The relationship between the intestines and the skin has been known for many thousands of years in Traditional Medicines around the world.  In Chinese Medicine, the skin is the opening of the Lungs as well.  Now a large body of research describes the relationship between the gut and the skin and face.  Many foods such as wheat/gluten may manifest on the skin with redness, puffiness around the eyes and face, as well as dry patches of skin. Now with NIH beginning to map the Human Biome in the same manner that the Human Genome was mapped previously, there is a greater understanding about gut allergens, and skin health.

People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity can have effects of gluten intolerance in areas besides the gut.  These patients may not show the atrophy of intestinal villi that appears in celiac patients but the gluten sensitivity affects their moods, skin and even causes them to have acute allergic reactions such as sneezing.  I have noticed these effects even in myself.  Eating gluten can often result in in sneezing within 5 to 10 minutes of the consumption of the wheat product.  Additionally, pizza and other wheat based products can significantly alter my mood and reduce my vitality as well.  This sensitivity can appear as red lesions on the skin on some patients.  Western medicine typically refers to these conditions as psoriasis, urticaria, and various types of dermatitis.

In other articles we will describe in more detail the relationship between anxiety and pain with the affects of antibiotics and gut health. For now it is important to understand that the good bacteria in our gut have many beneficial effects.

Caproni M, Bonciolini V, D’Errico A, Antiga E, Fabbri P. Celiac Disease and Dermatologic Manifestations: Many Skin Clue to Unfold Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy. Gastroenterology Research and Practice.