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Severe Skin Problems (please Hlep)

skinissues

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skinissues Newbie
skinissues
Posted

Hi everyone. I have been researching my particular problems for about 8 years now and have tried so many different treatments and products and none has made any change to my problems. Here are a list of my symptoms:

1.) Severely dry skin (all over my body particularly my face, shoulders, back, upper arms, scalp, and

ankles)

2.) acne all over my back, chest, shoulders, upper arms, some on face)

3.) severe seborrheic dermatitis (seborrhea) all over my face (particularly my chin, sides of my nose,

between my eyes, scalp-dandruff)

4.) recurring bloating, gas, upper digestive pain, heartburn

My face is often literally white with dead skin that is flaking and scaling off of my face, or red from inflamed patches of seborrhea and/or acne. I drink about a gallon of water a day and take numerous nutrional oils (omega 3 fish oils, borage oil, evening primrose) to combat the dry skin and dermatitis. These have had absolutely no effect on my skin condition whatsoever.

Has anyone had any similar experiences that they later found out was a gluten sensitivity and later had their symptoms dissapear from following a gluten-free diet?

I have been gluten free for a couple of days now and my symptoms actually seem a little worse. My skin is the same, but I have had increasing stomach/intestinal pain and diarrhea.

Like I siad, I have tried for years to find something that would give me normal skin and I have never found it. I look like some kind of deranged beast- seriously, i bet you have never seen skin as dry as mine!

Please help. I am desparate!!

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skinissues Newbie
skinissues
Posted
  • Author

Can someone please help me??!!

chrissy Collaborator
chrissy
Posted

it would probably be a good idea to have your doc run a celiac screen before you go gluten free if you suspect celiac disease. i have had skin problems all of my life, but i don't have celiac disease. one of my girls has had rashes most of her life and she does have celiac. another of my girls has was might be dermatitis herpetiformis, though i don't know for sure, but she definitely has celiac disease.

Michi8 Contributor
Michi8
Posted

Have you seen a dermatologist to determine what the skin issuses may be? Has psoriasis been ruled out? From what I understand, psoriasis can be responsible for the type of flaking and dryness that you are describing. It has also been found that, for some, going gluten free can be helpful.

I suffer from what the dermatologist thinks may be psoriasis (by description) but he hasn't positively diagnosed it as I haven't been in to see him during a flare-up. I do have problems with dryness (though not as severe as you decribe) and itchy "acne" type areas on my face, neck, behind ears, back and chest. I tend to have flare-up patches on my elbows, knees, hips, etc. I have only been gluten free for a short while, and do not yet know whether I actually have celiac disease (though I'm thinking it's more likely gluten and/or dairy intolerance.)

Michelle

Bubs Newbie
Bubs
Posted

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with psoriasis 30 years ago but I always refused to believe I had it. Anyway after a LOOOOONG time I determined that I had Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and so when I went of Gluten/gliadin. I now have no problems. I tried just about everything to help myself as I was just having to pour Betnovate all over my scalp every three weeks. I also had problems on my face (cheeks, eyebrows, folds of the nose and in my ears). Eventually (until I worked out what the real problem was) I used to get full relief from a 50/50 mixture of organic apple cider vinegar and isopropyl alcohol. Some mixed in honey also worked (but not on the scalp!!!). I still use the mix as an aftershave. Checkout ACV on WWW. Also, try giving Green Tea a go as a wash.

Bubs

Hi everyone. I have been researching my particular problems for about 8 years now and have tried so many different treatments and products and none has made any change to my problems. Here are a list of my symptoms:

1.) Severely dry skin (all over my body particularly my face, shoulders, back, upper arms, scalp, and

ankles)

2.) acne all over my back, chest, shoulders, upper arms, some on face)

3.) severe seborrheic dermatitis (seborrhea) all over my face (particularly my chin, sides of my nose,

between my eyes, scalp-dandruff)

4.) recurring bloating, gas, upper digestive pain, heartburn

My face is often literally white with dead skin that is flaking and scaling off of my face, or red from inflamed patches of seborrhea and/or acne. I drink about a gallon of water a day and take numerous nutrional oils (omega 3 fish oils, borage oil, evening primrose) to combat the dry skin and dermatitis. These have had absolutely no effect on my skin condition whatsoever.

Has anyone had any similar experiences that they later found out was a gluten sensitivity and later had their symptoms dissapear from following a gluten-free diet?

I have been gluten free for a couple of days now and my symptoms actually seem a little worse. My skin is the same, but I have had increasing stomach/intestinal pain and diarrhea.

Like I siad, I have tried for years to find something that would give me normal skin and I have never found it. I look like some kind of deranged beast- seriously, i bet you have never seen skin as dry as mine!

Please help. I am desparate!!

elisabet Contributor
elisabet
Posted

Hi,

a mixture of AVC and oliv oil makes wonder.apply it on your body before taking a bath.

good luck elisabet

  • 2 weeks later...
Kalynn Newbie
Kalynn
Posted

I had sebhoria and eczema like crazy prior to eliminating wheat from my diet. It's all gone now. My dermatologist says it has nothing to do with that, but the proof is there. I used to get sores on my head and horrible dandruff. As well as these patches of red dry bumpy skin on my arms, legs and back. I thought I was getting ring worm over and over again. It also affected the pigment in my skin, when the rash would clear up, there would be a white spot in it's place. But, like I said, I haven't had the problem since going wheat free.

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plantime Contributor
plantime
Posted

I have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. I cleared it up by mixing 2-3 drops of teatree oil in my shampoo. I put the shampoo in my hand, add the teatree oil, and lather up. Something else I do, that you might try on the rest of your body, is I rinse my skin with aloe vera juice when I shower.

As for feeling worse after a couple of days gluten-free, many people do. Your body is detoxing and going through withdrawals. You need to stick it out for 1-3 months, to give your body time to heal, if it is celiac/gluten sensitivity.

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      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

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    • JudyLou
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

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      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine).  So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts! 
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