Can Outbreaks Of Dh Be Linked To Accidental Gluten Intake?

[Marz]

So now that I'm more and more gluten free, and I'm still learning what I shouldn't be eating - I find that I'm getting *more* DH outbreaks.

Note that I haven't been to a dermatologist, I don't like wasting my money, so it hasn't been confirmed that it's definitely DH.

They're not too extensive fortunately, they're like itchy pimples that develops all over my arms, legs and body. I'm also getting small patches of non-itchy rashes forming, that I've never had before - they look like DH though - water blister-like bubbles surrounded by red, "inflamed" looking skin.

I never had any DH before going gluten free, it's only now that I've been gluten free that the itchy spots are happening.

So my question is - can I use these "outbreaks" as an indication of how well I'm doing with the gluten-free diet? Is the fact that I'm still getting itchy spots an indication that I'm still ingesting some gluten somewhere?

It just seems at the moment, the more strict I get the worse it gets... I'm now soy and dairy free, and I think I'll need to cut out my maize and sorghum porridge in the mornings because even though they're "gluten free", it looks like gluten-free grains can be contaminated. I'm also still getting GI symptoms, so it's definitely gluten or food intolerance related, sigh.

[ravenwoodglass]

Considering your also getting GI upsets I would say yes you may be getting CC'd somewhere. It could be CC from the cereal your eating that may be cross contaminated so it would be a good idea to switch to something else. If you like a hot cereal Pocono buckwheat is grown in dedicated fields and processed in a dedicted plant. It is very similiar to Cream of Wheat. If you haven't eliminated gluten from nonfood sources it would be a good idea to do so for the time being. In addition dropping iodized salt is usually needed as it can cause the antibodies to remain active in the skin.

[victoria123]

hello, i am new here, and this is my first post,so please forgive if i am repeating anything. i myself can use my right elbow as an indicator of messing up. in fact, that's how i found this forum- i was searching for help as my elbow is itchy and getting rashy bumps- over the last 4 days. i can't attribute it to anything food-wise. i am taking new vitamins though- and citrucel. benefiber was bad- itchy elbows and bumps, so i stopped. i've read the package on citrucel and it doesn't say gluten but it must have something? guess i should stop that too? any suggestions what to try instead?

anyway, the answer to the original question is an unequivocal YES. without dh i would not have a strong indicator. i'm already so used to abdominal pain that the extra that comes with it doesn't register in my brain as heavily as itchiness does.

victoria

[dilettantesteph]

So my question is - can I use these "outbreaks" as an indication of how well I'm doing with the gluten-free diet? Is the fact that I'm still getting itchy spots an indication that I'm still ingesting some gluten somewhere?

Yes, I think so.

It just seems at the moment, the more strict I get the worse it gets...

My experience too.

I think I'll need to cut out my maize and sorghum porridge in the mornings because even though they're "gluten free", it looks like gluten-free grains can be contaminated. I'm also still getting GI symptoms, so it's definitely gluten or food intolerance related, sigh.

I sort my grains to remove anything that doesn't belong and then triple wash them with soap. Then I can tolerate them. Otherwise I cannot. It is a lot of trouble, but maybe worth a try.

[Kay DH]

Last Thursday I had what were supposed to be gluten-free tamales. They weren't. After 2 months gluten-free my reaction was mostly smelly loose BM the next morning, lethargy for a few days, and my rash came back. There were no bumps, just the itchy areas on the insides of my calves and on my back. I went gluten-free last fall after getting the flu and the start of this experience. I've had a non-diagnosed rash on my legs and back for decades (you would think the doctors would have at least mentioned biopsy, instead of just saying to use hydrocortisone). The rash went away 6 months after going gluten-free, but it can make brief appearances when I've been glutened. It goes dormant again after a few days. I am very sensitive to cc now, far more so then when I first had GI problems.

[cassP]

is it possible at all, for those of us who are not getting CC or abdominal symptoms.... when getting the DH AFTER going gluten free-> is it possible that its a form of detoxing??? like the body is trying to purge any left over gluten proteins??

cause well- i THINK i had DH almost a year ago on my forearm, not sure.

and now that ive been gluten free for 10 weeks- ive got a brand new patch on my stomach.

a decade ago- when i took gluten out the 1st time-> i had severe acne on my forehead for 3 months... i dont think it was DH?? but i DO think it was my body detoxing.

[Marz]

Thanks for all the responses!

I'm definitely going to cut out the processed cereals and switch to self-cooked whole grains (Like Quinoa and rice) for my "breakfast".

[rdunbar]

It was my experience that my DH got worse when I cut wheat out of my diet, but was essentially ' gluten lite'

I was clueless as to what DH is, and about celiac, and gluten. I was still getting some gluten on a regular basis because I didn't know about all the precuations I had to take to avoid even trace amounts of gluten, CC. Maybe this process of slowly weaning myself away from gluten made me more sensative, and the reaction worse?

Definatly watch out for iodine, it's in most multi- vitimins, and in sea salt and in seafood, especially shellfish. Asparagus too?

If it's super itchy, symmetrical, and the blisters form in little groups or clusters, things are pointing towards it being DH. The fact that the dr was defensive about how they took the biopsy would make me suspicious as to whether they know what they are doing. He should be able to give you a very clear explanation as to exactly how the biopsy was performed and how it works. Apparantly DH is difficult to biopsy successfully, so you have every reason to play 40 questions IMO, sometimes I think that when these doctors or derms don't like being second geussed, that they are just hiding thier own lack of confidence

it's your $ and more importantly your health and well being at at stake, so insist that the biopsy be performed correctly if it wasn't.

DH takes time to resolve, so don't expect instant results if you are on the gluten-free diet, the antibodies get stuck in your skin so don't disappear over night, the key is to stop your immune system from producing more of them by making sure no gluten gets in your body ever.

If you've just had the rash a short time chances are that it will go away faster than if you've had it a long time with a gluten free diet/ lifestyle