Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Are Hand Blisters A Celiac Side Effect?

Guest Cari5393

By Guest Cari5393
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Guest Cari5393
Guest Cari5393
Posted

I was diagnosed with Celiac 3 weeks ago, so I have been on the diet 3 weeks. I have these painful burning blisters on my hands and fingers. Just within the last 3 days. I read up on DH and it sounds like that would be on my arms and legs. These are slightly pink, raised, and water filled. Is this Celiac related? I have been quite strict with the diet. What gives?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Cherry Tart Apprentice
Cherry Tart
Posted

I had the very same thing. The breakouts started out between my fingers (which very painful) and began to travel all over my arms/legs. I've read that the breakouts can manifest just about anywhere, it's different for everyone. After going gluten free, most of them went away in several weeks. I had a couple of patches that were stubborn and took several months to diminish. Not to worry, they will go away. It just takes time ;)

UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted

Hi,

If it weren't for the fact that you've never had this before, I'd say that it's probably Dishydrotic Dermatits - that's what I have. But, Dishydrosis is supposedly chronic - you most likely would have had it before now if it were that. You can do a google search on it. I used to get it on my hands & feet pretty bad before gluten-free. Occasionally, now, I'll get a really small breakout - but it's never gone beyond my hands & feet. It's a lot better since gluten-free, though, "they" don't seem to have a definitive reason why people get it.

But, like I said, it's strange (if it were dishydrotic) that it would appear after you quit gluten.

Maybe it's not Dishydrotic, but Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH is definitely Celiac-related). I don't know much about DH - apparently, that's not what mine is.

Dishydrosis burns & then itches like mad, it blisters (in the begining, it looks a bit like tapioca bubbles), then it scales and leaves shiny spots. It's supposedly chronic, but mine certainly has improved a lot since I've 86'd gluten - it's almost completely cleared up now.

Hopefully, this won't become too much of a problem for you.

Take care,

k

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

The year leading up to being diagnosed, when I was at my sickest, I would get itchy blisters on the sides of my fingers and on the inside of my forearm. At the time, I had no idea what they were--I still don't, but they have not reoccured since going gluten-free over 2 years ago.

Guest Cari5393
Guest Cari5393
Posted

I goggled Dishydrotic Dermatits and looked at pictures and that is it! Right in the knuckel bends and on my palm. I do remember getting just one or two of them every few months for the past few years but nothing like this. Thanks for the help. I am realizing there is no limit to the side effects/symptoms of this Celiac Disease.

UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted
I goggled Dishydrotic Dermatits and looked at pictures and that is it! Right in the knuckel bends and on my palm. I do remember getting just one or two of them every few months for the past few years but nothing like this. Thanks for the help. I am realizing there is no limit to the side effects/symptoms of this Celiac Disease.

Well,

In that case, worry not - some stuff that has helped me (when I have the tiny breakouts now):

When I eat crap, that's when it comes (by crap, I mean like tortilla chip overload, and lots of starches). I can slow the outbreak (if history is any indication) by cutting out starches and eating lots of veggies. Sounds silly, but I think it may have something to do with acidity/alkalinity. You could try it (?)

After a couple/few weeks, they go away & don't leave scars. A nice, smooth hand cream helps it feel better. My hands look like nothing has ever happened.

So, take care of yourself and it'll all be good. :)

donna mae Rookie
donna mae
Posted
I was diagnosed with Celiac 3 weeks ago, so I have been on the diet 3 weeks. I have these painful burning blisters on my hands and fingers. Just within the last 3 days. I read up on DH and it sounds like that would be on my arms and legs. These are slightly pink, raised, and water filled. Is this Celiac related? I have been quite strict with the diet. What gives?

Hi Cari5393:

I've had the same blisters on my fingers off and on since I was a child, I was always told they were from stress....

I have been diagnoses this passed Sept '07, and gluten free.

My son is 22 and my daughter is 20, they were diagnosed at the same time as I was, and they get the blisters on their fingers too.

We all have Dermatitis Herpetiformis, ask your doctor about it on your next visit. There is a medication that may be perscribed to reduce the itching. "Dapsone, a drug from the "sulphone family".

Good luck, stay healthy

Donna Mae

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted
Hi Cari5393:

I've had the same blisters on my fingers off and on since I was a child, I was always told they were from stress....

I have been diagnoses this passed Sept '07, and gluten free.

My son is 22 and my daughter is 20, they were diagnosed at the same time as I was, and they get the blisters on their fingers too.

We all have Dermatitis Herpetiformis, ask your doctor about it on your next visit. There is a medication that may be perscribed to reduce the itching. "Dapsone, a drug from the "sulphone family".

