My granuloma annulare is cured - it was a gluten wheat allergy!!

I have had Granuloma Annulare for at least 15 years. It was so bad that a kid at a pool once asked his parents if I was a leper. I recently gave up gluten to deal with some joint pain. After only 3 weeks my Granuloma Annulare is clearing up. I have been to a ton of Dr's including the chairman of the department of a local University. None of them have ever suggested a wheat allergy and I've been treated with Cortisone shots, a high powered cortisone ointment and was even suggested I do light therapy and go on a Psoriasis medication. I am completely blown away and overjoyed. I have researched this condition a ton on the internet and also never had anyone make this connection. I hope some other people read this. It's really worth a try.

I started getting these red rashes 8 years ago and was told by a 'specialist' that not rare he sees lots of people with this condition, its not curable, not treatable and if I still have it after 10 years likely to have it another ten years - anyway after 5 years of feeling so unwell with various symptoms including nausea, pain all around my side back and legs, lethargy, dizziness - the list is too long to mention I was sent for various test to see if Coeliac but every doctor said there was no connection with any food that could possibly be making me ill but if I thought it was upsetting me to avoid these foods. To cut a long story short after finding and speaking to people who had my symptoms I have stopped eating most wheat and was a lot better but still not right kept on having itching around my mouth, burning tongue and throat and it was only when I tried avoiding milk or lactose that I seen a big difference but it is only now that I have found out that the Granuloma Annulare could be connected to a wheat allergy - went to my doctor tonight as the rash is so bad but they again said all these conditions are under the IBS umbrella and to try the FODMAP diet but on reading that I am not too sure - has anybody seen or used this diet?

seen, yes -- used, no. However, I have been on the Daniel Fast for 12 days and have experienced fading of my GA. I was healthy other than a few extra lbs so I don't know if it would help you in other areas or not. Fading GA for the first time in 7 years. I am loving it.

I have also had GGA for about 8 years.  Your story sound exactly like mine, treatments and doctors who could care less.   I started a gluten free diet a few weeks ago (I have celiacs in the family too) and haven't seen any change to the rash yet however, I'm feeling a ton better now - less lethargic and dropped 10 pounds.  Here's something I just found out about 10 days ago.  My skin is HIGHLY reactive to being in contact with gluten which most doctors say is not possible.  Turns out my makup, lipgloss, shampoo and skin lotion all had gluten. I just found alternatives and in just a couple of days I can see a tiny bit of lightening of the rash.  I'm scared I want to see it so bad and it isn't really better but I'd love to know if anyone else has found this to be true or maybe I can help someone else.  So many people tell me they are gluten free but when I mention all those skin products they say "really" I didn't know that.  So if you have tried gluten free but it didn't fix the GGA maybe you are missing something and need push harder.  Regardless, I know for a fact now that I am reactive to gluten because I got into some food that i didn't know had gluten and my GGA went wild, along with a headache and stomach issues that i had no idea previous to this WERE a gluten reaction all along.  Good Luck to everyone, this stinks!

Hi!  Thanks for getting back to me, helps to talk to someone who has also suffered.  I found that there are about a million chemical names in cosmetics, lipsticks, lotions (I was using Aveno brand with Oats - but the oats apparently are combined or come in contact with wheat).  If you google gluten in cosmetics you'll see the list, it's huge.  I also just realized the other day that I have been using cat litter and cat food, which of course my cats are covered in and sleep on the bed.  So, after changing that I realized I'm not itching my eyes in the house for the first time in years.  Based on all I'm told and read, since this is a systemic reaction my body is in extreme overload and will need a very long time to "relax".  So, I agree - I will have to take a deep breath and wait.  I just hope someone else who has been suffering for a long time, reads these comments and finds help too.  Good luck to you!

Hello!

First of all, I would like to appologize about my possible mistakes writing in english because it is not my first language. I live in Brazil and I also have GA for a long time.

The situation here is exactly the same: lots of doctors, Cortisone, no cure speaches, people looking at me as I am a leper, a.s.o.

My current doctor is treating me with Dapsone and I have had some results, but the GA is so resistent that while one desapear, another new one appears in a different place.

