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Facial Splotching, Paleness, Puffiness

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grey Explorer
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Posted

I was just reading glutenfreegirl's blog (Open Original Shared Link), and she's talking about spotting a woman on the street and identifying her to her partner as a celiac by her "splotchy-red face, the pasty-white skin around it, the puffy look, the sleepy eyes." She talks about pictures of herself before she went gluten-free with these characteristics. I realized that I often looked that way in the evening, particularly if I'd had a beer or two (the patchy flush especially - it's one of the reasons I stopped drinking it).

So I'm curious, is this common to a lot of celiacs or those who have some level of gluten intolerance? Are we recognizable on sight?

In addition to being curious, the flush is something I share with a cousin, and it made me think I maybe should be extra-sure she gets tested.

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jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
"splotchy-red face, the pasty-white skin around it, the puffy look, the sleepy eyes." She talks about pictures of herself before she went gluten-free with these characteristics.

I don't think everyone with Celiac will look this way--some have no outward symptoms at all. An appearance like this could also signal something else is wrong.

Now, having said that, the above description does apply to me before I went gluten-free. I was sick for many years before figuring out what the problem was, and I was severly anemic.

I have a picture taken five months before I was diagnosed. I wish I could do a split screen because you would be amazed at how different I look now as compared to then. Pale, puffy and sleepy--a perfect description ;)

lob6796 Contributor
lob6796
Posted
I don't think everyone with Celiac will look this way--some have no outward symptoms at all. An appearance like this could also signal something else is wrong.

Now, having said that, the above description does apply to me before I went gluten-free. I was sick for many years before figuring out what the problem was, and I was severly anemic.

I have a picture taken five months before I was diagnosed. I wish I could do a split screen because you would be amazed at how different I look now as compared to then. Pale, puffy and sleepy--a perfect description ;)

Oh yeah, defiently can be. I used to have great skin. Now as things have gotten worse symptom wise with the celiac, my face is puffy, horrid red rash patches on it, cruddy texture, etc. Its awful. I'm looking forward to looking more "even" once I am on the diet.

  • 2 weeks later...
mattj Rookie
mattj
Posted

This is interesting. As a rather vain and self-conscious fella, the knowledge that my looks were being effected by something was the main driving force behind trying to get a diagnosis. I can deal with the bloating, the wind and all that, but if my looks are being degraded then that's serious. The above description sounds like me to a certain extent. I wouldn't say I am puffy in the face, though.

gdobson Explorer
gdobson
Posted

I'm like Mattj - a bit on the vain side. I had laser surgery last year on my face to help with the redness. And I find myself doing the same thing. We went to the Celiac 5k in Baltimore last month and I found myself sizing up folks that I thought looked like celiacs. I usually go with those that are built like me, rather thin and flabby and pale.

mattj Rookie
mattj
Posted
I'm like Mattj - a bit on the vain side. I had laser surgery last year on my face to help with the redness. And I find myself doing the same thing. We went to the Celiac 5k in Baltimore last month and I found myself sizing up folks that I thought looked like celiacs. I usually go with those that are built like me, rather thin and flabby and pale.

Does that mean that going gluten free didn't improve things for you?

JenKuz Explorer
JenKuz
Posted

I didn't even notice how much my skin was affected when I started getting sick, until a friend pointed it out to me. I hadn't seen her in a couple months, and had been gluten free for the first time during that time. When I saw her again, she couldn't believe how good my skin looked. And then she realized it had always looked basically okay, *except* when I had been sick....

I get really puffy around the eyes, and have a lot of spider vein blotches all over.... but it's getting (mostly) better, i guess. If i have a relapse in GI symptoms, anyhow, it shows in the skin.....

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2kids4me Contributor
2kids4me
Posted
spotting a woman on the street and identifying her to her partner as a celiac by her "splotchy-red face, the pasty-white skin around it, the puffy look, the sleepy eyes."

That doesnt mean its celiac. A number of conditions can give that outward appearance besides celiac, including:

systemic vasculitis

uncontrolled / undiagnosed diabetes

a patient with cancer

hypothyroidism (undiagnosed)

kidney disease

heart failure / heart disease

medication side effects - prednisone or other classes of steroids can cause this appearance

adrenal issues

severe emotional or physical stress (recent loss of a loved one, recent surgery....)

blood disorders

Kawaski disease in recovery phase ( know this from experience)

...and others I am sure...

You cannot diagnose someone based on clinical appearance - you can have suspicions of a particular disorder but that's about it..

Sandy

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted
QUOTE

spotting a woman on the street and identifying her to her partner as a celiac by her "splotchy-red face, the pasty-white skin around it, the puffy look, the sleepy eyes."

That doesnt mean its celiac.

Very true. You can't tell a celiac by looking at them. That is one of the reason's I hate when I hear someone say, "You don't look celiac!" Especially when a doctor says it. It's not a look, it's an illness and so many illnesses can make you look the same way. Thyroid disease can make you look very ill, cancer does, heart disease does, a number of diseases.

Although, I do believe that sometimes you can tell a celiac by how they describe how they have been feeling, how long they have been ill, never getting an answer from a doctor.

gdobson Explorer
gdobson
Posted
Does that mean that going gluten free didn't improve things for you?

Don't worry, Mattj. I had the redness from years of rosacea (which for some reason, a lot of us seem to have). After the laser surgery and using the facial washes I was prescribed, I don't have to wear make up anymore and try to hide bumpy red areas.

Teacher1958 Apprentice
Teacher1958
Posted

Hi,

I don't think this is what you're referring to, but vitiligo is associated with Celiac Disease. I was just diagnosed with it recently. It's the same thing that Michael Jackson has, but in Caucasions it is not as dramatic. I have it mostly on my neck and face. The pigment in my cheeks has faded to a pale color, but the areas around it are still my normal color, which is kind of fair. Most people don't even notice it, but I find it somewhat annoying. I need to figure out what to do about my makeup. I've kind of been covering by using extra blush. The problem is that the blush looks different on the lighter parts of my face, so I don't know what to do about that. Also, I will need two shades of foundation that will need to be blended. Oh well, there are worse things by a long shot.

sneezydiva Apprentice
sneezydiva
Posted

I'm not diagosed yet, but I would have to say, no you can't spot a celiac by looking at them. And I think this is true of many illnesses, not just celiac. I am blessed (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with beautiful skin. I look younger than my age. I personally can see how my complexion has deteriorated, but compared to most others, I still look great. This is the number one reason, I think doctors don't take me seriously. They think I look healthy, therefore, I must be healthy, and it must be all in my head.

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