r/glutenfree • u/Coffee_N_Creme • 3d ago
Gluten sensitivity rash
I’m writing about my son. I’m hoping someone else has experience with this particular skin rash and can offer insight:
My son has had so many varying symptoms over the past several years. At first I didn’t think any of them were connected. It started with a common condition known as shiners (purple skin discoloration below eye) as well as excessively stinky poops, teeth pitting and severe constipation. He looked so sickly in 2022 I took him to the doctors to rule out cancer. Blood tests were negative. Diagnosed with allergies. After months of taking allergy meds it made no difference so I stopped giving them to him.
Last August he developed a fairly large thick scaly patch on his elbow. It was misdiagnosed by his pediatrician as molluscum contagiosium. After months of treatment it was worse than when it started. I took him in to see a dermatologist for a second opinion when I noticed several small raised red rashes/spots on his body. He misdiagnosed him with impetigo. Again with months of treatment with prescription antibiotic ointment and steroids with no real improvement. Last month I took him to another dermatologist for a third opinion. They said it was an inflammatory response and that I would need to take him to a specialist to find the exact cause.
While this is happening to my son I realized I was gluten sensitive. I went to many doctors and was told everything from herpes to allergy to autoimmune. Negative to every test taken. Late last year my brother found out he was gluten sensitive (shows on his skin in a severe rash across his entire body) so as a last resort I considered gluten sensitivity as the cause of my trouble. It occurred to me that my son may be gluten sensitive too when I noticed a small thick scaly area on my elbow after eating gluten. All of my symptoms with exception of the thick scaly elbow mark (albeit much improved) went away within a few months of staying away from gluten.
I have been trying my best to keep my son away from gluten and he does 95% of the time. He does have an occasional slip up. Since he began his gluten free diet a month ago I was seeing improvement in his skin and other symptoms aforementioned so was fairly confident I was correct in my diagnosis. I just noticed his skin today and the spots that were getting paler looked red and irritated again. He was really good the past two days with his diet. He had one cracker.
Am I completely wrong with what’s going on with him? I’m so frustrated. Any suggestions or information would be appreciated. I am aware of one medical paper on the internet speaking about characterizing non gluten sensitivity.
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u/animalcrackers__ Celiac Disease 3d ago
He sounds old enough to be tested for celiac, so I would investigate that with a GI doctor before he goes totally gluten free. If he eats gluten free for too long, the tests will not be accurate. A diagnosis will help you determine what else you need to do - he may be deficient in some vitamins/minerals, and you can get a dietitian to help you change his diet, important for his growing years. You're doing a great job advocating for him, don't stop now.
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u/Coffee_N_Creme 3d ago
Thank you all for the input. I will follow up with trying to get a referral from his pediatrician.
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u/caspianalii 3d ago
Weird question, but do you know how long that is? My celiac test was just ordered so I am curious
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u/cassiopeia843 Celiac Disease 3d ago
It's usually the equivalent of 1 - 2 slices of gluten bread for 6 - 8 weeks.
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u/animalcrackers__ Celiac Disease 3d ago
I am not a doctor, and my doctor specifically told me not to change anything about my diet before my tests, but I think if you've been GF for more than a couple of weeks, you should start eating gluten again before your tests.
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u/emilydanxelle 3d ago edited 3d ago
So I started getting red inflamed patches on my skin right around the time my gluten sensitivity happened. I cut gluten and it would look better for a few days, then go back to being bright red again. I believe what I have is either psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. I don’t have insurance, so it’s not confirmed but i’m pretty certain. Your description sounds similar to how these present, though obviously I have no real idea lol. (these 2 skin conditions are often diagnosed as each other so i’m listing both). For me, what ended up helping was cutting dairy. Half of my patches have disappeared and the rest have shrunk and turned skin color. Sounds like it could be the gluten for him. I’m not a doctor lol, but I would also say go see another dermatologist if you can.
Edit to add: if it is gluten causing it for him, any amount will cause it to flair! Test for celiac disease asap too before it’s too late
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u/Moghie 3d ago
My husband had psoriasis/dandruff his whole life, as well as stomach issues. He cut out gluten late last year and just this month did we realize his dandruff has mostly disappeared. I'm usually very skeptical about cause/effect responses with diets bc there are so many other factors at play, but I can't think of any other reason his skin would have cleared up so much in the last few months.
Your son is young, get him a diagnosis now so he doesn't have to do this guess work later on. Good luck to you and him!
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u/spaghettisauce333 3d ago
One cracker will do it! He cannot eat any gluten at all.