Newly gluten-free And Dairy Free And Itchy Sores Everywhere! Aaaah!

[Jen-1984]

Hi, I post here all the time, and I am newly dx'ed with celiac disease and a dairy allergy and I have since cut these foods from my diet. I have been off gluten for over a week, almost four days free of dairy. I already struggled with itchy, flakey and very sore scalp before I found out I had food issues. Well now that I have been gluten free, I have been getting itchy sores all over my scalp, and they kind of ooze some, and I also have been getting the sores on my arms, the inside of my fingers and on my neck, more the back and side part namely. Has this ever happened to anyone before after newly cutting out gluten or dairy? I have no idea if this is dh or not, but it seems strange that it seems to have gotten worse since cutting out the trigger foods. Any guesses on what is going on? Oh please not another allergy!! Lol

[Jen-1984]

And my scalp has been more itchier than normal to add to my symptoms.

[shadowicewolf]

If its itchier than normal in your scalp and you have those spots, to me that screams that its healing. I have a very bad habit of digging my scalp raw when i'm stressed (i don't realize i'm doing it until i have a patch already done ) and when its in its healing stage, oh does it ever itch!

The rest of the body, however, sounds like DH to me.

[Jen-1984]

Wow, guess I never realized how sick I was... This whole thing is just so crazy to me! Thanks for your reply!

[squirmingitch]

It's possible that it's dh but not being caused by going gluten-free --- instead it may have been going to present itself anyway but you got dx'd before it did. If it's dh then it can continue to present off & on for a couple years possibly. You see, with dh, the antibodies stay in the skin & it takes time for them to dissipate. Going gluten-free is not a magic bullet as far as dh is concerned. It's sort of like having no brakes on a car & you have to let it coast to a stop. But I will also say that there are many skin rashes that people with celiac disease are prone to. You've gone gluten-free --- that's all you can do. Just be extremely vigilant not to get cc'd. If it is dh; dh is sensitive to the tiniest amount of gluten.

[Jen-1984]

I wanted to let you guys know that I took some benadryl later that evening and the sores stopped. The itching also stopped, so I was allergic to something, I don't know what.. But I really appreciate all of your replies and answers!

[squirmingitch]

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!