Gluten, eczema, inflammation and bursitis may not sound like they have anything to do with one another, but they do. Gluten intolerance can lead to celiac disease, which can then cause a type of eczema and, less frequently, bursitis. One very important piece that connects them all is that they’re all inflammatory diseases.
Gluten
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley that gives dough its characteristic elasticity and makes it rise by trapping air bubbles produced by yeast. Some people are intolerant to gluten, which results in chronic inflammation in the small intestine and can lead to a multitude of health problems.
Celiac Disease
If you're sensitive to gluten, the immune system attacks tissues in the small intestine every time you consume it. This type of autoimmune condition is called celiac disease, or sprue. The result is an inflammatory response that damages structures responsible for absorbing nutrients. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and abdominal pain, but celiac disease is associated with about 300 different symptoms and conditions, according to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. The inflammation may affect systems throughout the body, leading to diverse health problems, such as bone or neurological disorders, poor growth, infertility, anemia, depression and muscle cramps.
Eczema
Eczema, also called dermatitis, is the generic name for an inflammation of the skin. Dermatitis often results from direct contact with an irritant or allergen, but one form is linked to celiac disease. Dermatitis herpetiformis, or Duhring’s disease, is a chronic, itchy rash consisting of bumps or blisters that appear on the right and left elbows, knees, back, buttocks or scalp. About 15 to 25 percent of people with celiac disease develop dermatitis herpetiformis, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Bursitis
Bursae are flat, fluid-filled sacs that form a protective cushion between bones and nearby tissues, allowing the bones to move without causing friction. When the bursae become inflamed, the diagnosis is bursitis. Repetitive movement, overuse, trauma and infection are the usual causes. Even though gluten isn’t a primary cause, celiac disease increases the risk of developing a systemic inflammatory disease, which in turn increases the risk of bursitis. The areas most susceptible to bursitis are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or ankle.
Considerations
There may be many confounding symptoms related to gluten intolerance, but it can be diagnosed by testing the blood for gluten antibodies. Treatment consists of removing all gluten from your diet. Without the irritation of gluten, the inflammation eventually subsides, but complete healing might take months or even years. In addition to wheat, rye and barley products, gluten can be found in many foods. Check food labels for ingredients that contain gluten, including hydrolyzed vegetable protein, malt, modified food starch, dextrin, maltodextrin and textured vegetable protein.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Celiac Disease
- University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center: Learn About the Hundreds of Celiac Disease Symptoms
- Genetics Home Reference: What is Celiac Disease?
- National Skin Care Institute: Skin Diseases - Eczema and Dermatitis
- PubMed Health: Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Bursitis and Tendinitis
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Dermatitis Herpetiformis -- Skin Manifestation of Celiac Disease
