Vitiligo and celiac disease is a topic I have been meaning to write about for a while now. I have both, and believe there is a connection between vitiligo and gluten intolerance. I have found out more on this topic from the readers of this blog than any other source out there, and hope that this incredible information reaches those with vitiligo who are told there is no known cause.
Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by smooth, white patches on various parts of the body that occur due to loss of pigment. This loss of pigment often starts on the hands, feet and face, and then can progress to other parts of the body. Hair can turn white where there is a vitiligo patch. Vitiligo is not physically painful, but can be quite emotionally devastating as it affects one’s appearance.
The picture below is of me as a child with vitiligo on my face. It appeared symmetrically below my eyes, but asymmetrically on my legs — 8 spots on only one side of my body.
The spots on my face re-pigmented with the treatment at that time (1973) which was psoralen pills and UV light treatments at Stanford. The spots on my legs remained into adulthood, never getting any bigger or smaller. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002, I didn’t think about the vitiligo, but over the past years since being on a gluten-free diet, the patches have begun filling in with spots of pigment of various colors, even some darker than my original skin color. I was always self-conscious about the white patches on my legs as a child. Today, you can barely make out their outlines.
Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease, because the immune system attacks the pigment-producing cells of the body. It is thought that lack of folic acid and B12 could be a contributing factor to the onset and spread of vitiligo. Vitiligo has been associated with celiac disease, which causes malabsorption of vital nutrients, so it makes sense that these two conditions can coexist. Though studies have stated the relationship of the two autoimmune diseases, little or no information has been presented from an anecdotal point of view — what happens to the patient with vitiligo if they go on a gluten-free diet?
I have received many emails asking me if vitiligo will go away on a gluten-free diet. Because of these inquiries, I decided to ask celiac disease expert Peter Green about it when I saw him at a conference. He said that he has seen vitiligo reverse on a gluten-free diet if caught early enough. I also decided to follow up with some of the people that emailed me to see if anything had changed with their vitiligo since being on a gluten-free diet. I was astounded at what I found. Out of 8 people I emailed, 5 emailed me back. Of those 5, 3 people had seen the vitiligo reverse! Of the remaining 2, one had not tried a gluten-free diet, and one had not seen change with the gluten-free diet, but had also been diagnosed with dairy and yeast allergy, so perhaps there is more to eliminate from the diet before seeing a change. So, of 4 people who tried a gluten-free diet, 3 had positive results: 75%! Here is what they said:
Woman with vitiligo: “Yes, my pigment is coming back on my knees where I’ve had lesions since age 9 (I’m 38). I also have not had any advancing vitiligo lesions since I’ve been gluten free. I’m not currently doing any treatment, and my pigment is coming back slowly but surely on my legs, some on my hands, and a little on my shoulders. There doesn’t seem to be any changes on my lesions on my abdomen or feet, however. As previously stated, I do have freckling on my
hands, which is surprising. The best part of all is that I feel so much better physically and mentally. I can’t even think of consuming gluten . . . YUCK!”
Father of a child with vitiligo: “It has substantially improved. We finally found a physician who took this very serious, performed subsequent tests and found that due to her inflamed bowels she was not absorbing vitamins (she also has very short hair). In a very short time, with increased vitamin intake, gluten free everything has improved!”
Woman with vitiligo: “Yes the vitiligo did change. I think I remember telling you that it was not noticeable until I got a tan. Then portions of my upper thigh would not tan with the rest of my skin. When I was feeling my worst it spread to my upper back and shoulder in small patches. The upper thigh has not changed since my teens BUT this past summer I got a tan while planning my destination wedding and no patches on my back or shoulder! This is very exciting news since my wedding dress is backless.”
Please, if any others out there have seen their vitiligo change on a gluten-free diet, leave a comment here. And if you have vitiligo and are reading about this connection for the first time, you should consider getting tested for celiac disease or gluten intolerance and going on a gluten-free diet. Even if your vitiligo can’t reverse, the fact that you have this autoimmune condition means that you may have an intolerance to gluten and there could be damage being done inside the body.
I hope that my personal story and the comments shared by others will cause some of you out there to have an “Aha!” moment!
UPDATE: Articles I have found since writing this article in 2010:
Repigmentation of Vitiligo Lesions in a Child with Celiac Disease after a Gluten-Free Diet
Rapid Partial Repigmentation of Vitiligo in a Young Female Adult with a Gluten-Free Diet
Vitiligo and Autoantibodies of Celiac Disease
Vitiligo and Celiac Disease: Is There a Link?
Leslie says
Those stories of reversal are amazing! Great post!
Kristen says
Very interesting relationship between vitiligo and gluten intolerance…thanks for the post.
