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

I Get Rashes, But They're Not That Bad

Joyous

By Joyous
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Recommended Posts

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted

I've been getting rashes for a long time, but they've never really bothered me that much. I guess I'm so used to it I don't really think about it. (I think a doctor once suggested infected hair follicles?) It's little red dots that are spread out, never patches (unless I wear jewelry).

It sort of comes and goes on my thighs, but it's there more often than not. Occasionally I get a mild rash on my stomach as well. I always have acne and a mild rash on my back and chest. I don't wear jewelry because my skin is so sensitive that I get a rash (a pink, itchy, raised patches) from watches/braclets and necklaces.

Does this sound like it's related to celiac disease, or do I just have sensitive skin?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author

And as long as I'm asking about skin, what about the purple blotches that are especially noticeable in winter? :D

Ed-G Newbie
Ed-G
Posted
I've been getting rashes for a long time, but they've never really bothered me that much. I guess I'm so used to it I don't really think about it. (I think a doctor once suggested infected hair follicles?) It's little red dots that are spread out, never patches (unless I wear jewelry).

It sort of comes and goes on my thighs, but it's there more often than not. Occasionally I get a mild rash on my stomach as well. I always have acne and a mild rash on my back and chest. I don't wear jewelry because my skin is so sensitive that I get a rash (a pink, itchy, raised patches) from watches/braclets and necklaces.

Does this sound like it's related to celiac disease, or do I just have sensitive skin?

It seems to me that you may have DH. I've always had, especially during my teenage years when I wasn't watching my diet, these red bumps and splotches on my back and sides. People even called me "acneback" I had so much. Does it itch at all? While mine did not itch, it was awfully dry.

Ed in MD

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

I think it sounds like DH could be possible.

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author

It looks a lot like Maggi315's photos! :o Maybe I should try to take some. I have some of my face, but I can't seem to get my camera to take a clear photo of my legs, and I haven't tried my chest or back.

Right now my face actually looks a lot clearer than it usually does for some reason, but here are a couple face pics. The second one has circles on it to show which pimples (?) are the most recent. A lot of what's there is actually discoloration from previous pimples (?).

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a317/cha...ony/joy027a.webp

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a317/cha...ony/joy031a.webp

Yes, it itches, but not too bad. It usually itches the most around my braline. The rash by my knees also itches sometimes, but not horribly.

This is so funny... I've tried so many topic medications and remedies, and nothing's ever worked. I've even tried oral medications without success. (But hey, nothing's better for the digestive system than taking antibiotics for a year straight! :lol: )

frec Contributor
frec
Posted

I don't know about DH, but my acne improved about 80% when I went gluten-free--a lovely bonus.

pixiegirl Enthusiast
pixiegirl
Posted

I never had DH diagnosed either but I do think I had it, for years I had dark purple spots on my skin, it didn't look like classic DH but it did go away (slowly) after I went gluten-free. On top of the dark purple rashes I also had small red bumps and other various rashes, some itchy, some not. And for the most part they are all gone too.

I think when we are ingesting gluten and shouldn't be it just messes up our entire immune system.

Susan

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

Joyous...

About three weeks ago we went out to dinner and I got the impression that the restaurant was not gluten savvy....the next morning when I woke up I had an itchy rach all over my chest. I am sure that it had something to do with being glutened :blink: I am not sure though if it would considered DH? The rash lasted about 2 weeks....annoying!!

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

I have to add, I too never had DH and the skin problems which some members experience, occasionally I had the itchy patches...My acne also improved and my face is fairly clear (it was never too bad but still) the only time I get acne now is around my "time".

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author

What I'm wondering is if a lot of what people think is acne is actually mild DH. I could be way off, but it would certainly explain why so many people here say that their acne went away after they stopped eating gluten, and in my case it would explain why nothing the dermintologist could come up with would get rid of my acne, not even a year's worth of different antibiotics. He said some acne is resistant to treatment. I wonder what percentage of the population has "acne" that doesn't respond to acne medication?

Joyous...

