Can a gluten-free diet help my skin? - Harvard Health (2024)

FAQs

Can a gluten-free diet help my skin? - Harvard Health? ›

Some people believe that eating gluten can inflame the skin and, therefore, cutting it out will help relieve red, inflamed skin or other skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema. But in reality, cutting gluten from your diet will only help if you actually have celiac disease or a hypersensitivity to gluten.

Eliminating gluten may not only strip your diet of valuable nutrients, but also hinder the accuracy of tests for celiac disease, a serious autoimmune condition in which gluten signals the body to attack the lining of the small intestine.

There's no scientific evidence to suggest that people actually go through “withdrawal” when they stop eating gluten. Some people report feeling dizziness, nausea, extreme hunger and even anxiety and depression when they suddenly go from eating a lot of gluten to being gluten-free.

Once you start to follow a gluten-free diet, your symptoms should improve within a few weeks. Many people start to feel better in just a few days. Your intestines probably won't return to normal for several months. It could take years for them to completely heal.

A gluten-free diet helps manage symptoms of celiac disease and other medical conditions associated with gluten consumption. This type of diet also has gained popularity among people without gluten-related medical conditions. The claimed benefits of the diet are improved health, weight loss and increased energy.

Gluten can worsen acne and breakouts. Since it can cause inflammation in the skin, it leads to more acne formation and even itchiness and redness of the skin. Dr Tekchandani said that if you have existing acne, "it can aggravate acne even more as it increases insulin levels."

Numerous studies have shown that diets that are gluten free tend to be deficient in protein, folate, iron, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, B12, zinc, selenium, and fiber. In addition, they are more apt to have higher levels of nickel, which is highly allergenic to some patients.

For most people, the intestine is expected to recover over a period of weeks to months on a strict gluten-free diet. For others, it may take years for the villi to fully recover.

Within a few days of starting a strict gluten free diet, you should start to feel some relief from symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. Other symptoms may take longer to go away, but you may notice gradual but steady improvement.

FAQs about gluten intolerance symptoms

The intestines make up most of the middle and lower abdomen, so “gluten belly” will look like any other type of lower digestive tract bloating. However, if bloating seems to be a regular or constant problem, that's a possible sign that it may be due to gluten intolerance.

What happens in the first week of gluten-free? ›

It's common to feel constantly hungry during your first several weeks without gluten. You may want to eat all the time. Your body hasn't been able to absorb food properly for a while. So once it can, it'll try to make up for the deficit.

However, even on a strict gluten-free diet, people with celiac disease may find it challenging to avoid constipation. This is because a gluten-free diet cuts out many high fiber foods like grains, which may result in decreased fiber intake and reduced stool frequency ( 28 ).

A gluten-free diet is essential for those with celiac disease. However, there is little evidence to support its use in people without celiac disease, and it may increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This protein helps foods hold their shape.

This type of diet may also encourage weight loss (and a better sense of well-being) because overall calorie intake may decrease. If you were overweight before starting a gluten-free diet, your weight loss may be welcome. But, if your weight loss is unwanted, try adding calories with some of the above tips.

But in some people, gluten can trigger a severe autoimmune response or other unpleasant symptoms. An autoimmune response to gluten is called celiac disease. Celiac can damage the small intestine. Some people who don't have celiac disease still seem to feel sick after eating foods that contain gluten.

Our stomachs, however, have not adapted as quickly to these changes. We are eating more wheat products now than ever before. Damaged gut flora or dysbiosis is also on the rise due to the high usage of antibiotics or consuming food that they can't digest.

Gluten has also been tied to bowel diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis ( 17 ). Plus, it's been shown to alter gut bacteria and increase intestinal permeability in people with IBD and IBS ( 18 ).

Notably, along with other dietary elements, gluten may contribute to the development of inflammatory intestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and concur in symptom exacerbation, although its exact role is still under investigation.