Lip Sores During A Gluten Challenge

[suziq0805]

I was gluten-free for 7 weeks (and gluten-light a bit prior to that). I am now about 3 weeks into a gluten challenge. Pretty quickly after beginning to eat gluten I began to get sore spots in the corners of my lips (where the upper and lower lips meet). At first I didn't think much of it but they keep coming back. They are small, red, feel dry and hurts to open my mouth completely to eat some days. I don't have the GI symptoms really..maybe some bloating since my clothes don't fit well in my waist now, but maybe that's also due to being a bit too excited about eating gluten again and may have gone a bit overboard with the gluten foods at first. Are the lip sores a celiac thing or just another weird thing my body does? I get cold sores sometimes but don't remember having this before.

[krystynycole]

I haven't had a cold sore or canker sore since going gluten-free this past November! I used to get them all the time and now nothing...it was nice surprise!

[beebs]

Sounds like Angular cheilitis, I used to get them all the time - so stingy. They absolutely can be a sign of celiac and can happen due to deficiencies like anemia, B2 and Zinc.

[suziq0805]

I looked up Angular cheilitis and it sounds like what I'm dealing with. Although I did see it can be caused by bacteria or fungal infection or vitamin deficiencies. When I mentioned it to my husband tonight he said he's dealing with the same thing. So that's odd. Anyone know how to tell whether it's an infection or vitamin deficiencies causing it?

[eatmeat4good]

Supplement with B complex and a multiple vitamin.

If it isn't gone in a week or so I'd see a Dr. and find out if it is an infection.

[beachbirdie]

Yes...deficiency in B vitamins can be one cause of this.

[Skylark]

I used to get that too. Come to think of it, it doesn't happen much now that I'm off gluten.

[ArcticLotus]

Remember that certain deficiencies can weaken your immune system, leaving your more vulnerable to infections starting in the first place. That's why recurring UTI's are also on the gluten symptom list.

I used to get Angular Cheilitis and eczema around my lips alot, as well as canker soars. I also used to have to switch chapstick brands monthly because I would get a reaction after a while. Come to find out many brands may contain wheat. I switched to Vaseline purified lip balm tubes because they have no added menthol or chemicals to puff your lips. This was years ago, I only discovered I'm gluten intollerent very recently. It's a learning process