Diseases and Conditions

Your Health Problems Could Be Worse Than You Think, so Know the Signs

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You Have an Itchy, Blistery Skin Rash

A rash is a reaction by your body. If you have a reoccurring rash on your elbows, knees, butt, back or scalp that looks like eczema, it could be a more serious issue. Coeliac (celiac) disease, an autoimmune condition in which consuming even the smallest amount of gluten, causes the body to attack its own intestines. Approximately 25 percent of people affected with coeliac disease develop this rash, named dermatitis herpetiformis, and many have no digestive symptoms.

When a person who has coeliac disease eats gluten, the body releases antibodies that attack the intestines and builds up under the skin triggering the rash. If you have a suspicious rash, doctors can diagnose whether or not you have coeliac disease without the need to undergo and uncomfortable endoscopy, instead they are able to simply biopsy the rash to determine if it is caused by antibodies that indicate coeliac.

When your diet is changed to gluten-free, not only will the rash vanish, you will also be protecting your body from long term intestinal damage, cancer of the small intestine and from osteoporosis.