I have had symptoms of mild eczema all of my life, as well as asthma from a young age. In my late teens/early 20's, I started to develop a digestive issue with wheat gluten. Upon recognizing this I avoided it almost immediately, (within months of symptoms like- gas, bloating, constipation) and for the last 5 years or so I have not eaten ANY products containing gluten. Recently in the last year or so, I began an entirely organic and more than half raw food diet with my partner. After my partner started buying organic bread, I was intrigued so I slowly started to re-introduce various *organic* breads to my diet. After no digestive symptoms occured, I began to eat bread much more frequently, almost daily in some cases. Again, I showed no signs of what I mentioned above- no gas, no bloating and no constipation, so I kept eating it. It has been about 5 to 6 months since I re-introduced these organic gluten products into my diet, and in the last month my eczema has flared up in patches where I've always had some seasonal irritation from dry weather, but this was ridiculous. I had one side of my neck break out, then get infected fairly moderately. So for weeks I suffered, trying natural topical remedies, not having changed anything in my lifestyle that was within the time flare up period. I started thinking more on a larger scale, not in days but in months. I realized bread was the only thing I reintroduced into my life that would have had any relation to what I'm experiencing. Otherwise my diet is very good! I do not eat any refined sugars, I drink minimal alcohol, I am a healthy fit individual and I exercise daily. My lifestyle is the healthiest out of anyone I know. SO -- since the eczema flare up I have STOPPED eating gluten again, cold turkey. The eczema has now spread, to areas I've never seen it before. My neck, shoulders, arms and face. It is mild, but very scaly, reddish and irritating. Not infected at all. Scratching I am resisting as best I can. LOOKING FOR CONFIRMATION THIS IS GLUTEN RELATED based on my story and history. I do not have any other irritants in my life that would contribute to a flare up, this is THE FIRST flare up I have EVER had to this scale and on this many areas on my body!
Any and all support appreciated!!