Q & A Library

You're right - there is a connection. Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), a chronic skin condition, predisposes you to a long list of autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease and alopecia areata (marked by bald patches on the scalp). With DH you get itchy watery blisters that may look like pimples. The problem is triggered by an immune system response to gluten, the protein in wheat, rye, and barley.

The best way to treat this condition is with a gluten-free diet. That means avoiding wheat (including durum, semolina, kamut and spelt), rye, barley and triticale (a wheat/rye combination) and anything that they're found in. Gluten-containing foods can include products as diverse as some types of broth, processed meats, soy sauce and pastas. It may take a while on a gluten-free diet before you get lasting relief from the blistering and itchiness of DH, but it is the most dependable treatment.

In alopecia areata the immune system attacks hair follicles. This causes hair to fall out, usually in small patches about the size of a quarter. Most people don't lose all their hair but some lose a lot. In the most severe cases, people lose all the hair on their heads and everywhere else on their bodies, a condition known as alopecia universalis.

Treatment with steroids and other drugs including Minoxidil (Rogaine) can sometimes prompt hair to re-grow, but steroids present the risk of serious side effects and the other drugs don't work for everyone. Instead, I recommend dealing with autoimmune diseases by experimenting with some type of mind/body treatment - hypnosis, psychotherapy, biofeedback, or guided imagery therapy. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine are also worth exploring. In addition, you can try the following dietary measures:

• Decrease protein intake toward 10 percent of daily calories; replace animal protein as much as possible with plant protein.
• Eliminate milk and milk products, substituting other calcium sources.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables regularly and make sure that they are organically grown.
• Eliminate polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods (such as deep-fried foods) that might contain trans-fatty acids. Use extra-virgin olive oil as your main fat.
• Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Take black currant oil or evening primrose oil capsules as sources of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an essential fatty acid that improves the health of skin and hair. The usual dose is 500mg twice a day.

Andrew Weil, M.D.