About three weeks ago we went out to dinner and I got the impression that the restaurant was not gluten savvy....the next morning when I woke up I had an itchy rach all over my chest. I am sure that it had something to do with being glutened :blink: I am not sure though if it would considered DH? The rash lasted about 2 weeks....annoying!!

Could very well be! Did it leave purple spots after it went away?

Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

Actually yes, they did leave spots. That also happened on my legs. I hate the way my skin looks now, its such a mess :(

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author

Are you like me, eating gluten so you can be tested?

Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

I was diagnosed 2/07 with celiacs. It has been a real rocky road since that time. At the time of my diagnosis I was b12, calcium, vit d deficient. I was very sick, and thought that I wasn't going to make it. It has been 10 months, and I feel that I have gained much knowledge, but there are times when I do get glutened, and my system lets me know, theres no escaping it. I also was tested through enterolab. I now have other allergies such as egg and soy. I am hoping that when my gut heals, it will help with the allergies. I am having another endoscopy this friday(12/28), they will be looking at the intestines, and hopefully will tell me good news. I really have not been feeling well these last couple of weeks....sometimes I can't figure out what the problem is though, what it was that I ate to make me feel like this. Will they be doing an endo on you?

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author
I was diagnosed 2/07 with celiacs. It has been a real rocky road since that time. At the time of my diagnosis I was b12, calcium, vit d deficient. I was very sick, and thought that I wasn't going to make it. It has been 10 months, and I feel that I have gained much knowledge, but there are times when I do get glutened, and my system lets me know, theres no escaping it. I also was tested through enterolab. I now have other allergies such as egg and soy. I am hoping that when my gut heals, it will help with the allergies. I am having another endoscopy this friday(12/28), they will be looking at the intestines, and hopefully will tell me good news. I really have not been feeling well these last couple of weeks....sometimes I can't figure out what the problem is though, what it was that I ate to make me feel like this.

Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. Have you looked into L-Glutamine?

Will they be doing an endo on you?

My first GI appointment is on the 7th, and whether or not I get an endoscopy will probably depend on the bloodwork. (And on whether or not I still have insurance. Good times. :lol: )

Janeti Apprentice
Janeti
Posted

Goodmorning :) What is L-Glutamine? Is it a probiotic? Right now I am talking co-q10, magnesium, sublingual b12, viactiv, and oregano oil. I'm not sure if any of it is helping me. I work in a hospital on Long Island. A respected cardiologist told me about the co-q10, and that he is a believer in it. I don't know, I think that all of this can make you crazy :huh: Well tomorrow is the big day for the endo, and I am nervous :ph34r: I hope all is well...

elizn Newbie
elizn
Posted

Hi there! My first time writing. I

Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
  • Author
Goodmorning :) What is L-Glutamine? Is it a probiotic? Right now I am talking co-q10, magnesium, sublingual b12, viactiv, and oregano oil. I'm not sure if any of it is helping me. I work in a hospital on Long Island. A respected cardiologist told me about the co-q10, and that he is a believer in it.

elizn is correct, L-glutamine is an animo acid. It's good for a lot of things, and recently my chiropractor told me that it's important for people whose digestive tracts are healing because it works directly on the digestive tract, sort of like a topical does on skin.

I haven't heard of viactiv or oregano oil, but the other ones I've read about in the past, and it seems like a good idea to take them.

I don't know, I think that all of this can make you crazy :huh:

Or at least feel like you are! I've been feeling crazy for years though, what with so many negative tests and doctors telling me that my symptoms are just depression or stress or anxiety. Ugh. I may have to be more extremist about my diet than I am used to being, but at least now I have an answer. :)

Well tomorrow is the big day for the endo, and I am nervous :ph34r: I hope all is well...

Being nervous makes you a ninja? Lol I want to become a ninja when I get nervous! ;):P

Seriously though, I hope your endo went well.

  • 3 months later...
moonlight Rookie
moonlight
Posted

Hi all,

My husband always had such red things on his back, close to shoulders, and neck, and on his belly...Doctors said the reason was his dry skin in 1993..Anyway, time passed..and 2005 he developed gluten intolerance. Those red rashes were a sign for us, we had no idea.

