Several questions...

[isto]

I didn't have any DH symptoms until several months AFTER going GF. Now whenever I ingest hidden gluten, I get sick and I get a rash. It's always in the same area (left foot only). This is how I can tell if I got hidden gluten or if I have a bug. Has anyone else had DH pop up AFTER going GF? What gives?!!!

Also, I have always had a skin problem that I don't think is CD-related, but I'm wondering now if it is. The heals of my feet are SO dry, they have extremely deep fissures in them. They often bleed because they are so deep, and sometimes actually become infected. I use a metal file to keep the skin filed down so that the cracks aren't so deep, or the cracked skin tears holes in my socks - no joke! Has anyone else experienced this? Is it CD or DH related?

Danita
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[sarahjo]

that is funny, my feet do the same thing...i wonder

[Fidissimus]

I've noticed that my feet are getting drier as I'm getting older. I know this sounds kinda funny, but I've actually done the Mary Kay "Hands so soft" to my feet... it's a great treatment and keeps them from drying out too much... plus occasionally adding lotion to them just after a shower and before bed helps to keep them from getting too dry as well. I hope I don't get to the "so-dry-they-bleed" stage. I'm sorry I wish I could offer up something more helpful... Have you seen a doctor about it?
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[isto]

Yes, and his only advice was to always wear shoes. I used to ALWAYS go barefoot and now I NEVER do, but it never changed the condition of my feet. Time to find a different doctor!

I have even slopped vaseline all over the dry skin, wrapped my feet in plastic and put on socks before going to bed, but that doesn't hydrate the skin at all! It can be quite painful. Others in my family have it, too. They are the same people with dx'ed and un-dx'ed CD. That is why I wondered if there might be a correlation btn the two.

Thanks for your input!

Danita
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[MaryK]

Oh my goodness..........I just looked at my feet. They have been very dry and cracked for years. I had noticed deep cracks in the last year that didn't seem to get better with lotions, etc. I also had dry patches of skin on my cheeks that kept coming back. Since I've been GF 100% (about 5 weeks now) my dry patches have vanished on my cheeks and my skin is soooo soft!! I keep feeling my face
Anyway, I just looked at my feet, and the dry skin and cracks have almost completely vanished!!!! I can't believe it. It has to be CD related!!
I also have these raised bumps on my forehead that look a little like pimples, but they are not red. They don't itch. They are just like a tiny hard bump under the skin. I'm still waiting for those to go away, but they seem to be getting better.
I remember years ago (maybe 10 years ago when I had a lot of CD symptoms, but didn't realize it) I had dry cracked skin between my fingers. It would hurt and sometimes bleed. I guess that was also CD related. Amazing how much damage CD can do!!
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Mary (37) GFCF/dye free
DH-Paul (44)
Peter 2-28-00 Asperger's Syndrome GFCF/dye free
Adam 3-29-06 GFCF/dye free/sugar free
miscarried twins 3-26-05
Jonah 4-18-06 (4 weeks early) BF

[M. Shac]

I have had the same thing happened. I had been on the gluten free diet for about two years, and this past winter I developed a very itchy rash on the sides of both of my legs. It is very bumpy and red and never go quite goes away. I thought that it might be DH, so I went to a dermatologist and he said that it was excema. I thought that what he said I had, had to be dry and flaky. This is not. If I even touch it, it itches worse. I went and got a second opinion and that Dr. also said the same thing as the first Dr. What they prescribed that I do, has not helped. I also thought that I should not have DH, since I have been on a very strict diet and to the best of my knowledge and not been exposed to any gluten that I am aware of. I also have cracks on the bottoms of both of my feet. I use Pau D'Arco lotion by Nature's Sunshine and Miracle 2 skin moisturizer by Tedco. Using both of these products every day helps control the itching. Also, if you use alot of salt, be aware that the iodine in the salt sets off the DH worse! I hope that this info helps you.

[Topher28]

If you think it's DH, ask your doctor to prescribe Dapsone. I have found that the feet and hands are common places for DH. Apparently, DH lasts MUCH longer than regular CD symptoms. It can take many months for DH to go away, even on a perfect GF diet. Dapsone is a simple, cheap pill, that shouldn't cause problems on a low dose (<100mg/day)(I take 25mg as needed), yet, for some, it is a miracle pill! DH is an interesting subject that doesn't get too much attention, and is often misunderstood around here. If you have any questions, I have found that I know most of what there is to know about DH, so ask your questions away!!
Good luck with your skin,

Chris
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Somebody told me that this is the place
where everything's better, everything's safe

[D horne]

Before I suspected DH my dermatologist gave me a steroid shot and sent me home with a prescription for prednisone... it gave me relief for awhile than the symptom started coming back - of course because I wasn't following a GF diet-

Do you know - I just read that they use gluten in the glue in stamps and envelopes!! No wonder I keep accidently glutening myself... it's everywhere!!

[aklap]