Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSkin Conditions and CeliacWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Skin Conditions and Celiac
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Summary
Celiac diseaseand gluten intolerance (or non-celiacgluten sensitivity) not only affect your digestive system but also your skin—which can lead to bumps, rashes, or patches.
This article discusses skin conditions potentially linked to celiac disease and gluten intolerance, how they’re diagnosed, and treatment that can help you manage skin symptoms.
Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman / Getty Images
How Gluten May Affect Your Skin
Besides dermatitis herpetiformis, people with celiac disease may have eczema, psoriasis, chronic dry skin, hives, andalopecia areata. For unknown reasons, they affect those with celiac disease more often than the general population.
Researchers haven’t focused as much on skin conditions in people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, but anecdotal reports indicate some people without celiac (but who still seem to react togluten-containing grains) nonetheless find relief from troublesome skin conditions once they go gluten-free.
The skin conditions associated with celiac disease may cause symptoms ranging from itchy rashes to hair loss, but most seem to be at least in part autoimmune or genetic in nature.Here’s a summary of the most common skin conditions currently associated with celiac disease, plus links to additional information.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Other skin symptoms may include:
Lesions can appear anywhere but occur most often on the elbows, knees, buttocks, lower back, and the back of the neck and head.
Vershinin / Getty Images
Psoriasis
DermNet/CC BY-NC-ND
Several studies show that the skin conditionpsoriasisshares a strong link with gluten consumption.
With psoriasis, patches of skin may be:
Plaques often appear on the elbows, knees, and torso. However, they can also occur on the scalp, palms, soles of the feet, and genitals.
People with psoriasis often have high levels of antibodies to gluten circulating in their bloodstreams, which indicates that they’re reacting to gluten in their diets even if they haven’t been diagnosed with celiac disease.
It’s not clear whether the gluten is causing psoriasis, or if people with psoriasis also have higher rates of celiac disease. More research is needed to determine the cause and effect.
However, some anecdotal reports indicate that psoriasis patients can see their skin symptoms improve dramatically when they adopt a gluten-free diet, regardless of whether they’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease.
What to Know About Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, and Skin Conditions
Eczema
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Eczemais another inflammatory skin condition linked to gluten intolerance.
Symptoms of eczema may include:
It often appears on the face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the hands and feet.
Eczema occurs most often in children, but adults also can have the skin condition.
Although the primary treatment for eczema is topical corticosteroids, there’s some evidence that for some people, eczema may be linked to celiac disease.For these people, a gluten-free diet may help to treat their skin condition, too.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks your hair follicles and causes your hair to fall out, also has been linked in research studies to celiac disease.
Symptoms of alopecia areata include:
Again, the link between the two conditions isn’t clear and could reflect a higher incidence of celiac disease in people with alopecia areata, as opposed to a cause-and-effect relationship for gluten in their diets.
Most of the research also reports that people with both celiac disease and alopecia areata found their hair grew back when they adopted a gluten-free diet. Still, some people with alopecia areata who do not have celiac disease also can experience seemingly random hair regrowth, as well.
The Connection Between Celiac Disease and Hair Loss
Chronic Urticaria (Hives)
Research has linked chronicurticaria(hives) and celiac disease. Adopting a gluten-free diet may help improve symptoms of chronic urticaria.
Hives can cause raised, itchy welts on the skin. Although they can develop anywhere on the skin, they commonly appear on the following places:
What Is Urticaria (Hives)?
Dry Skin
Many people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity suffer from very dry skin.In some cases, this clears up after they adopt a gluten-free diet.
Again, it’s not clear whether the condition causes the dry skin, but some physicians have suggested that the malabsorption associated with the untreated celiac disease can rob your skin of needed nutrients.
Xerosis Cutis (Dry Skin) Symptoms and Treatment
If you think your skin symptoms are related to gluten consumption, let your healthcare provider know. If you are experiencing additional symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, your healthcare provider may want to test you for celiac disease or other potential underlying conditions.
To determine if your skin condition is linked to celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, your healthcare provider may take your medical history and perform a physical exam.
They may also screen you for celiac disease using a blood test. However, a biopsy is only way to confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.
There is no test to check for gluten intolerance. It’s usually diagnosed after excluding other medical conditions. You may, however, get tested for celiac disease or wheat allergy. If those tests are negative, your healthcare provider may want to see if your symptoms improve on a gluten elimination diet. If they do, you may have a gluten intolerance.
Agluten-free dietis the treatment of choice for those experiencing gluten-related skin problems. This is especially true for dermatitis herpetiformis, which is linked to celiac disease. However, it can take up to six months to see any skin improvements.
Can Touching Gluten Cause a Rash?Gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin and can only cause a reaction if it’s ingested.However, if you have dermatitis herpetiformis, you should avoid any skin or body products that contain gluten in case they irritate the open lesions.
Can Touching Gluten Cause a Rash?
Gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin and can only cause a reaction if it’s ingested.However, if you have dermatitis herpetiformis, you should avoid any skin or body products that contain gluten in case they irritate the open lesions.
If you have dermatitis herpetiformis, your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication called dapsone to temporarily relieve itch and rash.
Celiac disease and gluten intolerance may be linked to certain types of skin conditions. Dermatitis herpetiformis is a rash that people with celiac get when they eat gluten. It presents as tiny, reddish-purple bumps. However, other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, chronic dry skin, hives, and alopecia areata may also be linked to gluten consumption.
Only a healthcare provider can help you determine if your skin condition is linked to celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. A gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment for either condition.