Mrs. Q says
That is so interesting!
Ainsley says
I’m so glad you posted this message, but I find that I am trending in the opposite way. I’ve been gluten-free for over 5 years now, and about 8 months ago I started developing vitiligo spots – out of the blue. It’s becoming much worse and spreading all over my body, but hasn’t got to my face yet.
Maybe the secret lies in the fact that I’m somehow getting a small bit of gluten in something – and I don’t know it. Although I’m pretty sure I would know… strange.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know I’m not alone in the world with my multiple, autoimmune diseases.
alison says
Ainsley,
What about dairy? It seems that some people have found that dairy contributes to the spread. I would cut dairy out if I were you and see if that helps. I’m so sorry that is happening to you. It is really hard to have one, let alone many, autoimmune diseases. I wish you luck.
Dawn says
my daughter was seen by a dr of functional medicine(Drs. Roger and Bill Bilica) at age 3 for vitiligo and other gluten sensitive symptoms and 3 years later on a gluten free diet and a regimen of various vitmins and supplements we have seen a great difference in her skin, she has repigmented in many areas. Methylfolate and gluathione (sp) are 2 of the supplements that have greatly helped and fish and flax oils. She also does a Megaflora probiotic everyday.
alison says
Dawn,
Thanks for the info!
Anne says
My 11 year old daughter has vitiligo on her feet and knees and also showed dairy and gluten sensitivity (but not allergies). she also has a chronic cough that baffles the doctors. I am going to try to cut her gluten and move to a more vegan diet. I’ve been doing research like crazy and avoiding meat seems to be helping a lot of people. I know it’s not going to be easy to get her to comply, but we need to try. I will keep everyone posted.
alison says
Anne,
Be careful with the vegan products — they are full of gluten and soy. You might find this blog helpful for recipes: http://www.bookofyum.com
Please do keep us posted. This is vital information.
Rose says
My daughter is 26 and has had vitiligo since she was 6. She also has been diagnosed as having chromosone deletion 16p11.2 having heart, sub mucous cleft palette,learning difficulties and poor muscle tone amongst others.
I am wondering if a gluten free diet would help her?
alison says
Rose,
I think it’s worth a try, especially if she has other health problems. You might think about getting her tested for celiac disease before starting a gluten-free diet.
Doug says
Rose… Yes! Going gluten-free will definitely help the vitiligo and I’m sure a whole host of things that you may not even be aware of.
As I see it, EVERYONE has Celiac or gluten-sensitivity to some degree. Think of it like a spectrum. Some are very sensitive to gluten, some not as much, but EVERYONE (including you) will operate better without gluten.
Certainly won’t be a miracle cure – it seems like she has quite a few genetic issues — but avoiding gluten will certainly help her cope with those issues and make her and her immune system stronger.
Lesley says
Great article. Thanks.
Mark says
I have had white spots on my back and chest since junior high school (I am now 42). A number of years ago, they stopped spreading and in a few instances, they re-pigmented on their own. A few years ago, I went to a dermatoligist asking if anything could be done about them and she gave me a topical cream (can’t remember what it was though). Unfrotunately, after a few months of using it, the spots on my back actually got bigger so I stopped using the cream. Then 1 1/2 years ago, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and while the overall appearance of my skin has improved dramatically (When in the sun, I now can actually get tan again and don’t feel as if my face is burning), the spots on my back and chest remain.
Addtionally, I have 6yr old identical twin boys who were both diagnosed with Celiac Disease shortly after I was. Prior to diagnosis, one of my sons had some pigmentation issues on his face. Fortunately, after going off of gluten, his skin cleared up almost overnight. However, a few months ago, a new spot showed up on his face that was different from the past in that there were a few bumps on the skin this time. It seems to be finally fading but time will tell.
I would be grateful if anyone had a great dermatologist to recommend….
Lisa says
Wow! This is great info. I have had vitiligo and eczema since age 7 (I am now 42) and have never heard of a gluten sensitivity connection. I also have bouts of stomach pain, diarrhea and bloating. My 7 year-old son has been lactose intolerant since he was a baby and has recently been complaining of stomach pain and headaches and always has a bloated tummy, so I’m trying a gluten-free diet for him (his pediatrician has been no help and I’ve questioned him more than once about food allergies – need a new pediatrician – any ideas?) But now I’m going to get myself and him tested for Celiac’s. Kind of freaking out that I could possibly have had Celiac’s for all these years and never knew, and now my son may have it too??!!! So do I need to put him back on gluten before I get the test?
