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

New Skin Sensitivity

fran641

By fran641
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

fran641 Contributor
fran641
Posted

OK, I'm certainly not a delicate lady <_< but lately my skin thinks I am.

I have been gluten free almost 7 months. A few months ago I mentioned on these boards that I developed a rash on my elbows and knees. The only new food I had eaten was grits and when I stopped those the rash cleared up in a week. Two weeks ago I ate shrimp with my favorite seasoning, Old Bay, and my hands turned red and started itching (no GI symptoms) I wanted to tear my skin off. It must have been the seasoning because when I ate the shrimp again without this seasoning no reactions. Then yesterday I used a cream on my neck for the second time and developed hives that itch awful too. What the heck is this all about. At 61 years old I am suddenly getting all these weird allergy symptoms. I can only think it's related to the gluten-free diet. I know I must be gluten-free for the rest of my life and my Celiac symptoms are doing wonderful since I've been on the diet. Am I just going to be a delicate old lady with a flaming red neck along with the turkey neck from losing weight????? :blink: I won't be using that cream again so the rash will clear up soon. Thanks for any comments you can give me.

Fran

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Tigertail Newbie
Tigertail
Posted
OK, I'm certainly not a delicate lady <_< but lately my skin thinks I am.

I have been gluten free almost 7 months. A few months ago I mentioned on these boards that I developed a rash on my elbows and knees. The only new food I had eaten was grits and when I stopped those the rash cleared up in a week. Two weeks ago I ate shrimp with my favorite seasoning, Old Bay, and my hands turned red and started itching (no GI symptoms) I wanted to tear my skin off. It must have been the seasoning because when I ate the shrimp again without this seasoning no reactions. Then yesterday I used a cream on my neck for the second time and developed hives that itch awful too. What the heck is this all about. At 61 years old I am suddenly getting all these weird allergy symptoms. I can only think it's related to the gluten-free diet. I know I must be gluten-free for the rest of my life and my Celiac symptoms are doing wonderful since I've been on the diet. Am I just going to be a delicate old lady with a flaming red neck along with the turkey neck from losing weight????? :blink: I won't be using that cream again so the rash will clear up soon. Thanks for any comments you can give me.

Fran

Hi Fran, This rash sounds like Dermatitis Herpetaformis, which is a rash conneceted with Celiac Disease. I get this rash any time I ingest anything with gluten or use anything with gluten in it, such as creams, shampoo, toothpaste, etc..I don't always get the GI symptoms when I just get contaminated from gluten but I do break out with this rash in about 10 minutes from being contaminated. Try watching what you put on you skin and make sure all your seasonings are for sure gluten free and maybe that will keep you from getting this such annoying rash. Good luck, and good health, Lacey

fran641 Contributor
fran641
Posted
  • Author
Hi Fran, This rash sounds like Dermatitis Herpetaformis, which is a rash conneceted with Celiac Disease. I get this rash any time I ingest anything with gluten or use anything with gluten in it, such as creams, shampoo, toothpaste, etc..I don't always get the GI symptoms when I just get contaminated from gluten but I do break out with this rash in about 10 minutes from being contaminated. Try watching what you put on you skin and make sure all your seasonings are for sure gluten free and maybe that will keep you from getting this such annoying rash. Good luck, and good health, Lacey

Thank you so much for your response. I sort of skipped over the chapters about Dermatitis Herpetaformis because I've never had skin issues. I need to go back to my books and start reading about that. Take care, fran

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

There are many who will tell you gluten on the skin doesn't matter, but for some of us, it does. I get these rashes from topical gluten, corn, and soy.

I also get a nasty rash on my tummy when I eat an offending food, sometimes not sure what caused it. This last time, I had raisins. Not sure if it's the sugar content that caused it or what. I do know it was the raisins though.

Being gluten free for 7 months, has allowed healing to happen. Once the gluten is out of your system, often times there are other intolerance's just waiting for their turn to be heard. Maybe you have another intolerance. Trial and error is the best way to figure them out.

fran641 Contributor
fran641
Posted
  • Author
There are many who will tell you gluten on the skin doesn't matter, but for some of us, it does. I get these rashes from topical gluten, corn, and soy.

I also get a nasty rash on my tummy when I eat an offending food, sometimes not sure what caused it. This last time, I had raisins. Not sure if it's the sugar content that caused it or what. I do know it was the raisins though.

Being gluten free for 7 months, has allowed healing to happen. Once the gluten is out of your system, often times there are other intolerance's just waiting for their turn to be heard. Maybe you have another intolerance. Trial and error is the best way to figure them out.

I went back and looked all the things I seem to be sensitive to now. The cream for my neck did have wheat germ in it. I just read that this external wheat germ would not effect my intestines but certainly would my skin if I became sensitive to it. Not sure about the spice yet it may be one of the peppers in that spice that set off the itching. The only thing I can do is avoid the exterior gluten offenders as much as I do the foods. Thanks for your comments Deb.

  • 2 weeks later...
Angels~Exist Newbie
Angels~Exist
Posted

Most of the time spices have maltodextrin in them.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
There are many who will tell you gluten on the skin doesn't matter, but for some of us, it does. I get these rashes from topical gluten, corn, and soy.

