Abscesses on legs

[LookingForAnswers101]

Hello, gluten free community! Thank you so much for welcoming me into your space.

I'd like to ask if anyone has had a similar experience. 5 years ago, when I was 26, I started getting abscesses on my lower buttcheek every 2/3 months. There have been a lot of them in the past few years! Now for the last year or so, I keep getting absesses on the back of my thighs. I read online that gluten sensitivity can cause skin issues, and I read that it can cause perianal abscesses, but I have not seen anything about abscesses in other locations--has anyone else had this experience? Could this be gluten-related?

Much love

[plumbago]

Hi there,

Can you describe them a little more? Do they ooze? Do they itch? Do they spread like a rash or appear like a "boil?" Has a doctor / dermatologist looked at them? Are they big? Do they seem like they could get infected if not careful? Do they disappear? (You say you get them "2/3" months, assuming you meant "2 to 3" - so have the ones that came 2-3 months beforehand disappeared?) Have you noticed what triggers them?

Etc.

Welcome!

[trents]

You say you have gluten sensitivity? Have you been officially diagnosed with celiac disease or do you refer to NCGS?

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the gluten-free community! It’s great to have you here. While gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can indeed cause skin issues, such as dermatitis herpetiformis (a blistering rash), abscesses in areas like the lower buttocks or thighs are less commonly linked directly to gluten. However, chronic abscesses could be a sign of an underlying immune or inflammatory condition, which might be worth discussing with a healthcare professional. Some people with gluten-related disorders also experience secondary issues like bacterial overgrowth or immune dysregulation, which could potentially contribute to recurrent infections. It’s always a good idea to explore all possible causes, including gluten sensitivity, with your doctor. In the meantime, keeping a food and symptom diary might help identify any patterns. Wishing you the best on your health journey!

[LookingForAnswers101]

@plumbago

They appear as boils. They are big, like the size of a nickel--quarter, and they hurt when I touch them. I have gone to the same derm for them over and over and she thinks my body is colonized by a bacteria, but even after using hibiclens all over my body they come back.

[plumbago]

Ok, thanks. I'm so glad to hear you are in the hands of a dermatologist. I hope he/she has given you 1) a diagnosis; and 2) a plan of care with a couple of options so that you have buy-in and comfort with it. I have some ideas, but not having seen the abscesses or you in person, it doesn't really make sense for me to kind of ... speculate further. But your question was regarding gluten, and you've gotten a couple of other follow up questions and answers that are good, including the idea to keep a food diary. Let us know if we can help further or answer any other questions. I'm sorry you're going through this, it sounds very painful.