Alison says
Lisa,
Sounds like you have lots of symptoms yourself (it does run in families!) You are supposed to be consuming gluten when you do the blood panel for celiac disease, but if you have only recently started a gluten-free diet, it shouldn’t make a difference if you get tested soon. HOWEVER, the celiac blood tests miss a lot of people who actually have celiac or who are gluten-sensitive. So, you and your son could test negative but still should try a gluten-free diet. There are other tests you can do if you get a negative blood test. You can read more about this: Testing for Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
Doug says
Lisa:
Go ahead and get tested if you want, but you are better off just eliminating all grains, legumes and dairy for a month or more and see how your symptoms subside.
I can almost guarantee that the stomach pains, diarrhea and bloating will disappear and I’d bet that your eczema will improve and there’s a chance your vitiligo starts to reverse.
I haven’t found any pediatricians who know much about this. You could try here:
http://robbwolf.com/2011/02/08/paleo-physician-network-is-live/
But it is brand new and hasn’t really been populated yet.
Robb Wolf’s blog is great place for info on this stuff, regardless.
The good news is, you’ve discovered this whole gluten-sensitivity thing. Believe it or not, you’re way ahead of the game!
Delise says
I discovered gluten intolerance this past fall(celiac not established) because of severe bloating and pain. I’ve had vitiligo for five years. My hands were completely spotted but I was so preoccupied with the bloating and pain I couldn’t care less. Thankfully I learned I was gluten intolerent and I went entirely gluten free in October. I can’t even get cross contamination of gluten. The big surprise — now my hands are completely repigmented. It’s just gone! Interestingly several spots on my legs have not been in the sun and are just starting to repigment. If you want to know how gluten and all the auto immune diseases might be related read Alesso Fansano’s article
at this address: http://somvweb.som.umaryland.edu/absolutenm/articlefiles/837-Fasano Scientific American article 8.2009.pdf
Alison says
Delise,
Amazing! Yet another story of pigment returning. We need some doctors to read this… thanks for commenting and for the link to the article.
Lauren says
Very interesting to read all these posts…I have had vitiligo for about 12 years, and recently new spots have come out, which really bothers me. I haven’t had new spots in years. Most of my spots have long cleared, but the cream I used to use is hard, since my spots now on my hand and face (next to my mouth), the Dr told me becuase you are constanly washing, will not work as efficiently. Now I’m starting to read up on going gluten-free and also on celiac disease. Wondering if I should get tested. I don’t want to over think about it, but feel I have several symptoms. Even if not, there seeems to be a lot of positive about going gluten-free. And if it can help turn my spots around, it might be worth it!
Thanks for all the input!
Danielle says
Hello Alison. I am a 26yr old italian american female with light olive skin. I was diagnosed with vitiligo this past January. I first noticed a small spot on the corner of my mouth. Since January, that spot has stayed the same, but I am starting to see a small loss of pigment on the other side, as well as a white patch around my eye. I have been extremely sad and upset lately- I am having such trouble finding a doctor in the New York City area with knowledge on this disease as well as appropriate bedside manner. I feel so helpless. As I say this, I am reading all the posts and I so am happy that I have come across your article. I have always had issues with my stomach and processing milk and lactose products. I never thought about Celiacs and I am clueless on where to start, how to get tested and what to do to begin a glutent free lifestyle. I am ready to try anything. I must also say that my now 25yr old brother was diagnosed with vitiligo when he was 16. His skin is somewhat lighter than mine, and it is harder to see his spots. I apologize, I know I have thrown a lot out in this response, but after reading your story I feel a sense of hope. I have been using topical steroids and have not seen any change. Do you have any family members with vitiligo? Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you!
Shawnda says
Yes, the gluten and cow milk free diet is doing absolutely amazing things for my vitiligo. I had the same shape as the author of this post of “vitiligo” circles around my eyes…but after 21 years, they are filling in daily. This summer sun is helping, too. I experience itching around the site on the days healing occurs. Anyone else experience the itching?
Alison says
Shawnda,
That’s amazing and great! I don’t think I have felt the itching, but I will pay attention to that.
Everyone,
I was just noticing that even the places where I have vitiligo that don’t see the sun are filling in. My vitiligo is filling in with darker speckles — much darker than my normal skin tone — is that how everyone else’s is filling in?
Lindsey says
I am so happy to find this info. Can anyone tell me how long you were gluten free before you saw repigmentation? I have had vitiligo since third grade with little change until the past few months. It has started popping up everywhere. I definitely reading The Paleo Solution by Robbing Wolf. It is an amazing diet with tons of info on treatment of many autoimmune diseases.