I also get a nasty rash on my tummy when I eat an offending food, sometimes not sure what caused it. This last time, I had raisins. Not sure if it's the sugar content that caused it or what. I do know it was the raisins though.

Being gluten free for 7 months, has allowed healing to happen. Once the gluten is out of your system, often times there are other intolerance's just waiting for their turn to be heard. Maybe you have another intolerance. Trial and error is the best way to figure them out.

To give you gluten-free food for thought.....in Peter Green's book on Celiac Disease, he clearly states, and I admit it surprised the hell out of me, that those with DH can touch gluten without a DH reaction. Any other reaction is an allergy, not an intolerance. A person has to ingest gluten for the autoimmune reaction to occur and then the reaction erupts to the surface of the skin. It's totally an internal to external reaction, not the other way around. It can also take a very long time for the IgA deposits that form in a DH reaction to go away and this is why is takes so long for DH to clear up sometimes, making people think it comes from touching gluten and not ingesting it. It sounded to me that healing takes longer with DH than GI based Celiac symptoms.

I am not doubting whatsoever that some people cannot touch wheat/gluten, etc. without getting a rash but it's not from what many think. I also believe that if you have the skin version of celiac disease, you are going to be extremely prone to other skin issues like allergies.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 3 years later...
Carybear Rookie
Carybear
Posted

Yes my skin has gotten more sensitive over time.

I have discovered I am really sensitive to Sugar and fructose. I will get hives and or blisters on my body in odd places. Sometimes if someone touches me, i get a red itchy rash.

Yet there are some wheat containing products I can use topically, no problem.

I don't look at it as just celiac anymore.

I have a mast cell disorder. That is what ANY auto immune disease is. My immune system is like a wild fire. It will burn and burn without anyway to put it out except time. Sometimes it's not that bad at all. It's a confusing affliction.

JoH Newbie
JoH
Posted

I get skin reactions to food allergies - both contact reactions and reactions if I eat a food I'm allergic to. Strangely enough, the one thing gluten doesn't do to me is cause my skin to react. So if I break out in a rash, I go looking for one of my allergens.

My best guess is your immune system doesn't have nearly as much gluten to go looking for, so it's spending a lot more time on a search-and-kill mission for your other allergens...

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

Aren't grits corn?

Itch Be Gone Newbie
Itch Be Gone
Posted

I am experiencing the same thing - flare-ups for seemingly no reason. Thanks so much to all of you for your comments. They are helpful and, there is also a strange kind of comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this - that other people are going through the same sort of hell. ;o)

weluvgators Explorer
weluvgators
Posted

I just wanted to share that we have found Zyrtec to be really helpful in managing our skin flare ups. It has been trial and error, but we now use Zyrtec as a first line of defence in helping to relieve the pain and itching that we get. Daily Zyrtec for a few weeks cleared up a chronic elbow rash that was not responding to anything else. And the Zyrtec has been an immediate course of action for flares due to incidental airborne exposures. I am managing myself and three kids with gluten hypersensitivity with each of us having slightly different reactions to exposure. Three out of four of us have to manage the skin reactions, and the Zyrtec works great for us. We try to minimise use, but we are no longer reluctant to use it as needed to provide relief. I would love to hear what others use to help provide relief for the skin rashes. In our experience the topical treatments have proven to only make things worse.

designerstubble Enthusiast
designerstubble
Posted

Omg, this thread is a relief. I have been suffering from skin reactions (to creams and cosmetic stuff that I have used for years), I get bad asthma reactions from various food including all citrus and tomato. And some teas contains spices. I get hives from other food like celery and eggs and I now bad eczema on my eyes from pumpkin seeds... All new. Been gluten free for 4 months or just over.

I don't understand it all. Also I have slowly become corn intolerant. I wish all these allergies would go away, gluten free would be easy compared to ALL of this. Has anyone lost their allergies at all?

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Omg, this thread is a relief. I have been suffering from skin reactions (to creams and cosmetic stuff that I have used for years), I get bad asthma reactions from various food including all citrus and tomato. And some teas contains spices. I get hives from other food like celery and eggs and I now bad eczema on my eyes from pumpkin seeds... All new. Been gluten free for 4 months or just over.

I don't understand it all. Also I have slowly become corn intolerant. I wish all these allergies would go away, gluten free would be easy compared to ALL of this. Has anyone lost their allergies at all?

I started reacting to cosmetics I had used for years - which had gluten in them. Swelling and itching. They had wheat germ oil and or oat oil (no gluten-free but who knows). I stopped using them and haven't retried them...because of the gluten. I did react very badly to a shampoo that's supposed to be gluten-free, also...but I've always had a picky scalp so who knows....

It has calmed down - the reactions. My body does not freak out so easily.

