Hair, Skin, Nails & Celiac Disease

Damaged hair, brittle nails and skin issues are often symptoms of celiac disease

Having healthy skin, hair and nails is something many people take for granted; but if you suffer from an autoimmune condition like celiac disease that impairs your nutritional intake, your experiences may be very different. Hair loss, brittle nails and skin lesions are common celiac disease symptoms.  The health of all three structures – hair, skin and nails –depends on your body getting good nutrition, yet multiple studies have shown that people with celiac disease often lack many essential nutrients, including vitamins D and E and minerals like copper and zinc, all of which are critical for skin, hair and nail health.

Several studies that have looked at the effects of celiac disease on skin problems have found that once proper nutrition is established, including adherence to a gluten-free diet, some symptoms may be reversed. For instance, one study from researchers in Spain found significant skin hypopigmentation (light spots) disappeared in one young girl once a gluten-free diet was introduced. Several similar case studies also exist, including some examining the association between celiac disease and hair loss, demonstrating that introduction of a gluten-free diet and nutritional supplementation resulted in regrowth of hair.

Nutritional deficiencies aren’t the only link between celiac disease and hair, nail and skin issues. Because celiac patients are more likely to have other autoimmune disorders, hair loss may be attributed to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles and typically results in round patches of hair loss. Hashimoto’s disease, or autoimmune thyroiditis, which also occurs more frequently in patients with CD, often causes hair thinning as well as dry skin and fungal infection of the nails. Likewise, itchy blistering of the skin can indicate dermatitis herpetiformis, the skin manifestation of celiac disease. And that’s just the beginning; celiac disease symptoms include many skin disorders, including:

• canker sores and other mouth sores
• skin sores including ulcerative dermatitis
• eczema
• psoriasis
• vasculitis of the skin
• hives (uticaria)
• Prurigo nodularis (Hyde’s prurigo)
• vitiligo (light patches of skin)

What’s more, the inflammatory response and frequent hormonal fluctuations that are side effects of celiac disease also can result in hair loss, rough or itchy skin and brittle nails.

With so many possibilities at play, understanding all of the underlying issues that may cause problems with the skin, nails or hair can be problematic. Working closely with a healthcare practitioner with significant experience in diagnosing autoimmune disorders can help ensure your diagnosis is comprehensive.

Getting the best nutrition possible is also critical. Many of today’s supplements that claim to be ideal for CD patients may contain trace amounts of gluten from the processing equipment they use. Even when cross-contamination is not an issue, many supplements fail to use the most highly absorbable forms of nutrients to ensure CD patients get the most benefits possible.

At GFT, our products were developed with a unique understanding of the nutritional problems CD patients face, day in and day out, and the challenging symptoms of celiac disease. For example, Body Health by CeliVites was designed to support healthy hair, skin and nails with adequate daily values of Vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, E; Biotin; folic acid; iodine; zinc; copper; selenium; PABA and choline. It also means that when you choose CeliVites supplements, you can feel confident the nutrition you’re getting isn’t just gluten-free – it’s also the form that’s most absorbable by people with CD. To see the complete line of CeliVites by GFT, click here.

This original article is made possible by Gluten Free Therapeutics. Our mission is to educate, inform, and provide the most effective nutritional products possible to allow those with celiac disease and serious gluten intolerances to heal their bodies. CeliVites complete line of superior gluten free supplements includes multivitamin/multimineral supplements, iron supplements, and calcium supplements for people living with celiac disease. All CeliVites products are designed to help you heal, restore and rebuild your body, because going gluten free isn’t enough! 

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