The effect of gluten on skin and hair: a systematic review.

Abstract

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is often clinically indistinguishable from celiac disease, and patients show improvement or resolution of their symptoms with a gluten-free diet. In contrast to celiac disease, the effects of gluten on the skin and hair in the context of non-celiac gluten sensitivity are not as clear. This review aims to describe the impact of gluten on the skin and hair in patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity and those without a definitive celiac disease diagnosis. A literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guidelines for systematic reviews. Forty-two publications met inclusion criteria with five studies describing the skin manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Trials identifying the impact of a gluten-free diet on skin disease, as well as dermatologic conditions and their associations with antigliadin antibodies were also identified. Dermatologic manifestations in patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity vary and may be non-specific. It may be appropriate for some of these patients with skin manifestations to trial a gluten-free diet. Dermatologic conditions that may respond positively to a gluten-free diet include psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and palmoplantar pustulosis, while linear IgA disease does not appear to improve with this dietary change.

• Authors: Katheryn A Bell, Aunna Pourang, Natasha A Mesinkovska, Michael A Cardis
• Journal: Dermatology online journal (Dermatol Online J) Vol. 27 Issue 4 (Apr 15 2021) ISSN: 1087-2108 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33999573 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Glutens
• Gliadin

Topics

• Antibodies
• Diet, Gluten-Free
• Gliadin (immunology)
• Glutens (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Hair (pathology)
• Hair Diseases (etiology)
• Humans
• Skin (pathology)
• Skin Diseases (etiology)