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. SusanJ
      - SusanJ replied to Jillian83's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      Celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis has taken Me from Me

      Two months ago, I started taking Dupixent for dermatitis herpetiformis and it has completely cleared it up. I can't believe it! I have had a terrible painful, intensely itchy rash for over a year despite going fully gluten-free. See if your doctor will prescribe Dupixent. It can be expensive but I am getting it free. When the dermatitis herpetiformis was...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      13

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      @tiffanygosci, Thiamine deficiency is a thing in pregnancy for "normal" people, so it's exponentially more important for those with celiac disease and malabsorption issues. I studied nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology because I was curious what the vitamins were doing inside the body. See my blog. Click on my name to go to my page...
    3. tiffanygosci
      - tiffanygosci replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      13

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      Thank you for sharing all of this, Knitty Kitty! I did just want someone to share some commonality with. I did not know This one Deficiency was a thing and that it's common for Celiac Disease. It makes sense since this is a disorder that causes malabsorption. I will have to keep this in mind for my next appointments. You also just spurred me on to make that...
    4. RMJ
      - RMJ replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?

      I think your initial idea, eat gluten and be tested, was excellent. Now you have fear of that testing, but isn’t there also a fear each time you eat gluten that you’re injuring your body? Possibly affecting future fertility, bone health and more? Wouldn’t it be better to know for sure one way or the other? If you test negative, then you celebrate and g...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?

      @Riley., Welcome to the forum, but don't do it! Don't continue to eat gluten! The health problems that will come if you continue to eat gluten are not worth it. Problems may not show up for years, but the constant inflammation and nutritional losses will manifest eventually. There's many of us oldsters on the forum who wish they'd been diagnosed...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,980
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Cathal Brugha
    Newest Member
    Cathal Brugha
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • SusanJ
      Celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis has taken Me from Me

      By SusanJ · Posted

      Two months ago, I started taking Dupixent for dermatitis herpetiformis and it has completely cleared it up. I can't believe it! I have had a terrible painful, intensely itchy rash for over a year despite going fully gluten-free. See if your doctor will prescribe Dupixent. It can be expensive but I am getting it free. When the dermatitis herpetiformis was bad I could not do anything. I just lay in bed covered in ice packs to ease the pain/itching and using way too Clobetasol. Dapsone is also very good for dermatitis herpetiformis (and it is generic). It helped me and the results were immediate but it gave me severe anemia so the Dupixent is better for me. Not sure if it works for everyone. I cannot help with the cause of your stress but from experience I am sure the severe stress is making the celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis worse. Very difficult for you with having children to care for and you being so sick. Would this man be willing to see a family therapist with you? He may be angry at you or imagine that your illness is a psychosomatic excuse not to take care of him. A therapist might help even if he won't go with you. Also do you have any family that you could move in with (with the kids) for a short time to get away? A break may be good for you both.
    • knitty kitty
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @tiffanygosci, Thiamine deficiency is a thing in pregnancy for "normal" people, so it's exponentially more important for those with celiac disease and malabsorption issues. I studied nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology because I was curious what the vitamins were doing inside the body.  See my blog.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll to drop down menu "activities" and select blog.   So glad you're motivated to see the dietician!  We're always happy to help with questions.  Keep us posted on your progress! 
    • tiffanygosci
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By tiffanygosci · Posted

      Thank you for sharing all of this, Knitty Kitty! I did just want someone to share some commonality with. I did not know This one Deficiency was a thing and that it's common for Celiac Disease. It makes sense since this is a disorder that causes malabsorption. I will have to keep this in mind for my next appointments. You also just spurred me on to make that Dietician appointment. There's a lot of information online but I do need to see a professional. There is too much to juggle on my own with this condition.<3
    • RMJ
      Outgrow celiac?

      By RMJ · Posted

      I think your initial idea, eat gluten and be tested, was excellent. Now you have fear of that testing, but isn’t there also a fear each time you eat gluten that you’re injuring your body? Possibly affecting future fertility, bone health and more? Wouldn’t it be better to know for sure one way or the other? If you test negative, then you celebrate and get tested occasionally to make sure the tests don’t turn positive again. If you test positive, of course the recommendation from me and others is to stop gluten entirely.  But if you’re unable to convince yourself to do that, could a positive test at least convince you to minimize your gluten consumption?  Immune reactions are generally what is called dose response, the bigger the dose, the bigger the response (in this case, damage to your intestines and body). So while I am NOT saying you should eat any gluten with a positive test, the less the better.  
    • knitty kitty
      Outgrow celiac?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Riley., Welcome to the forum, but don't do it!  Don't continue to eat gluten!  The health problems that will come if you continue to eat gluten are not worth it.  Problems may not show up for years, but the constant inflammation and nutritional losses will manifest eventually.  There's many of us oldsters on the forum who wish they'd been diagnosed as early.    Fertility problems, gallbladder removal, diabetes, osteoporosis and mental health challenges are future health issues you are toying with.   To dispel fear, learn more about what you are afraid of.  Be proactive.  Start or join a Celiac group in your area.  Learn about vitamins and nutrition.   Has your mother been checked for Celiac?  It's inherited.  She may be influencing you to eat gluten as a denial of her own symptoms.  Don't let friends and family sway you away from the gluten-free diet.  You know your path.  Stick to it.  Be brave. 
×
×
  • 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.