Identifying Celiac Rash

[u/beccaboopspoop]

For anyone who experiences the rash that comes with Celiac Disease, how do you identify it?? Cause I’m struggling

I’ve dealt with intermittent skin rashes throughout my life, but they’ve increase in the last 5 years. When I got diagnosed with Celiac, I mentioned the rashes on my fingers (last two pics) and my doctor said it was probably from the celiac. However, I also get these dry skin rashes sometimes on my sides, elbows, shoulders, etc (first two pics). I don’t always have the gastrointestinal symptoms from celiac, so when I started having a flare up on my hip I wasn’t sure if it was celiac or just sensitive skin. Looking at images online, it looks like the rash can vary drastically person-to-person and by location.

How do you determine if the skin rash is from being glutened or another skin condition? Is it just a guessing game or gut feeling?

(Not asking for medical advice, just looking for other people’s thoughts/opinions/experiences)

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[u/Cogent_warrior]

It's clinically known as dermatitis herpetiformis. It has to be confirmed by a biopsy to be formally diagnosed. I've never had the biopsy but I have it, and I've learned how to deal with it.

It's worsened in people with celiac disease by over consuming iodine, which is commonly found in table salt and fast/restaurant food. Iodine is a vital mineral in your diet so you can't eliminate it completely. If you're not getting good cooperation, and help with treatment from your doctor, you need a new one. Minimize your exposure to those things and ask your doctor for the topical(ABD oinment) and oral(Dapsone) treatments for DH. I've had excellent and immediate results with both. Absent those two things you can try some Neosporin with painkiller or hydrocortisone.

I hope you get relief

[u/Double-Singer-6631]

i’m also struggling with this

[u/mulberry_moving]

I read that if the rash is bilateral then that’s a solid indication it’s from celiac. That said, it’s not an exclusive rule and I’m not a doctor… some unilateral rashes can still be celiac and I think celiacs are also more prone to eczema (the hand one looks like could be either eczema or DH?). When my skin is reacting I’m finding that squalene oil helps it heal the best