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Does Dh React Only To Topical Gluten Or Ingested Gluten As Well?


livelifelarge24

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livelifelarge24 Enthusiast

I have been gluten free for five months and have never felt better. However I have a DH outbreak on both sides of my neck that I have not been able to get rid of. I realizes my hairspray had gluten in it so I replaced that. As far as I know I am using absolutely no gluten products except eyeshadow. Does te rash only flare upfrom topical glutting or does accidental ingestion cause it? I think this flared up about the time I last accidentally got glutened. Or will it just take longer for my skin to heal? I'm sorry I feel like I don't understand a lot about the skin part of my condition.


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rosetapper23 Explorer

Have you tried avoiding iodine? Many of us with DH cannot control outbreaks without eliminating iodine as much as possible. Iodine can be found in iodized salt, some dairy products (especially soft cheeses), seafood, salty foods like french fries and chips and nuts, and asparagus. It appears to take BOTH gluten and iodine together to cause a flare-up of DH. Many of us have discovered that if we eliminate iodine, our flare-ups are less severe when we're accidentally glutened. After you've been gluten free for a while, you might not break out anymore regardless of eating something with iodine in it. Because you need iodine (small amounts), you'll need to ultimately add it back into your diet.

psawyer Proficient

DH is definitely related to ingestion of gluten. Whether it is related to topical contact is a subject for debate.

Iodine is a factor in the management of DH. While it will not, of itself, trigger the reaction, it is understood that the reaction will be more severe in the presence of iodine.

Dietary sources of iodine include commercially prepared iodized salt, and ocean products including both fish and seaweed (eg. kelp).

pricklypear1971 Community Regular

Google "thyca" for a list of high-iodone goods to avoid.

If you have enough iga in your skin, if it meets enough iodone...you'll probably get a rash.

Just because it's topical, doesn't mean it doesn't hit a mucus membrane and get in.

livelifelarge24 Enthusiast

Thank you so much! I did not know about the iodine. Ive always considered myself lucky that I only had one unbearable severe skin reaction back before I knew I had celiac. This is gettig really annoying though.

livelifelarge24 Enthusiast

This seems a little overwhelming now, all of the iodine foods to avoid on top of gluten :/ I really try not to get discouraged but it seems like it just got really hard again!

pricklypear1971 Community Regular

The dairy (if you aren't already) is tough.

Carageenan is a pain, but as long as you're off dairy it's doable. Don't try to find a milk substitute. All of them have sea salt and/or carageenan except one hemp milk...and btw it was gross. I used a few pads of butter in egg whites and was fine.

Egg whites are fine to sub for eggs (but I am sooo tired of them now - just reintroduced whole eggs and am soooooo happy).

Potatoes got me in the beginning, even without skins.

I stuck to nuts, nut butters with honey for quick snacks. And I ate my weight in Junior Mints. They are dairy and gluten-free and egg free so if you can tolerate them (no other issues), LOAD UP. I also ate Ghiradelli chocolate chips and Talenti raspberry sorbet like mad. You need a crutch....

I did hard core low iodone for 2 weeks (after gluten-free for 2 months) and that worked to clear it up. Since you've been gluten-free a while you may be as lucky as I was. Also, toss out iodine containing skin care. That was painful and expensive - lots of seaweed and carageenan there.

I am now (after 2 months) eating a mostly normal (except gluten) diet. I eat seafood in moderation, eggs, potatoes, dairy. No sea salt or iodized salt yet. No sushi fest. Just go slow reintroducing.....

Good luck!


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YoloGx Rookie

Google "thyca" for a list of high-iodone goods to avoid.

If you have enough iga in your skin, if it meets enough iodone...you'll probably get a rash.

Just because it's topical, doesn't mean it doesn't hit a mucus membrane and get in.

especially around something so sensitive as the eyes. I suggest you try Afterglow or some other gluten-free eyeshadow

ravenwoodglass Mentor

This seems a little overwhelming now, all of the iodine foods to avoid on top of gluten :/ I really try not to get discouraged but it seems like it just got really hard again!

Try just avoiding iodized salt, iodine in vitamins and seafood that is high in iodine first. That was all it took for me and my DH was quite severe.

After you have been gluten free and DH outbreak free then do try adding iodine back in as it is an important nutrient.

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