How Do I Manage This Rash Until I Can Go Gluten Free?

[Juanitahoy]

I am currently undergoing testing for Celiac, and have a endoscopy/biopsy scheduled in 12 days. I have continued to eat gluten, and have been making a point to eat some at each meal.

For the last 3 months, my face has been breaking out (only on the right side) and I assumed it was acne even though I haven't had a breakout like this in years (I am 31). I am now noticing that no acne-like stuff came out of any of the bumps, the breakout started in August and is not getting any better, and now I have an itchy rash extending onto my neck and around my ear. I am starting to question if it is DH instead.

I have been putting Garnier's new dark spot corrector on it, which has a high level of vitamin C in it. It seems to be healing better with the cream, but the rash on the neck is new since using it, although I used it for about 3 weeks prior to the neck rash starting.

I know that there may be gluten in skin products, but where is a list of ingredients I should look for? I have looked through a list of food, but can't find a list for skin products.

Should I just use some cortisone cream on it to cut the itch? What do you suggest? It's getting to the point that people can't stop looking at it, and constantly asking "what's up with your face?" since it's so unusual for me to have such a breakout. I just don't know what to do, since I have at least 2 weeks before I can go gluten free.

[squirmingitch]

I can't find the source where I found this list but I have copied it here for you. No guarantee it is complete but it's better than nothing.

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Apparently listed below are all the gluten additives that are in our makeup & skin care that we need to avoid!!

Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour

Cyclodextrin

Dextrin

Dextrin Palmitate

Disodium Wheatgermamphodiacetate

Hydrolyzed Malt Extract

Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour

Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch

Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Malt Extract

Maltodextrin

Secale Cereale (Rye) Seed Flour

Sodium C8-16 Isoalkylsuccinyl Wheat Protein Sulfonate

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch

Wheat Amino Acids

Wheat Germ Glycerides

Wheat Germamidopropalkonium Chloride

Wheat Protein

Wheatgermamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate

Yeast Extract

[pricklypear1971]

Maltodextrin can be corn, at least in food in the US. I have no idea about cosmetics....I'd like to know, too.

[ciamarie]

When I had DH on my face a few years ago, (and didn't know at the time that's what it was) I did find that pro-active solution helped. It didn't go away completely until I stopped eating wheat. (Not knowing better, I switched to spelt, ugh!) I thought it was some weird form of adult acne, since I was in my late 30's. I also wore some cover girl foundation over it when I went out in public, though I don't generally wear foundation. Of course since I didn't know better, I also don't know about the ingredients.

Also because it was very itchy sometimes, and I knew I didn't want to scratch too much -- when I got home from work I would wash off everything else and put some calamine lotion on it. As I recall, it helped some. Of course, you'll want to check the ingredients on calamine lotion too. It should be available at any drug-store, somewhere near skin ointments and similar things. We used to use it when I was younger, on mosquito bites; so that's how I knew about it as an itch reliever.

Lastly, I really suspect that only eating gluten at one meal a day would be plenty for testing.

[Di2011]

Sounds similar to what my face/neck areas are like.

When you are at home use an icepack on it to relieve the itching. This is the only thing that actually stops me from itching and scratching.

As soon as that appointment/biopsy is over don't touch gluten again (or eat it obviously ). Be as strict as you can otherwise it will get worse before it gets better. And you don't want it to spread any further.

[Juanitahoy]

Thank you everyone for your support.

I have started using the proactive refining lotion only since the whole line is too harsh for my skin. I have also started using hydrocortisone lotion a few times a day.

It already looks better, and is definately alot easier to put up with.

I also realized that most lotions and cosmetics have the ingrediants on the packaging, not on the bottle or tube itself. What a pain! I guess I'll either have to go to the store with a list, or see if the websites have the info on them.

The next 11 days can not go by fast enough!

[pricklypear1971]

Thank you everyone for your support.

I have started using the proactive refining lotion only since the whole line is too harsh for my skin. I have also started using hydrocortisone lotion a few times a day.

It already looks better, and is definately alot easier to put up with.

I also realized that most lotions and cosmetics have the ingrediants on the packaging, not on the bottle or tube itself. What a pain! I guess I'll either have to go to the store with a list, or see if the websites have the info on them.

The next 11 days can not go by fast enough!

Sorry it's so bad.

Do be careful with the steroid creams on your face. Many are too strong for the delicate skin of the face, which is why Derms usually rx a specific one for the face.