The Telltale Signs of a Gluten Intolerance

4. Rash

People with non-celiac gluten intolerance sometimes break out in an eczema-like rash when they consume gluten. Studies have shown that dietary changes, like eliminating gluten and incorporating vegetables, organic foods, and fish oil, can help clear up dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Celiac disease frequently causes a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis (or DH), an intensely itchy, painful, bumpy rash caused by an abnormal immune response to gluten. A dermatologist should obtain a biopsy of any rash that flares up after consuming gluten to rule out DH. Even without digestive symptoms, this rash indicates that gluten may be causing damage to the small intestines. DH typically flares up on both sides of the body, most commonly on the forearms near the elbows. It can also appear around the knees, buttocks, scalp, or hairline.