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Is This Possibly Dermatitis Herpetiformis?

djs89

By djs89
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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djs89 Rookie
djs89
Posted

I have no official diagnosis of celiac disease, but I experience symptoms similar to it. However, I'm not brave enough to have an intestinal biopsy. I haven't been adhering to a strict gluten free diet due to a lack of confirmation. I have a family history of Crohn's disease, which seems to be linked to Celiac disease. I had a celiac blood test, which came back negative. Even if I do not have celiac disease, it seems like I do have an intestinal problem of some kind. I also have typical symptoms of an autoimmune disorder, and I know that consuming wheat/gluten products makes me ill.

 

Recently I've had rashes on the back of my legs. For about two months it comes and goes, in the same area. I took pictures when it was the worst I've seen. I've never experienced this degree of a rash before, but I've always had red bumps form randomly on my chest, back and arms.

 

I recently read about Dermatitis Herpetiformis and it's connection to celiac disease. I would like to know opinions of anybody experienced with this, if this rash could possibly be that. I don't experience much itchiness however, which I read is a symptom of DH. Sorry, the images are ugly. :unsure:

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img593/3175/skin1od.webp

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img195/6315/skin2w.webp

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squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

There are many rashes & skin conditions associated with celiac disease & probably with non celiac gluten intolerance. But the dh rash itches like the very devil!!!! Non-stop, 24/7 & 365. If your rash does not itch then it's not dh.

djs89 Rookie
djs89
Posted
  • Author

Could it be that the rash itches because people try to touch it or pick at it? I haven't touched the rash since I noticed it, and it is only mildly bothersome. I avoid scratching it because that would make it worse. I also put clay on it, perhaps that helped prevent itchiness?

tinpins Rookie
tinpins
Posted

I've just been diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis and the condition from my personal experience  is indescribably itchy. 

 

This link would be good to read for clarification:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

Here's an excerpt from the article:

 

 “All regions are liable to invasion … the face and scalp, elbows and knees, and palms and soles. The most striking symptom is the itching … in all cases violent or even intense …disproportionate in excess of the amount of eruption … a persistent itching, causing the sufferer to scratch constantly … generally present for several days before any sign of efflorescence … when the eruption is profuse, (itching, burning or pricking sensations) are intense, and cause the greatest suffering.”

djs89 Rookie
djs89
Posted
  • Author

Ahh, ok. Does the itchiness correlate to gluten consumption? For example is it more itchy if you eaten gluten, less itchy if you avoid it?

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

No, it is not more or less itchy. It just itches like NUTS always. It doesn't matter if you scratch or not. It doesn't matter if you put clay on it. It's just plain HELL. It is called the suicidal itch & that moniker is in medical texts as well as the brains of we who suffer with it. Does that answer your question?

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Look up gutate psoriasis. As a matter of fact, if you google "gutate lesions" you will see images that look very much like the pics you posted. That's not to say that's what it is, but it might be. Gutate psoriasis itches too, but not as badly as DH.

 

It sounds like you do have a problem with gluten. You may or may not have celiac, but there is a thing called non-celiac gluten intolerance that gives the same symptoms. And psoriasis is definitely associated with gluten. Stress is another factor.

 

I have psoriasis. Mine is palmoplantar pustular. It doesn't itch, it just hurts. I only get it on my hands and feet. The feet take forever to heal. At one point my hands were completely healed and my feet were finally ALMOST completely healed. Then I got glutened. My hands flared for a while, but my feet flared badly and are still a mess. As a matter of fact, my feet have started itching - not all the time, but in waves. They'll be OK for a while, then I get to itching so much I HAVE to scratch. Half an hour later it'll calm down. This happens several times a day.

 

At first I thought I might be developing DH too, especially because the rash looks different than it used to. But I now believe I have develpoed gutate psoriasis on my feet.

 

And the other day I had a REALLY bad day. Lots of things went wrong and I was totally stressed out for a while. I woke up the following morning with new pustules on my hands - lots of them. I know for certain it wasn't food that did it because my house and shop are completely free of all of my "poisons". Everything I ate was not only what I always eat, but there were no new packages involved. (It's good to read the label EVERY TIME you buy something because they change ingredients often depending on price and availability.)

 

So try to think back. What did you eat when your rash flared, and did anything happen to stress you out during those times?

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djs89 Rookie
djs89
Posted
  • Author

I also thought it could be psoriasis. It can be difficult to tell, based on pictures online. It doesn't look like most of the pictures of psoriasis I've seen, but it could be that. I haven't done a gluten free diet, yet, but I have never had this kind of rash before.

cahill Collaborator
cahill
Posted

No, it is not more or less itchy. It just itches like NUTS always. It doesn't matter if you scratch or not. It doesn't matter if you put clay on it. It's just plain HELL. It is called the suicidal itch & that moniker is in medical texts as well as the brains of we who suffer with it.

 Yep , that pretty much sums it up

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

types_guttate.webp

This is a picture of gutate psoriasis.

djs89 Rookie
djs89
Posted
  • Author

Yes, it could be that. Someone else in my family has psoriasis. I have small bumps under the skin of my palms also, which looks like it could be mild psoriasis.

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