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Rash!

DebNC84

By DebNC84
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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DebNC84 Apprentice
DebNC84
Posted

I've just started out in this forum - Blood tests are being done this week for Coeliac - Thank the Lord for the internet - otherwise I would still be go crazy with the horrible rash I've suffered with for about 9 mos. I'm sure everyone has their own horror stories.. but I actually had a dermatologist tell me it was excema and I had to learn to live with it. "sorry" he said. "Use this soap and only one shower a day" "It's dry skin - you're probably bathing too much" WHAT! Not good enough for me. Another Derm. office gave me prednisone which knocked it out for awhile - suspecting "nerves" - told me to take some time for myself while we were trying to see if it were a medical issue - biopsy came back with possible Lupus (blood tested-neg.) again - no real answers... then I found a site that described my rash perfectly - I have been gluten-free for 1 1/2 weeks and the rash is gone... almost no itching!! swelling has gone down in my body ( I was just so puffy!) no gas - no bloating - I just plain feel better! Everyone was looking at the symptoms and checking for possibles... Hepatitis, Hashimotos (my thyroid levels are a little off), one blood test and scare after another. Now i'm seeing that possibly my mood swings might be caused by this gluten intolerance! I've had this rash in a mild manner all my life (only on my hands and feet- and only occasional) I remember as a child a itchy rash on the tops of my feet - but of course it was always excema... !!!!! Obviously this is why my iron levels have been low for years.

Well - thanks for listening... I'm going to read more and try to absorb some knowledge. It looks like I'm joining your "club"!!

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gfgypsyqueen Enthusiast
gfgypsyqueen
Posted

Glad you found the reason for the mystery rash. Amazing what "healthy whole grain" foods can do to a body huh! Hope you start feeling better soon.

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    • Scott Adams
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      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
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      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
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