Yes allergy was the root cause of my EC. Suffered for 3 years with it, as well as waking up with a blocked nose with yellow snot. Finally cut GLUTEN out of my diet and noticed a change the next morning with my blocked nose. A week later and my lips haven't peeled and have reduced my lip balm applications to only a few times a day. I don't think I have a full blown allergy to gluten, but maybe a sensitivity. May only need to cut bread and pastry out of my diet.