Jennifer says
I gave up gluten and dairy a year ago because I felt generally crummy and needed to make some changes. I had a “gut” feeling that this dietary change could help my morning achy-ness, hot flashes, occasional hives,, arthritic pains and yeast infections. All that improved greatly, but I never expected that it would impact my pigmentation! I am 46 and have had vitaligo since I was about 8. About 20 years ago I was diagnosed with an auto immune disorder a little like lupus, and I have managed that well with healthy lifestyle choices like healthy diet and and exercise. It wasn’t until more recently that I began to feel crummy again, and thus the change to gluten-free. Now this summer, I am noticing a very distinct change in the pigment on my knees. I am seeing pigment in places where there has not been any for nearly 40 years! I really can’t think of anything else that has changed in my life in the past year that could possibly have influenced this, and I am happy I goggled gluten and vitiligo tonight! I hope to see some good research on this soon! Thanks for helping to make the connection!
Alison says
Jennifer,
Amazing! Your comment gave me chills. I’m so glad you posted it because it’s another example for people (and wishfully, doctors) to read!
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maria jose says
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Ken says
Three months ago I was diagnosed with a gluten and lactose sensitivity. I’ve cut them both from my diet. Today I was diagnosed with vitiligo. Neither the GI doctor nor the dermatologist saw the correlation. What kind of doctor or health care practitioner should I see? Any suggestions of docs in the northern California/Sacramento area?
Also, is there a treatment for one or the other that will cure both? Is there a cure for either?
Does B12 cure either or delay progression?
Alison says
Ken,
I wish I knew the answer to your questions. I believe that there is a correlation between diet (gluten and dairy) and vitiligo, but I have yet to hear any medical doctor say so. I wish there was someone I could refer you to.
Alison says
Hi Everyone,
I just found an abstract in the medical journals about a girl whose vitiligo reversed on a gluten-free diet:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21504457
Doug says
Ken,
Give these guys a call:
http://www.sachealthandhealing.com/
I found them here:
http://paleophysiciansnetwork.com/doctors/CA/sacramento/charles-carpenter-md
I can’t vouch for them personally, but they seems to be the type of doc you are looking for. Let us know if they’re any good!
Ken says
Thanks for the tip. I will let you know.
carolyn says
I have a couple thoughts in the regards to gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance. It seems widespread. And more and more people are having restricted diets, which also means certain vitamins will not be in their diet. Take for example the B vitamins. They are most prevalent in grains and yeast, which is used to make breads. I think the better question to ask ourselves is “why” are people becoming intolerant of these kinds of foods? In my observations, I am coming to the conclusion that it is a combination of how we eat our foods and the modern farming methods. It is a huge topic, but let me just say most people are enzyme deficient and lactobacillus deficient. If you were to take enzyme supplements and a wide range pro-biotic which includes lactobacillus, then digestion will be much more efficient and nutrients can then be absorbed, thus taking away the bodies intolerance for these foods. My 7 yr old daughter has had issues in these areas and I have found giving her plenty of enzymes and plain yogurt every night before bed has cured her eczema as well as decreased her vitiligo. I have to stay on top of it everyday. Another thing worth looking at is aluminum in our diet and products we use. I think it is shocking how much it is getting into our bodies. Here is a useful link about it: http://home.earthlink.net/~joannefstruve/_wsn/page2.html
Hope this helps.
Becki says
My 7 year old daughter has vitiligo. She was also experiencing tummy pain and head aches. I stopped gluten a week and a half ago. Tummy & head pain is gone, except when she accidentily consumed gluten. I may be noticing repigmenting on her vitiligo spots as well, I need a little more time to be sure. Amazing. I am so hopeful that this will help her. She seems to just feel better all the time. Okay… medicine needs to catch up with the anecdotal evidence!
Alison says
Becki,
That is great news – I hope she continues to repigment!
Rachel says
Went on a gluten free diet two months ago to improve acne. After I went on the diet, I was surprised by how I stopped experiencing sharp pains in my stomach after I ate (something I always associated with fullness). I have had hyperhydrosis since the age of six and vitiligo since the age of 21. After researching gluten-free diets I realized these autoimmune conditions were related to gluten intolerance. I am now seeing a gradual improvement in the vitiligo in my face and depigmentation in my hair.
Amanda says
I have vitiligo since I was 11, I’m 51 on a gluten free diet for the last 3 years, and I am repigmenting like crazy.
Jennifer says
Amanda,
I posted back on August 5th also… it is great to hear another case of reversal in vitiligo after so many years. It is exciting to think what other autoimmune conditions could be effected! And how great is it that here we are in “mid life” and seeing improvements that we never could have dreamed of for all those years! The body is an amazing thing and so capable of finding balance and health when given the proper opportunity!