I am really tired but you could not imagine how happy I am to find your comments, because some time ago I started to think about food allergy but with no idea of what kind of food. Really gluten and wheat make all sense and I will start my diet immediatly. Thank you very much and I will send news if I have results in the future.

Hi,  Sorry for the long delay in reply, my computer has been dead for ages.  Glad to hear my information might help you.   I'm still getting better and better.  No gluten in my diet at all (or on my skin) and I've also found another person who says they got great results following a Low Histamine diet.  When you look up the diet, you will think, I can't do this but if you can try to cut back on as much as possible, you may continue to see results.  I'm doing so well now that two of my biggest, most scaley patches - about 3 inches in diameter each are almost not visible.  At least so that I am wearing shorts for the first time in years.  I also know exactly when I've eaten something that is bothering me, the rash explodes and bubbles up within minutes, then goes away in a few hours or maybe a day.  It's a long hard process...One other great thing.  I've lost almost 20 pounds and am within 4 pounds of my best weight ever!  Good Luck to all and I will continue to post as i get new information.

Hi everyone, 

I've just been diagnosed with GA ...first started about 8 months ago with a large patch on my back and two small ones under my arm pit. The doctor said to my horror that it was ring worm! I had pills & creams but nothing worked so I had a bi op that has confirmed GA. I still have another 5 weeks to wait before I see the dermotoligest at my local hospital, my patches are spreading and fast, I thank everyone on here that has commented because I no longer feel alone.

tomorrow I with cut out all wheat and dairy from my diet and post if I get any change, also I will go to see a Chinese herbalist ...wish me luck x

Good Luck,  Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones that finds what the cause is and it will go away.  I had a brief "remission" where most of my GGA was faded and I thought going away, but no luck.  It's back and itchy again.  One thing to keep in mind, once you go gluten, dairy free and low histamine, even the smallest of cheats can cause a tidal wave of symptoms.   Be Well.

Hello,

I am a GA patient for about 10 years in the US. I also have done many treatments... injections, topicals and even accuctane. Still suffering with my stupid circles. I was looking searching GA and food alleries ( because I have always said it has to be something I'm eating) and I found your discussion. I have been a vegatarian most of of my life and eat a very resticted diet and I have and at times and I am right now mostly vegan. Gluten is not something I had thought of. I have also done periods of time with zero carbs, but never for very long periods of time. I have been thinking of going on a yeast cleanse diet. Despite what the many doctors have told me, I know it is related to something I eat and I believe most things are. I also have wondered if it's related to Lymphatic drainage based on location of my circles. Hate this skin disorder!

Thanks for this discussion. I thought I'd add my experience of GA. I have suffered from it for 15 years (I'm 32 now) and have tried everything suggested by dermatologists and things suggested on the the internet over the years. From cortisone cream that didn't work to drinking apple cider vinegar every day that also didn't work.

It's always worse and grows really rapidly when I am stressed and unfortunately I hace a stressful job and don't really know how to deal with stress very well.

But about two years ago it was worse than ever with five huge GA patches on my lower legs, the biggest was ten centimetre in diameter. I started reading about food intolerances but didn't know where to start. Then a friend of mine suggested I go to a Kinesiologist because it worked for his skin problems - I was very excited about it until the Kinesiologist started the process of what kinesiologists do with pressing your arm down and testing your muscle while you hold a vile of food ingredients. It felt made up.

She gave me a long list of foods that she said I was intolerant too. I asked which was was specifically aggravating the GA and she said it was milk.

I didn't believe a word of what she said, I left feeling disappointed but my friend urged me to try what she said because I had nothing to lose. So I gave up milk for three months and no kidding all my granuloma disappeared apart from one which hollowed out. Four out of five GA patches.

After 15 years of trying everything, I'm a firm believer that it is food related. I find it really hard to be strict with the no milk diet because it is in everything in the form of whey etc so unfortunately I still have the one which is light in colour and hollowed out. I know I should be more strict with myself but I find it easier to live with a bit of milk chocolate (-; and one GA seeing as I was used to living with five huge patches all over my ankles before.

Another tip for people still looking for their food intolerance... I paint "make up forever" camouflage on my GA. Green first then a palette of skin tones to put on top. I'm sure there are lots of brands but I can personally recommend that one.

Good luck fellow GA sufferers x