Celiac Disease and GF: What is it?

You may have noticed a new section cropping up on menus in restaurants these days- the gluten-free choices. What's up with that? Celiac disease. This disease is very common in the United States, affecting 1 in 133 people. In people with this disease, eating gluten (the wheat protein) causes an auto-immune reaction that damages the small intestine, causing poor absorption of food and nutrients.

What symptoms show up? Diarrhea is the classic symptom, but it turns out there are probably more cases of celiac disease without diarrhea. The symptoms are often rather nonspecific: fatigue, irritable bowel, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and osteoporosis. There is, though, one symptom that is 85% specific for celiac disease-a rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, DH for short. This rash has nothing to do with herpes, however (nope, no STD talk in this topic!) This rash is intensely itchy, symmetrical eruption on the face, buttocks, elbows and knees.

The good news is that celiac disease can usually be treated with dietary changes alone-no medications required! The bad news is that gluten is found in many products beyond the obvious wheat breads and cereals, so to completely avoid gluten requires significant effort and education. Stay tuned this week for more about Celiac disease diagnosis and diet.

BOTTOM LINE: Problem: Celiac disease, a very common challenge. Answer: Gluten-free diet.

Stop that Itch! Medicine Cabinet Staple # 5

I am focusing on what medications doctors keep in their home cabinets, and the next item on the list is not a pill, but a cream: HYDROCORTISONE cream or ointment. This is a steroid- not the pump you up/Arnold Schwarzeneggerr type steroid- this is the anti-inflammatory steroid. Grab this when you need to stop an immediate irritation on the skin, such as bug bites or poison ivy. If you've got something new, red and itchy on your skin, very likely this cream will help!
Having said that, know that there certainly are infections or other skin conditions that will not improve with steroid cream, and indeed can be made worse. Obviously, if your itchy rash is not rapidly improving, see your doctor!

This is not something to use on your face or other tender parts, however. Limit your use primarily to your extremities (arms, legs, fingers and toes) and trunk (back, chest and belly). Steroid creams are also not for long-term use, as they can cause thinning and damage to the skin if used chronically.

BOTTOM LINE: For insect bites & stings, and other new itchy "things", try some over-the-counter strength topical steroid cream.