Deborah Peterson says
I am 43 years old and have had vitiligo since I was a teenager. I have it on my face, legs, feet, hands, arms, armpits, neck…well, pretty much all over. My grandfather also had vitiligo so I believe it is hereditary. As there is no good treatment for vitiligo, and after reading this post and the comments, I have decided to experiment with the gluten-free diet. I have been doing this for about a month now. I have not seen any changes in my vitiligo so far. My question is: for those who have seen re-pigmentation on the gluten-free diet, how long did it take before you started to see some changes? I’m getting frustrated because I so badly want this to work!
Joseph says
To Deborah:
I also suffer from vitiligo and I want to respond to your question about how long it takes to notice repigmentation. Btw, I also have a grandparent with the disease.
With vitiligo, we need to make a clear distinction between (1) lesions of active disease and (2) lesions that are depigmented but are disease-free underneath the surface. If you find a way to halt the active disease (for example by halting gluten intake if you’re lucky), if you are not getting a good dose of uvb rays, it often takes many, many months to notice any repigmentation, especially on parts that are not exposed to the sun. That is why I am supplementing my gluten-free diet with uvb radiation. With this treatment, you can see results in about 1-2 months. Right now, I am seeing repigmentation of about 1mm per month. For me, a dime-shaped lesion takes about 3-8 months to completely clear up (depending on the presence/absence of pigmented follicles).
Hope this helps.
Joseph says
To Alison,
I halted gluten 4 months ago and have not seen any new vitiligo lesions since then. As I mentioned above I am supplementing my gf-diet with uvb radiation and am seeing improvements all over my body. I will need another year of study before I can say whether or not the gf-diet has helped me to halt the ‘active disease’, but I am optimistic based on the results over these past 4 months.
Thank you very much for sharing your story and encouraging others to as well. And thanks for following up with some folks that you have met and sharing their results – we really some data before we can convince the medical community take the issue of diet and auto-immune disease seriously.
I encourage you to continue posting on this blog entry comments page as long as you can.
–Joseph
Kim says
I am 42 years old and the vitiligo started 8 years ago. It is spreading rapidly with spots on my face, hands, stomach, legs and beginning on my feet. Feeling desperate, after seeing many dermatologists, I went to a highly recommended nutritionist. She requested my lab work in advance.
Before seeing my nutritionist, I was anemic for two years and was taking iron supplements but nothing changed. I could not get my iron levels to improve. When the nutritionist reviewed my bloodwork, she immediatley concluded that my vitilito and anemia are both related to a gluten intolerance. She told me that if I went off gluten for one month and continued to take my iron pills that my iron levels would soar to the point that my family physician wouldn’t beleive it and that my vitiligo spots would at least stop growing. After three weeks, I had my iron checked and she was right. I was no longer anemic. I tested her theory by going on and off gluten over the past year only to realize that there was a direct correlation. When I was eating gluten, my iron levels dropped below normal and when off gluten, my iron levels were perfectly fine.
One other thing I would like to mention that the nutritionist said was….. “just because you have a gluten intolerance, it doesn’t mean that you have celiacs yet but the intolerance can turn into full blown celiacs in the years to come”. She also told me that if I didn’t get off the gluten that I my next ailment would become thyroid disease.
As for the vitiligo, thank you for the stories, you all have inspired me to stop playing with how much gluten I can or cannot eat before my iron levels drop and to get serious to see if I can really stop the vitiligo and get those spots to repigment.
-Kim
Alison says
Kim, please keep us posted on the vitiligo.
Renee says
I was diagnosed with vitiligo last year and it’s all over my body, leg’s, arm’s, hand’s and some on the face. I as a child had lactose intolerance and could not drink milk, I also have had side affect’s if I eat to much wheat/gluten. I’ve never been diagnosed to having gluten intolerance but I think I do and this past week I’ve really tried to stay away from gluten and have started feeling better. I am really considering all together after reading your post just not eating wheat at all. I know it will be difficult but if it helps the vitiligo I will definitely give it a try. I almost at one point going to do the light treatment and someone told me it’s a waste of money. I’ve had this vitiligo now a year and 2 months and would do anything to get rid of it or minimize it. Thanks for your encouraging letter.
Joseph says
Hi Renee,
I’ve been receiving narrow-band uvb light treatment for the past 18 months. During that time, my vitiligo patches have gone from covering 30% of my body down to only 10%, and the situation is still improving, which is why I continue with the treatment. In my experience, the light treatment is very effective on areas that do not have active disease, and it not very effective on areas that do have active disease. So for example, the area around my mouth did not improve even after 12 months of treatment, whereas my back has been completely repigmented. The uncertainty comes from not knowing which white patches are active.