Good luck, stay healthy

Donna Mae

OMG - Does Dapsone help with this stuff too? I've tried other stuff from my docs through the various years, but nothing ever helped. Maybe I should try Dapsone. Stress - they told me that too. I, personally, never saw a correlation with stress with one exception a few months ago.

confused Community Regular
confused
Posted

I use to get those all the time, but it has been yrs, i never had those ones checked but i have been diagnosed with DH now, but i havent had outbreaks on my hands.

paula

  • 6 months later...
UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted

I know this is a seriously old thread, but I just had a major breakout on my hands (dishydrotic dermatitis - not DH). This one was definitely not caused by gluten, and was most certainly caused by stress. The stressful event took place Sunday night, and by Monday morning, my fingers and palm of hand were totally broken out. I haven't been this stressed out in a couple years, in fact, I began (toward the end of the heinous 6 hour phone call) to feel as though I were going into a panic attack. By the next morning, my stress diminished because I came to an understanding with myself that I could handle the problem and I began to create a specific plan to deal with the problem, and it didn't get a chance to spread to my feet - it seems localized to my fingers and palm.

I'm not saying that gluten would not cause this, I believe that the stress our bodies experience when we get glutened could cause the same reaction, but this one was stress - absolutely.

Just wanted to pop in. I've always been suspicious that this was not caused by stress. Maybe my dermatologist was right after all !

fedora Enthusiast
fedora
Posted

hey. I also have this, dishydrotic dermatitis. It was worst at my sickest and most stressed. I had it on my feet at 12. Then it came back at 25 on my hands. I feel it is related to stress, wheat(in my case), other food intolerances(one lady said she gets them from anything she is intolerant to), detergents(this is real bad for it), and nickel. Wikipedia has good info on it. I still have a few bumps here and there, but nothing bad. My mom got it from washing dishes, hers went away when she got a dishwasher. My praternal grandmother also had it when her children were little. So I imagine it can be hereditary too.

UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted
hey. I also have this, dishydrotic dermatitis. It was worst at my sickest and most stressed. I had it on my feet at 12. Then it came back at 25 on my hands. I feel it is related to stress, wheat(in my case), other food intolerances(one lady said she gets them from anything she is intolerant to), detergents(this is real bad for it), and nickel. Wikipedia has good info on it. I still have a few bumps here and there, but nothing bad. My mom got it from washing dishes, hers went away when she got a dishwasher. My praternal grandmother also had it when her children were little. So I imagine it can be hereditary too.

Right - for me it also began when I was 12, and it appeared on my feet first. I was away at music camp the first time it happened. Also, like you, my Mother has this, so I think that in my case, heredity comes into play. Also, it does seem to get worse when I use conventional diswashing detergents (but I usually am already somewhat broken out when detergents make it worse). I use a tea tree based diswashing detergent now that doesn't seem to be a problem.

This time, though, there was no doubt - it was stress. Drag - it was all cleared up, and then BAM - full breakout - overnight.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

If you've only had the hand blisters a few days, it might be cocksackie virus, especially if you are around young children. Cocksackie causes hand. foot, and/or mouth blisters, and sometimes fever and upper respiratory symptoms. When my husband and I had it, we only had the hand and foot blisters, but our son had the whole shebang.

Either way, I hope you feel better soon.

UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted
If you've only had the hand blisters a few days, it might be cocksackie virus, especially if you are around young children. Cocksackie causes hand. foot, and/or mouth blisters, and sometimes fever and upper respiratory symptoms. When my husband and I had it, we only had the hand and foot blisters, but our son had the whole shebang.

Either way, I hope you feel better soon.

Maybe for some - not this, though. For me, it's been recurrent and somewhat chronically cyclical for 30 years - dx'd by dermatologists. I just didn't buy that "stress" was a cause before. Anyhoo, ... :)

Calicoe Rookie
Calicoe
Posted

I get this too, but I can't remember for how long. I have definitely been getting it over the last few years, with the latest just a few days ago. I get little itchy bumps in between my knuckles and fingers. The bumps look different than what I think are the DH bumps that I get on my legs and torso.

monkeypuss Rookie
monkeypuss
Posted

I get weird blisters from time to time on my hands, they're very small, all together, usually on my fingers but at the moment on my knuckle and they're sorta clear, very itchy with clear oil coming out of them and quite painful if i scratch...i have suspected DH on my elbows, but this seems like bigger bumps and more scabby and i cant really get my head round to see but not as oily i dont think. not sure what it is, doesnt look as red as dishydrotic pictures i've found so not sure what it is, also had them behind my ears :/

fedora Enthusiast
fedora
Posted

I saw my doctor today. I only have a few blisters now. I said I use to have tons that ate up half my hand. I said they were almost all gone from no wheat. He said these were classic allergy rashes.

fedora Enthusiast
fedora
Posted

It told me it didn't post, so I reposted. oh well

fedora Enthusiast
fedora
Posted

oops. once again

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.