesan, in case anyone recognizes the culprit or likely culprit that could've triggered the SHIN ITCH:

Eggplant

Safflower Oil

Egg

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free All Purpose Flour (Garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, white sorghum flour, Fava bean flour)

Mushrooms (whole, sliced)

Black Olives (canned, sliced)

Walnuts

Mozarella Cheese (Milk, cheese cultures, vinegar, salt, enzymes, Vit A palmitate; reduced fat)

Kraft Parmesan (sprinkle) Cheese (Parmesan cheese, [part-skim milk, salt, enzymes cheese culture, cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, "no fillers")

Tomato Sauce (Safeway brand: Tomatoes, Salt, Dehydrated Onion, Dehydrated Garlic, Spices, Natural Flavoring, Dehydrated Bell Pepper)

Salt

Pepper

Seasonings: Basil; Safeway Italian Herbs (Marjoram, Thyme, Rosemary, Savory, Sage, Oregano, Basil), Garlic Powder

Thought this was a VERY CAREFUL GLUTEN-FREE RECIPE I dreamed up! But something in it obviously caused the old familiar PRE-GLUTEN-FREE SHIN ITCHING.

Likely culprit? Am wondering if the "natural flavoring" and "spices" in the tomato sauce might have something containing GLUTEN or similar substance that set off the itch? Or maybe the "enzymes" might have some GLUTEN contamination?

By the way, is there (does anyone know?) a connection between GLUTEN and GLUTAMATES, besides just the SOUND of the "glu" ?!? Am suspecting the "spice" or "natural flavoring" in the tom sauce might have some MSG/GLUTAMATES in them, which I also try to AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE (causes heart arrythmia, headache, brain fog, eye problems in me).

Any thoughts are appreciated, and keep up the good work here on this wonderful Forum!

PS The eggplant dish was VERY tasty and we enjoyed it a lot--till the itching started, later that night. Actually was able to calm it down, though, with some Calamine Lotion and by consciously putting thoughts elsewhere, and eventually fell asleep. No additional problems today.

[dilettantesteph]

I just noticed that the original post was from 2006! I've had problems with both spices, which I think can be cc, and mushrooms, which I think can be grown on straw and hence also cc. I would say those are the most likely culprits. Hope you figure it out.