Regarding gluten, my suspicion is that the active disease part of vitiligo is triggered by gluten consumption in some people. In my own case, I have now been gluten-free for six months and have not seen any new vit lesions since that time.
In summary, the best solution is to experiment with trying to remove any triggers for your vit, while also repigmenting the areas that are not depigmenting, and generally repgimentation can only occur quickly in the presense of light.
Best of luck to you, Renee.
Lynn says
Allison,
Just to add my story to the variety of interesting responses you’ve received:
I was diagnosed via a naturopath with celiac disease about 5 years ago – positive Ttg with negative endoscopy did not prompt my regular doctor to pursue other testing. Nonetheless, I’ve been gluten-free ever since. As a child I suffered from ADHD, extremely itchy skin (itching from the “inside”), and excema. I developed my first patch of vitiligo as a late teen, on the back of my head (my hairdresser found it!). My knees and elbows were next to be affected – I achieved some repigmentation in my 20s with no treatment (at this point I didn’t even know what it was called though several family members suffer as well – particularly the two who also have type 1 diabetes).
After the birth of my second child my vitiligo began spreading rapidly, across my face, my hands, my midsection, arms and legs. It was at this point I was officially diagnosed with vitiligo. Interestingly, this child of mine was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6. With my busy life as a mother and teacher, I did not pursue treatment – even though my natural pigment is olive toned and the spots were very obvious (I used Dermablend cosmetics and began avoiding the sun – primarily because I burned so quickly and badly).
It wasn’t until I began having a variety of seemingly disconnected ailments that I went from one specialist to another trying to figure out what was going on (stomach issues, hair loss, tingling extremities, chronic anemia that would not correct with oral iron supplements, brain fog – I could go on…). I finally sought out a naturopath/nutritionist thinking perhaps I could change my diet to relieve some of my symptoms. She put me on a gluten, dairy, soy, and egg-free diet for two weeks while we awaited test results, during which time many of my symptoms virtually disappeared. When I returned for the test results – BINGO! – serious intolerance to gluten and soy along with an allergy to dairy and egg. My body had literally turned against itself and food was the main culprit!
Now, back to the vitiligo story – unfortunately (or fortunately for me since I was already significantly depigmented), the vitiligo did NOT stop spreading – it even spread more. At this point I’m more than 90% covered with vitiligo – likely most of which is no longer even actively treatable. But – on a positive note – the gluten-free diet saved my life, or at least the quality of it!!!
Sorry for the long post 🙂
Alison says
Hi Lynn,
I can’t help but wonder what would have happened with your vitiligo if you had been diagnosed with celiac earlier… and what about your child with diabetes? I hope that he/she is gluten-free as well as these conditions are connected.
Type 1 Diabetics should be screened for celiac disease
Thanks for your story – I’m glad you are feeling better overall!
Alison
Lynn says
Alison –
I wonder the same about the celiac as I’ve likely had it for quite some time. Several extended family members have this as well. My daughter is now 20 and is regularly screened for celiac as the connection is clear. Some of her type 1 friends have chosen to go gluten-free, but as of yet, I’ve been unable to convince her of the benefits! Perhaps in time and with a bit more maturity 😉
Thanks for all of the wonderful insights on living without the dangerous grain!
Amanda says
Alison thank you for your page and interest to inform others.
I have already commented that I am also repigmenting after going gluten free. I have no doubt that wheat causes this autoinmune disorder and others, I also have Hashimoto’s, and I was lucky to find a doctor who told me “I think you are intolerant to gluten” I had no symptoms of celiac disease just the autoinmune response to it, and she was so well informed that she nail it, had a celiac panel done and I had very high levels of antibodies to it. I stopped gluten inmediately and felt better with in hours, I read “Wheat Belly” recently a book writen by Dr. W.Davis, a preventative cardiologist who nails wheat all the way to the naked truth.
When I went to see the dermatologist he was not even interested in my story, I have pictures of the repigmented areas. This is huge and important for others, I am dark skinned so vitiligo has been devastating for me, I have it since I was 11 years old. Your picture as a child reminded me of myself as a child, like you I repigmented the spots on my face using a cream prescribed by a dermatolgist, the rest did not. Vitiligo spread lots in my 40’s, I had tried everything under this planet with no luck. and when I was not even trying the brown spots surprised me so much…I really think that some doctors are interested only when they can sell something. Going gluten free is free, nobody can make money from it.