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19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Verdelli A, Corrà A, Mariotti EB, et al.Skin gluten-related disorders: New and old cutaneous manifestations to be considered.Front Med. 2023;10:1155288. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1155288Antiga E, Maglie R, Quintarelli L, et al.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Novel perspectives.Front Immunol. 2019;10:1290. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.776Clarindo MV, Possebon AT, Soligo EM, Uyeda H, Ruaro RT, Empinotti JC.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(6):865-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142966NHS Inform.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Bhatia BK, Millsop JW, Debbaneh M, Koo J, Linos E, Liao W.Diet and psoriasis, part II: Celiac disease and role of a gluten-free diet.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(2):350-8. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.017MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.National Eczema Association.What is Eczema?MedlinePlus.Eczema.Bonciolini V, Bianchi B, Del Bianco E, Verdelli A, Caproni M.Cutaneous manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Clinical histological and immunopathological features.Nutrients. 2015 Sep 15;7(9):7798-805. doi:10.3390/nu7095368National Celiac Association.Alopecia areata.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss types: Alopecia areata signs and symptoms.Pham CT, Romero K, Almohanna HM, Griggs J, Ahmed A, Tosti A.The role of diet as an adjuvant treatment in scarring and nonscarring alopecia.Skin Appendage Disord. 2020;6(2):88-96. doi:10.1111/pde.13542Shao K, Feng H.Nutrition and urticaria.Clinics in Dermatology. 2022;40(2):150-155. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.10.008American Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Signs and symptoms.The Celiac Foundation.Gluten in medicine, vitamins & supplements.Celiac Disease Foundation.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.Celiac Foundation.9 questions about celiac disease, answered.Additional ReadingC. Ciacci et al.Allergy Prevalence in Adult Celiac Disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2004 jun;113(6):1199-203.L. Caminiti et al.Chronic Urticaria and Associated Coeliac Disease in Children: A Case-Control Study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2005 Aug; 16(5):428-32.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Verdelli A, Corrà A, Mariotti EB, et al.Skin gluten-related disorders: New and old cutaneous manifestations to be considered.Front Med. 2023;10:1155288. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1155288Antiga E, Maglie R, Quintarelli L, et al.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Novel perspectives.Front Immunol. 2019;10:1290. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.776Clarindo MV, Possebon AT, Soligo EM, Uyeda H, Ruaro RT, Empinotti JC.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(6):865-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142966NHS Inform.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Bhatia BK, Millsop JW, Debbaneh M, Koo J, Linos E, Liao W.Diet and psoriasis, part II: Celiac disease and role of a gluten-free diet.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(2):350-8. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.017MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.National Eczema Association.What is Eczema?MedlinePlus.Eczema.Bonciolini V, Bianchi B, Del Bianco E, Verdelli A, Caproni M.Cutaneous manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Clinical histological and immunopathological features.Nutrients. 2015 Sep 15;7(9):7798-805. doi:10.3390/nu7095368National Celiac Association.Alopecia areata.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss types: Alopecia areata signs and symptoms.Pham CT, Romero K, Almohanna HM, Griggs J, Ahmed A, Tosti A.The role of diet as an adjuvant treatment in scarring and nonscarring alopecia.Skin Appendage Disord. 2020;6(2):88-96. doi:10.1111/pde.13542Shao K, Feng H.Nutrition and urticaria.Clinics in Dermatology. 2022;40(2):150-155. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.10.008American Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Signs and symptoms.The Celiac Foundation.Gluten in medicine, vitamins & supplements.Celiac Disease Foundation.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.Celiac Foundation.9 questions about celiac disease, answered.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Verdelli A, Corrà A, Mariotti EB, et al.Skin gluten-related disorders: New and old cutaneous manifestations to be considered.Front Med. 2023;10:1155288. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1155288
Antiga E, Maglie R, Quintarelli L, et al.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Novel perspectives.Front Immunol. 2019;10:1290. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.776
Clarindo MV, Possebon AT, Soligo EM, Uyeda H, Ruaro RT, Empinotti JC.Dermatitis herpetiformis: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(6):865-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142966
NHS Inform.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Bhatia BK, Millsop JW, Debbaneh M, Koo J, Linos E, Liao W.Diet and psoriasis, part II: Celiac disease and role of a gluten-free diet.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(2):350-8. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.017
MedlinePlus.Psoriasis.
National Eczema Association.What is Eczema?
MedlinePlus.Eczema.
Bonciolini V, Bianchi B, Del Bianco E, Verdelli A, Caproni M.Cutaneous manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Clinical histological and immunopathological features.Nutrients. 2015 Sep 15;7(9):7798-805. doi:10.3390/nu7095368
National Celiac Association.Alopecia areata.
American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss types: Alopecia areata signs and symptoms.
Pham CT, Romero K, Almohanna HM, Griggs J, Ahmed A, Tosti A.The role of diet as an adjuvant treatment in scarring and nonscarring alopecia.Skin Appendage Disord. 2020;6(2):88-96. doi:10.1111/pde.13542
Shao K, Feng H.Nutrition and urticaria.Clinics in Dermatology. 2022;40(2):150-155. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.10.008
American Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Signs and symptoms.
The Celiac Foundation.Gluten in medicine, vitamins & supplements.
Celiac Disease Foundation.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Celiac Foundation.9 questions about celiac disease, answered.
C. Ciacci et al.Allergy Prevalence in Adult Celiac Disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2004 jun;113(6):1199-203.L. Caminiti et al.Chronic Urticaria and Associated Coeliac Disease in Children: A Case-Control Study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2005 Aug; 16(5):428-32.
C. Ciacci et al.Allergy Prevalence in Adult Celiac Disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2004 jun;113(6):1199-203.
L. Caminiti et al.Chronic Urticaria and Associated Coeliac Disease in Children: A Case-Control Study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2005 Aug; 16(5):428-32.
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