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Skin Rash And Gluten?


Sohnovics

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Sohnovics Newbie

Hi guys! This is my first post here, so please be overbearing in case I've posted this in the wrong forum.

First of all, I should stress that I don't have celiac disease - I've recently been tested in connection with some stomach issues and the results were negative.

Anyways, I'll be brief: I've suffered from mild acne for a couple of years now. It is very mild, so most people don't even notice it. Yet, I've been fairly annoyed with it since I refrain from eating sugary foods, junk food and so on (not really because of my skin, but because I've got to family members with diabetes so eating healthy has always been a prime concern in my family).

I did a course of Accutane, which help tremendously, but I did develop some stomach issues (my doctor has now attributed it to the Accutane, but luckily it has regressed and I don't have any symptoms of bowel diseases, which Accutane has sometimes been suspected of causing.

Yet, before I got the final results a friend of mine suggested I try a gluten-free diet. I did for nearly a week - surely not enough to rule anything out, but in the meantime I got my test results back. Since they were negative, I abandoned by diet and celebrated with a couple of beers. Next day I got a terrible skin rash on my face - it isn't visible, but I cannot help thinking that it might be related to the sudden influx of gluten that came with the beers.

Is it common to have a reaction like this after going gluten-free - even for a week - and would people who are not sensitive to gluten have a similar reaction after refraining from eating it for a while? I


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SMDBill Apprentice

Without knowing what you were tested for exactly and how you were tested, a negative isn't necessarily a negative. I'd think if you began to notice even slight changes after being gluten-free, re-introducing it could certainly cause reactions. I had nearly all my symptoms disappear within the first week so there's no reason to think you couldn't feel those symptoms after the same period and then changing back to gluten.

I'd suggest going gluten-free for a longer period of time if you believe you saw improvement while gluten-free. Worst case, you will eat food without gluten without harming your body at all.

AandGsmomma Apprentice

I have tiny red specks that appear in my legs almost immideatly after having gluten (signals that Im about to be sick). They disappear when Im gluten free. So its totally possible.

lmc22 Newbie

I get the same type of rash if I eat gluten. Looks kinda like blisters/acne... if I go gluten free then it slowly starts to go away

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    • Scott Adams
      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
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