Celiac disease: from gluten to skin

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy characterized by atrophy of the intestinal villi that improves after a gluten-free diet. CD is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations. In the past few years, growing evidence has documented the involvement of skin diseases among the extraintestinal manifestations of CD. This association could be related to the impairment of intestinal absorption and motility, other than to immunological and hormonal changes. The aim of this review is to report all CD-associated skin manifestations described in the literature and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in this association. The opportunity to evaluate the possible presence of CD in patients affected by skin disorders is discussed.

Keywords::

• alopecia areata
• celiac disease
• dermatitis herpetiformis
• malabsorption
• psoriasis
• skin

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.