Now we watch his diet very well, he has no symptoms, he has good health - but if he east too much fruits (2 servings a day) those red rashes come back.

You may want to watch how much simple carb you consume.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest...
    2. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In...
    3. JudyLou
      - JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      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 covere...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced. Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well. Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside...
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Have I got coeliac disease

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,153
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jenn18
    Newest Member
    Jenn18
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      And I agree with Wheatwacked. When a physician tells you that you can't have celiac disease because you're not losing weight, you can be certain that doctor is operating on a dated understanding of celiac disease. I assume you are in the UK by the way you spelled "coeliac". So, I'm not sure what your options are when it comes to healthcare, but I might suggest you look for another physician who is more up to date in this area and is willing to work with you to get an accurate diagnosis. If, in fact, you do not have celiac disease but you know that gluten causes you problems, you might have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). There is no test available yet for NCGS. Celiac must first be ruled out. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the small bowel. NCGS we is not autoimmune and we know less about it's true nature. But we do know it is considerably more common than celiac disease.
    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test.  In addition to IGA tests there are IGG tests which are particularly useful in the case of IGA deficiency.  
    • JudyLou
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By JudyLou · Posted

      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! 
    • knitty kitty
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced.  Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well.  Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside of Celiac, too.  Symptoms can wax and wane depending on dietary intake.  I knew an alcoholic who had the "boots" of Pellagra, which would get worse when he was drinking more heavily, and improve when he was drinking less.   Niacin deficiency is called Pellagra.  Symptoms consist of dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death (the four D's).  A scaly rash on the feet and hands and arms are called the "boots" and "gloves" of Pellagra.  Darkened skin around the neck exposed to the sun is Casal's necklace.  Poor farmers with niacin deficient diets were called "red necks" because of this.    Does your rash get worse if you're in the sun?  Mine did.  Any skin exposed to the sun got blistered and scaly.  Arms, legs, neck, head.  Do you have dry, ashy skin on your feet?  The itchiness was not only from the rash, but neuropathy.   My doctors were clueless.  They didn't put all my symptoms together into the three D's.  But I did.  I'd learned about Pellagra at university.  But there weren't supposed to be deficiency diseases anymore in the developed world.  Doubtful it could be that simple, I started supplementing with Niacin and other essential nutrients.  I got better.   One of Niacinamide functions is to help stop mast cells from releasing histamine.  Your allergist gave you doxepin, an antihistamine which stops mast cells from releasing histamine.   Since you do have a Celiac gene, staying on the gluten free diet can prevent Celiac disease from being triggered again.   Interesting Reading: These case studies have pictures... Pellgra revisited.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228662/ Steroid-Resistant Rash With Neuropsychiatric Deterioration and Weight Loss: A Modern-Day Case of Pellagra https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12532421/#:~:text=Figure 2.,(right panel) upper limbs.&text=The distribution of the rash,patient's substantial response to treatment.   Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721081/#:~:text=Additional causes of yellow skin,the clinical features of Kwashiorkor.   Hello, @Staticgypsy, I would not recommend cutting so many nutritious foods out of ones diet.  Oxalates can cause problems like kidney stones, but our bodies can process oxalates out of our systems with certain vitamins like Vitamins A and D and Pyridoxine B 6.   People with Celiac disease are often low in fat soluble vitamins A and D, as well as the water soluble B vitamins like Pyridoxine B 6.  Focus on serving your granddaughter nutrient dense meals to ensure she gets essential vitamins and minerals that will help her grow. Micronutrient inadequacy and urinary stone disease: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976348/ Multivitamins co-intake can reduce the prevalence of kidney stones: a large-scale cross-sectional study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564076/
    • Wheatwacked
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins and minerals.  Low or deficient  Vitamin D is almost always found in undiagnosed Celiac Disease. "Over 900 genes have been reported as regulated by vitamin D"  Possible Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease Onset  "The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 41.6%, with the highest rate seen in blacks (82.1%), followed by Hispanics (69.2%)."    Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults
×
×
  • 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.