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I'm not saying this is what you have, but your description reminds me of Morgellons, which are not very well understood. Here is a review from a reputable source. If it seems similar to your experience, you could raise this question with your Dr.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/morgellons-disease

@Jmartes71, Been here.  It's okay.  You're not imagining things, but there's no bugs or parasites in your skin.  The cats are not infecting you with anything.  That's a hyperkeratotic plug that builds up in a hair follicle which does go deep and is attached by the hair sheath that looks stringy.  It's a type of thing seen commonly in Dermatitis Herpetiformis.   Niacin B 3, in the form Nicotinic Acid (active form that causes flushing) or in the form Niacinamide will help immensely with clearing this up.  Take 100 mg three times a day, and Tryptophan (another form of Niacin) to help you sleep and heal your intestines at night.   Kidney stones can result when the body doesn't have sufficient Thiamine B 1.   Are you taking a B Complex supplement?  The eight B vitamins are water soluble.  Many people with Celiac Disease benefit by taking a B Complex to boost absorption.   The cloves are great because they can reduce inflammation, but your body needs the Bs and extra Niacinamide as well.  Benfotiamine, a form of Thiamine B 1, is also needed in higher doses to heal the intestines.  If you get your intestines calmed down, your skin will calm down, too.  Benfotiamine has anticancer potential in higher doses. Rapid resolution of delusional parasitosis in pellagra with niacin augmentation therapy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19061687/ Tryptophan metabolism: From physiological functions to key roles and therapeutic targets in cancer (Review) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12139378/ Thiamine and benfotiamine: Focus on their therapeutic potential https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10682628/

I am currently 28 and was diagnosed when I was 19-20.  I am strictly gluten free and dairy free, grain free etc. I just had to say that I had a horrible reaction to quinoa when I tried it as an alternative. It was certified gluten-free quinoa noodles. I couldn't even finish the bowl of food before I started to feel sick. I had trouble breathing and threw up. It was one of the most severe reactions I have ever had, so I have never eaten it again. Since cutting out gluten, I feel that over the years I have developed new intolerances to foods. I eventually went on the carnivore diet which helped me a lot. I no longer have joint pain and my skin is better. I would recommend trying carnivore, because even foods that you think aren't affecting you could be, especially sugar, natural or otherwise. 

Thanks for the update, Ben. If you will be having an endoscopy/biopsy to confirm the results of the blood testing - and this would be the normal protocol - you will still need to continue the gluten challenge until that is done.

Update on how things went. To meet my daily quantity of gluten I had a measured amount of gluten flour with my breakfast and 2 slices of bread later in the day. I still had discomfort but it wasn't debilitating. My blood tests results came back this week and they were positive so I've been referred to a specialist.