Dry Skin

[swittenauer]

Guess what? We have another symptom that we are curious if it related to Celiac. My husband has had dry skin on his upper back, chest, top of forehead around the hairline & around his nose on & off over the years but ever since he got sick & then diagnosed, it has been much worse. Is this at all related to Celiac? Does anyone else have this problem? Thanks!

[Carriefaith]

I get really dry skin sometimes, but I don't know if it is related to celiac disease. I'm sure a lack of certain vitamins would lead to dry skin, so it makes sence. Some people are just prone to dry skin.

[Canadian Karen]

I have dry skin also. My vulnerable spots seem to be on my hands inbetween the fingers (at the top where you rings are) and my scalp. I have tried everything under the sun to control it but haven't found anything yet that can take the place of what used to work (Aveeno with Oatmeal was the ONLY thing that controlled it sufficiently, ironic, eh?) I of course won't take the chance now with oatmeal, therefore, I live with dry skin......

Karen

[Rachel--24]

I have dry skin too....I never had it before I got sick so I think for me its probably got something to do with lack of vitamins or something.

[mstrain]

I have dry skin also.  My vulnerable spots seem to be on my hands inbetween the fingers (at the top where you rings are) and my scalp.  I have tried everything under the sun to control it but haven't found anything yet that can take the place of what used to work (Aveeno with Oatmeal was the ONLY thing that controlled it sufficiently, ironic, eh?)  I of course won't take the chance now with oatmeal, therefore, I live with dry skin...... 

Karen

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For your hands have you tried vaseline or Aquaphor? I've used Aquaphor on my baby for every dry skin/rash problem imaginable and it clears it right up. I have hypothyroidism and suffer from dry skin from that, but maybe celiac disease is also contributing to it. If you put the Aqauphor on your hands after you shower and then cover with thin white cotton gloves or socks, go to bed, in the morning your dry spots should be noticeably softer. I can't imagine putting this stuff in your hair, though!

[jenvan]

It is just a basic dry skin or is it flaky and itchy like psoriasis maybe? I just got some lotion from tropicaltraditions.com, and it is really good. I use it on my hands and parts that get extremely dry. All their products are gluten-free and chemical free...so no additional irritants. I got the kind in the jar and not the tube...

In the winter I get really dry...so looking ahead if you need to...we keep humdifiers going during the late fall winter. It definitely makes a big difference with my skin.

[swittenauer]

It is not flaky....just very dry & rough. It is kind of splotchy around his hairline & on his forehead also.

[swittenauer]

On second thought, he says it is very itchy which would explain why he is always asking me to scratch his back. What was I thinking?

[watkinson]

HI swittenauer,

Like mstrain said, dry skin is a big symptom of hypothyroid. I had dry skin and dry hair. My thyroid problems cleared up after going gluten-free.

Can I suggest that he start taking omega 3 fish oil. You can find it in pill form at whole foods ect. Google it to find out the best daily amount for him. I take 2 tablets every day. It's great for every part of the body even the skin, moisturizing from the inside out.

Also, he can try rubbing a small amount of mineral oil (baby oil) on the dry patches while in the shower. Just let it soak in, don't wash it off with soap, just rinse with water, then towel dry.

Good luck, Wendy

[swittenauer]

So, is it safe to say that what he has has nothing to do with Celiac?

[watkinson]

Oh...absolutely not. Many celiacs suffer from skin conditions. I think it is yet another symptom of malnurishment. Not only did I have dry skin but I would get patches of excema, those are gone too.

The worst skin problem I had, (and the one that I saw many dermatologists about over a period of about 20 years!! Of course none of them new what caused it. They said i had "sensitive" skin and should use the most mild of soaps, Cetaphil. They would give me this cream or that but of course it never went away.)

Anyway, it was this rash that I would get on my cheeks, neck and shoulders. I don't think it was DH because it didn't resemble any of the pictures I have seen. This was very tiny bumps, almost like heat rash. It wasn't terribly visible but you could feel them and they itched and stung, and were very irritating to the skin. Sometimes worse than other times, but always there.

Of course, it completely dissapeared (and has never come back) within 1 week of being gluten-free. Even in accidentall glutening only a bump or two would show up not the whole area like before.

THESE DOCTORS!!!!!

What a waste of time!!

Wendy

[swittenauer]

It actually seems to worse if he gets glutened. It is almost like sandpaper on his upper back.

[Guinevere]

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. my face and head are covered with the sandpaper-ish stuff. i have been virtually gluten free for the past 3.5 years. yet i still have the darn stuff. i have recently (through much researching, etc.) pondered the idea that candidas comes as a secondary to celiac. (if you really read into it, it would be hard NOT to arrive at that conclusion). at any rate, i have been adding intensive probiotics and candidas killing stuff and i am just starting to see an improvement! i have also increased my b12 and chlorella - which detoxes the blood, etc.

I'm also doing a parasite cleanse (it includes a daily fiber drink) with good results - it seems to be helping everything. not sure why, but even my joints feel better on this stuff.

hope this is info is beneficial for you.

good luck.

[elisabet]

My son had very dry skin,after eliminating casein,gluten and soy,his skin became very soft.He gets the eczema patches if he gets glutened.

[swittenauer]

We think he has been glutened as of late & he just feels bad overall but now his face is red all over & bumpy & actually I would describe it as crusty. It never gets better all the way but rather comes & goes alot.

[givingthanx]

My son had very dry skin,after eliminating casein,gluten and soy,his skin became very soft.He gets the eczema patches if he gets glutened.

What do these eczema patches that people are talking about look like? I've been getting brown patches of brown leathery skin - on my feet and on my knees. The patches have defined edges. Wrinkly, leathery, hard skin. Not itchy. My mom, who I suspect has celiac (she's got a ton of symptoms) also has these patches.