Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder caused by gluten intolerance, can cause a number of varied symptoms. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, damages the small intestines in approximately one in 133 Americans, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Celiac disease can also cause a rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, which often affects the scalp as well as other areas of the body.
Frequency
Dermatitis herpetiformis occurs in other diseases, but around 10 percent of people with celiac disease have the disorder, the Merck Manual reports. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases puts the percentage higher, at 15 to 25 percent. Around 80 percent of people with dermatitis herpetiformis also have gluten intolerance, DermNet NZ states. Males develop the rash more often than women; about 66 percent of sufferers are male, DermNet NZ adds.
Symptoms
The rash of dermatitis herpetiformis causes intensely itchy blisters that often appear on the scalp. Sufferers often scratch the blisters open, leaving crusted, thickened areas that may resemble eczema or scabies. The skin beneath the rash may appear reddened. The knees, elbows, shoulder and buttocks are other common sites for the rash, which is usually symmetrical.
Diagnosis
Although your doctor may diagnose the rash strictly by its appearance, a skin biopsy can verify the diagnosis. If you have celiac disease, your doctor will have a high degree of suspicion for the cause. Intestinal symptoms of celiac disease include bloating and abdominal pain, which affect 75 percent of sufferers; fatigue, which affects 80 percent of people with the disorder; diarrhea, which affects 50 percent and weight loss, which affects 30 percent according to DermNet NZ. Vomiting and constipation can also occur. Celiac disease can also cause other non-intestinal symptoms in addition to rash, such as anemia, bone pain or depression.
Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe dapsone, an antibiotic, to treat the rash and reduce the itching. The normal dose is between 50 to 300 milligrams daily. You must avoid all foods containing gluten, which includes a number of processed foods as well as any wheat, barley or rye grains.
