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Skin- Worse Before Better?

healinginprogress

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healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted

Did anyone's skin get worse before it got better when going gluten-free? I don't have DH, and my skin isn't that bad, really...but what I do have are these little bumps that kind of look like pimples, though not usually pink or red, and if I squeeze them (I know, not supposed to squeeze/pick!), it looks like something should come out but it's just water/clear liquid.

I didn't have very many before, but over the past year as my health got worse, I got more of these bumps...mostly on my chin, jawline, cheeks, upper neck.

I started using gluten-free cleanser and face cream recently and I'm hoping that will clear it up, along with my new diet...maybe I just need more patience, but it seems almost like it's worse instead of better.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced something like this?

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cassP Contributor
cassP
Posted

Did anyone's skin get worse before it got better when going gluten-free? I don't have DH, and my skin isn't that bad, really...but what I do have are these little bumps that kind of look like pimples, though not usually pink or red, and if I squeeze them (I know, not supposed to squeeze/pick!), it looks like something should come out but it's just water/clear liquid.

I didn't have very many before, but over the past year as my health got worse, I got more of these bumps...mostly on my chin, jawline, cheeks, upper neck.

I started using gluten-free cleanser and face cream recently and I'm hoping that will clear it up, along with my new diet...maybe I just need more patience, but it seems almost like it's worse instead of better.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced something like this?

what you're describing sounds exactly like DH... little bumps/blisters with clear liquid coming out when squeezed.

i have some bumps on my forearms that come and go... but i had a small patch on my stomach that didnt even show up untill i went gluten free!! they came 3 weeks after i went gluten-free.. and they stayed for about 4 months.

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

But they don't itch at all, and look nothing like the pictures when I google DH. I just really hope it goes away <_<

txplowgirl Enthusiast
txplowgirl
Posted

I have those at times on my upper shoulders and upper arms. They didn't start going away until I was a year into this. but they come back with a vengeance if I get glutened or if I have anything with potato starch. It's a bummer.

YoloGx Rookie
YoloGx
Posted

It could be DH or it could be an allergic reaction to your cleanser. I suggest you get something that is fragrance free as well as gluten-free.

Bea

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

I was going to post pics, are we not able to do that?

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

You can post pics if you like.

It sounds like what my rash was like before it got really bad. DH

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healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

yeah when I took pictures it looked a little more like DH than I thought. I guess I'll go to the doctor...if I find a spare moment UGH. Feeling really down right now. Not just about my skin, but everything. Regardless...is there anything you can do for DH? Or is it just gluten-free and wait it out? And why is it on my face, has anyone else had it one their face? I guess I should go to the DH forum.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I have it on my face.

10 lesions- they go down then flare again.

It is not fun. At least if it were on my limbs, I could cover it up with clothing.

I was misdiagnosed for a long time since it is on my face. Treated for fungus, acne, herpes, etc. on and on.

Since all the literature says DH does not occur commonly on the face, it may take some convincing to get a dermatologist to test you for it. But you may have better luck than I did.

I will tell you that iodine can activate the rash and lesions and you should avoid iodine temporarily until the rash heals. It takes both gluten and iodine to cause DH. It is very slow healing. This is 5 months now for me. I have made mistakes like eating shellfish, fish, using iodized salt. I thought eliminating gluten would be enough but it has not been.

One website said DH sufferers heal faster if they avoid dairy, eggs and peanuts in addition to gluten. But most of the literature says gluten and temoorary iodine avoidance are enough. I have become more vigilant about avoiding iodine, since I started this journey. Use uniodized salt.

For the pain, Walgreens makes a benzocain ointment calle Pain Relieving Ointment, but it is only temporary relief. The experts say that the antibodies can remain in the skin for up to 10 years and can easily be activated for several weeks just by accidental cross contamination. It is true in my case. Some people have healed after a few weeks gluten free, some after a few months. Some take up to 2 years according to Dr. Peter Green.

The DH forum is very helpful. I'm sorry you have to go through this. It adds a whole other layer to Celiac and food elimination. I too, have wondered how many have it on their face. I know of 2 others on this cite that I can recall. So I don't think it is entirely rare...just unrecognized maybe.

Ask any questions you like. This is a difficult thing to manage, and everyone here has been really helpful to me.

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

Thank you, so much, eatmeat4good...I'm sure I WILL have more questions

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      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
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    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
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      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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