The repigmentation started about a year after I went gluten free and I noticed the brown spots getting bigger and bigger, I asked my son to take pictures and it really shows in them. I was also supplementing with vitamins, since we know gluten damages your gut and we can not absorb nutrients. I read Dr. Green’s book “Celiac Disease a hidden Epidemic” and Elizabeth Hasselback’s book also, they gave me all the information, because being gluten free is not easy, everything has gluten in it. The best way is to eat lots of vegetables, fish, meats and fruits. I also lost 30 pounds of fat the first year.
Please don’t give up people out there get information, this genetically modified grain is killing us one way or another. After reading Wheat Belly my whole family is gluten free, they all feel and look better, I look at least 10 years younger, I am not kidding.
I also read in one of the comments in your page that somebody else has read also about Dr. Alessio Fasano’s findings. I really admire his work, which I have been reading for a while now, and I can not believe they don’t teach that to doctors.
Thank you again, I hope more people with vitiligo try going gluten free, it can save our lives!
Erwin Rommel says
It is very difficult to make some restricted diet without any firm clues that it should work… I have done some sIgA gliadin test if it will be postive I go gluten free if not I don’t see any reason… You all are convinced that gluten is main problem I’m not so sure as gluten should be digested in healthy stomach and gut… I got some gastritis and HP infection so I think it may be main reason in my case… but gluten free can be as well some option…
It is difficult even to make some conclusions from yours stories as most of you started gf without test… and if it was some coeliac, gluten allergy, gluten sensivity is not celar
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7015-9-23.pdf
Honestly said I cut gluten for few days and I’m feel sluggisch so I back to normal diet
Kim says
This is an awesome post!! My cousin and I have both been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and we have been looking back at our family history and it’s so sad to see so many of our families previous generations suffering from what appears to be severe gluten intolerance and in many cases possibly Celiac Disease. Many have since passed on so we will never know but at least we know now and are making changes in our own lives. My Grandmother had Vitilago among other things and honestly I had no idea that gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease had a connection with Vitilago until a while ago. I started researching and landed here. Thanks for such an informative and hopeful post!
Amanda says
Erwin the problem is that people think that stopping gluten could bring some nutritional problems, because we are being brainwashed that we need grains to be healthy. I can tell you that along the vitiligo you may have other symptoms that you are not even be aware they are related to gluten intolerance, the best test the experts are recommending is go gluten free for 30 days and see how you feel.
On the other hand you have to get ready for the switch, you need plenty of healthy proteins like fish, chicken and any kind of lean meats, plenty of vegetables,fruit, sweet potatoes, you do your own research, you have to eat so you are not hungry. You are not going to feel weak or hungry if you do it right you are going to feel well like never before. But as I said before you need to be ready, I usually pack all my food before I leave the house, I pack healthy stuff, nuts, bananas, salads, proteins, etc. If I have to eat out, I go to Asian places like Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican and ask for gluten free, it is easy these days because more and more people are finding out that they can not tolerate the grain. I hope this helps, but read and get the information from the experts.
pam says
Hi,
i just bumped into your blog.
i’m like Aisley years –going toward the opposite direciton.
i have been _mostly_ gluten free for the last few year. & go
i.e., i don’t knowingly eat it.
(going gluten free makes me feel a lot better
no more migraine, brain fog, lethargy,
nausea, bloating & projectile vomiting)
then boom, i got vitiligo a year ago
severe iron anemia, mild hypothyroidism.
it could be some accidental exposure?
right now there’re about 10 “polka dots”.
(also i did try dairy free for a while
& saw no difference)
& my diet is already very clean before vitiligo
(Perfect Health Diet/Archevore)
so i kind of run out of idea.
regards,
Amanda says
Pam I am sure you are extremely sensitive, even your spices could contain gluten, flour is a cheap filler, the food industry put it in everything, eat only things that come directly from animals and plants and things that are not made in a plant. Supplement with folic acid and B12, vit.C
pam says
Hi, Amanda,
thanks.
i have been 99% GF for few years.
that is i don’t knowingly eat it.
since it’s everywhere, i rarely eat out.
i read ingredients carefully.
for accidentally exposure, i usually know in a few hours (migraine & “stasis” & blood glucose shooting up).
i just tried dairy free for the 3rd time & could not tell
any difference for good or bad. so i don’t think it’s dary.
although the 2 “polka dots” on my arms have shrunk also repigment slightly recently (more sun in summer)
are you suggesting that i only eat from animal kingdom? or eat directly animals & plants (i.e., no processed food).
i’ll try supplementing B12 & folic acid.
(my B12 was normal — it was checked few months ago)
also i’m no longer anemic.
thanks,
regards,
thanks.
Amanda says
Pam I mean eating clean as close to nature as you can, I see that you are eating clean, be patient and you will start repigmenting, one thing I have done is I use coconut oil for cooking, I know coconut oil has some amazing qualities and I even wonder if the GF diet, the supplements and the coconut oil have helped with the repigmentation.
