Alopecia Areata Can Be Caused by Celiac Disease




Celiac Disease

Until recently, celiac disease, a type of hidden allergic reaction to protein components of gluten (contained in many grains and processed products), has been considered a rare genetic condition mostly associated with severe gastrointestinal distress, anemia, and dermatitis herpetiformis.

However, now many researchers insist that celiac disease is, in fact, a widely spread pathological condition that often does not manifest in its classical symptoms, but triggers an onset of many autoimmune disorders and idiopathic illnesses, such as type I diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or depression. Not long ago, scientists have linked celiac disease to many cases of unexplained hair loss, especially the balding conditions known as alopecia areata and alopecia totalis.

According to the Department of Internal Medicine, University of L’Aquila, Italy, hair loss is a common symptom in those who are allergic to gluten found in wheat, barley, oats, and rye - staple American grains. Furthermore, alopecia may sometimes be the only obvious symptom of a full-blown celiac disease. The Italian researchers revealed that, in celiac patients, hair loss occurs much more frequently and in a more severe form than in people who do not show negative reactions to gluten. The scientists reported that alopecia areata in a 14-year-old patient, as well as in two other patients without other symptoms of celiac disease, was successfully treated after they had been put on a strict gluten-free diet. The diet resulted in a complete regrowth of hair.

Dr. Harold T. Pruessner of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston believes that in many cases alopecia, alongside with dermatitis, can be the main manifestation of celiac disease.

New data show that asymptomatic celiac disease is often undiagnosed and as many as one forth of European decent people can be affected by it in various degrees of severity.

These new findings can be helpful for everybody who suffers from unexplained hair loss. It is suggested that people with alopecia should get screened for celiac disease, namely, for the presence of antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies in their blood.

Effective treatment of celiac disease and related to it hair loss includes a life-long adherence to a strict gluten-free diet with the elimination of most grains, commercial sauces, gravies, and other processed foods and medications that may contain gluten components. Usually, such treatment leads to a complete resolution of hair loss, as well as other possible complications of celiac disease, such as thyroid disease, IBS, neurological disorders, eczema, dental problems, and others.

Stefani Robbins

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Posted on February 5, 2008 
Filed Under Hair Loss Reasons

Comments

2 Responses to “Alopecia Areata Can Be Caused by Celiac Disease”

  1. Julie on February 7th, 2008 2:15 pm

    I agree with this article. Once I went on a gluten free diet all my symptoms, including serious hair loss and inability to grow my hair long stopped. My hair would only grow to shoulder length and it was very thin. It would break very easily. After I was diagnosed and went on a gluten-free diet I was able to grow my hair down to the middle of my back and it is fuller than before. It was a very big change. This was over ten years ago, which was a big deal to me as I was in my mid 20s. Everyone should be tested for Celiac Disease as it can cause serious problems that are being misdiagnosed.

  2. jonathan l. galez on October 26th, 2009 5:41 pm

    I am suffering allopecia areata for almost one and a half year already. Now, while my first spot was starting to grow, another spot seems to occur on top of my head. I just saw this article about celiac and gluten free diet thing. I will now try to engage in this so called diet and see if it will bring productive result for me.

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