HI J.
Yes excema can be caused by a gluten allergy, or intolerance, as well as dairy. And lots of people who are gluten intolerant don't do well with dairy. It runs in the family, and the Irish are more sensitive to gluten as well. I suggest reading "The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control Now..."
by Lieberman, Shari
It changed my family's lives. My husband had been getting hives for a few years. I'd had a lot of inflammation in my wrist, and a lot of discomfort in my guts but had grown up that way and thought it was normal. My daughter started getting gas when she'd eat bread. And then started getting hives just like her dad, same time and place even.
It was pure dumb luck at first, I eliminated wheat from our diet. But you can buy wheat free, it's all gluten free. And it made a big difference for me right away. IN the first week it took less time to wake up in the morning. And I felt more with it as well, more awake than ever. The week after that I could think clearer and had dropped a pant size because I wasn't bloated. It just keeps getting better till I felt great all the time.
In my daughter I see a big difference in her behavior. When she gets gluten mixed into her diet she swings to extremes, mostly very weepy and clingy, but also the sassiest shes ever been. She gets hives that can cover her whole body, and itch like crazy. Is sensitive to UI infection after gluten exposure. The list goes on, and it all just popped in from out of the blue. We were all fine just 3 years ago (she's almost 6 now). Now we have to watch everything that goes into our bodies.
On one hand it's a lot to constantly plan ahead for food and family events where ever we go. Can't eat out much (can't afford it) but our favorite foods are to hard to find gluten free.
One the other hand I love cooking, and making our own food we are healthier than we've ever been, and feel better than most everyone we know. So it's so worth the effort.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/inde...
Good luck and I hope it clears up fast. A. H