I would say be patient, I was not even expecting at all when I started to see my color coming back again.
The main thing your body is repairing the damage. If you can buy “Wheat Belly” a book you will never regret to read. Good luck.
pam says
Hi, Amanda,
thanks for the reply.
oh, yes, i got “Wheat Belly” looks very interesting.
but have not read it.
my diet is PHD/archevore. both are quite anti-wheat.
most of the dots seem dormant. there is only a big patch that is more active & sometimes it’s itchy. looks like battle field w/ multiple borders (dark vs light)
regards,
Kerri says
After reading this, I felt like I had finally gotten the last piece to the puzzle; my head was spinning and I kept saying over and over, “could it be? finally?”
I just turned 40, and have had vitiligo since I was a teenager. The first spots were on my inner thigh, and I thought they were scarring from scratching ‘dry winter skin” too much! My spots have spread to all the joints: ankles, knees, hips, elbows, wrists, armpits through my adult life. Sometimes they showed up very quickly, and at other times, they appeared to be “done.”
I have a couple of male cousins and an uncle on my dad’s side with vitiligo. One cousin also had colon cancer; he’s also the father of a daughter with full-blown celiac disease and a son with debilitating arthritis. My paternal grandmother was known to have thyroid problems and was an alcoholic: I am wondering now if the alcohol was a coping mechanism for a mood disturbance brought on by diet.
In addition to the vitiligo, my twenties were marked by brain fog (so I struggled with the constant question of “how can a smart person like me be so DUMB?”) and mood disturbances. I have wondered if I would have been diagnosed as depressed then, or at least ADHD, had I taken it to a traditional MD. I remember this also being a time with moderate, but constant, belly bloat. Thought it was from beer, but I only drank about once a week!
Three years ago, I woke with intense abdominal pain… to make a very long story short, I ended up having a 8″ length of necrotic colon removed and resectioned. The docs at the Mayo clinic to this day still can give no explanation about why. As I was leaving the hospital, I was told that I would have to have B12 injections because the length of small intestine removed was the portion that absorbs it! Turns out sublingual B12 works just as well (my suggestion.)
My Mom tells me that I was a very colicky baby.
So I’m looking at all the pieces in my life- and the B12 thing was what stuck out the most to me on this post- and I think it’s time to dump gluten altogether. I’ve been gluten-reduced for quite some time, as I have been trying to help my son, diagnosed with ADHD, eliminate some symptoms. (He is the perfect example of a “wheat belly kid” btw… big belly!)
I have a few dark spots in bigger white regions on my hands- probaby where some repigmenting has happened recently- but I would love to have all my pigment back!
I will not apologize for my long post. Frankly, I think anyone seeking out info on vitiligo has been suffering and looking for relief, looking for improved health, and I feel it’s a comfort to others to read that they are not alone. I am hopeful that the info shared here will help me, and truly appreciate anyone who has taken the time to share their story. Much gratitude to you all– Kerri
Kerri says
one more thing: I’ve never been tested for anemia, but have always felt a little bit like I couldn’t quite “bring it” with anything athletic… I hope this, too, changes as I deliberately focus on having B12 in my system!
Thanks again–Kerri
Kerri says
anyone: is it possible that it gets worse before it gets better when gluten is removed? Kindof like a healing crisis that shows up when sugar or even medications are taken out? Some have mentioned how their vitiligo had gotten worse right away when cutting out gluten; but could it be that it would improve in time?
Amanda says
Kerri I’m sorry to hear that it took so long for you to find all this, it took me 40 years of suffering, my vitiligo started when I was 11 years old, and it was hard growing up, but I must say I was so lucky to find a doctor who told me “I think you are intolerant to gluten” the same week Elizabeth H. from “The View” had a show where she talked about some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance and celiac disease, I had lots of them like: hypothyroidism, headaches, constipation, depression, pains and aches, anemia, etc. When the doctor said I might be intolerant, I stopped the gluten inmediately, I felt better with in 48 hours. No wonder about 10 years ago I did Atkins and felt wonderful! but then I stopped because all the attacks to Atkins, big mistake, after that the vitiligo just spread like fire…But the good thing is I know now, my kids know and my grandchildren will know. I think this thing runs in my family too, although I am the only one who developed the vitiligo.
I feel 20 years younger, and I look younger, everybody tells me that. I am not expecting to repigment completely as I have so much but still I’m soooo happy. Vitiligo never stopped me completely, I have a wonderful proffession, a wonderful family and the opportunity to help others.
Good luck to you, you will only get better…