DH exacerbated by sweat?

[Jane87]

DH exacerbated by sweat? Any relation/connection there in your experienced opinions? If I flare up on my (as yet unidagnosed) lower back, it's hugely aggravated by exercise as I sweat on my lower back when I run so it makes it even itchier (100 times itchier)!! My youngest said it looks like "bubble wrap" on my lower back. Anyone else have experiences of DH (or other bumpy, red, itchy rashes) being irritated by sweat?

 

(For anyone that's not read my previous posts I'm due to attend a provisional Drs appointment tomorrow regarding long standing itchy bilateral rashes & I have a family history of Coeliac, Crohn's, Lupus etc.)

[Victoria1234]

Oh wow, I can't even imagine dh in a sweaty place! I used to scratch mine till bloody sometimes.  I super hope you get diagnosed quickly and are on your way to healing very soon.

[Jane87]

1 minute ago, Victoria1234 said:

Oh wow, I can't even imagine dh in a sweaty place! I used to scratch mine till bloody sometimes.  I super hope you get diagnosed quickly and are on your way to healing very soon.

Thanks Victoria. I never scratch my elbows  (just run my fingers around the outside as I feel v.uneasy about scratching the bumps, like sickened, so it stops me scratching and my elbows are the least itchy). However when it's on my lower back or both calves I scratch like crazy!!! 

Could it be the iodine in sweat? I'm wondering now as I've been told on here that iodine foods can aggravate DH when injested. 

[ejk]

Hi there. I am not formally diagnosed with DH yet (that will happen in Jan or Feb), but my dermo and I are pretty sure that's what I have. I didn't want to be diagnosed in 2017 because I wasn't sure what was going to be happening with healthcare. I didn't want it as a preexisting condition.

Anyway, I exercise almost every day - hiking or cycling - and my sweat does seem to exacerbate the itch and bring new bumps up. Especially around my waistband area. I have been gluten free now for about two months, and the bumps and itching are less, but still there. I've started coating the area (and my behind) with Vaseline before I exercise, and that seems to help.

 

[Victoria1234]

42 minutes ago, Jane87 said:

Thanks Victoria. I never scratch my elbows  (just run my fingers around the outside as I feel v.uneasy about scratching the bumps, like sickened, so it stops me scratching and my elbows are the least itchy). However when it's on my lower back or both calves I scratch like crazy!!! 

Could it be the iodine in sweat? I'm wondering now as I've been told on here that iodine foods can aggravate DH when injested. 

You got me. Without googling I didn't know there was iodine in sweat. I figured it would be like salt in a cut for me, ouch! Or how sweat when it dries just makes you itchier. I have to wear a back brace and when it's hot out I get a rash that itches underneath, even with a tee in between. But nothing as itchy as dh.

[Awol cast iron stomach]

Is anything rubbing it clothing a seam etc? If you can alleviate that it may help some too. Although the location sounds most inconvenient.

My biggest issue was rubbing. The sweat seemed to help the clothing bond to me more excebaying the rub. I would have more form fitting workout gear I could wear without underwear. my bum would flare, waistband, and my elbows. The sweat in the bum area with the rub of the band seam on underwear made it worse. I switched to form fitting wicking type material with the seam running more on the sides to alleviate as much as possible. Rinse in shower asap. 

Also a call center phone job my elbows would constantly get rubbed by clothing on my elbow from constant rubbing of my blouse sleeves typing. I made sure I could roll them up.

if you can eliminate the adhesion sweat material rub it may help.

 

good luck

[squirmingitch]

Yes! Sweat, heat & humidity drove me crazy with aggravating the dh! DH likes to attack pressure points too. Like AWOL said, waistbands & such. I had to get boy shorts type underwear that were seamless ( I like all cotton). they still had a little seam on one side that ran for about 2". That 2" killed me so I figured out that if I wore them inside out, then the seam did not affect me. Forget a bra!!!!!!! NOPE, no way!!!!! Even now, when I wear jeans, the button part at the front makes dh flare, also where they wrinkle at the torso to leg area when you sit down --- I still get flares there. My dh liked to hit scars too. Old scars, new scars. 

[Barbie Wickham]

On 12/15/2017 at 5:28 PM, squirmingitch said:

Yes! Sweat, heat & humidity drove me crazy with aggravating the dh! DH likes to attack pressure points too. Like AWOL said, waistbands & such. I had to get boy shorts type underwear that were seamless ( I like all cotton). they still had a little seam on one side that ran for about 2". That 2" killed me so I figured out that if I wore them inside out, then the seam did not affect me. Forget a bra!!!!!!! NOPE, no way!!!!! Even now, when I wear jeans, the button part at the front makes dh flare, also where they wrinkle at the torso to leg area when you sit down --- I still get flares there. My dh liked to hit scars too. Old scars, new scars. 

 

On 12/15/2017 at 5:28 PM, squirmingitch said:

Yes! Sweat, heat & humidity drove me crazy with aggravating the dh! DH likes to attack pressure points too. Like AWOL said, waistbands & such. I had to get boy shorts type underwear that were seamless ( I like all cotton). they still had a little seam on one side that ran for about 2". That 2" killed me so I figured out that if I wore them inside out, then the seam did not affect me. Forget a bra!!!!!!! NOPE, no way!!!!! Even now, when I wear jeans, the button part at the front makes dh flare, also where they wrinkle at the torso to leg area when you sit down --- I still get flares there. My dh liked to hit scars too. Old scars, new scars. 

Reading back to all DH topics posted here, many references to how the DH rash appears and changes or “morphs” over time. I was affected on my hands, elbows, inside forearms/wrists, tops of thighs and the absolute worst, my bottom. I’m posting a few pics of my year and a half of this unknown Rash from He**...  maybe it will help someone else recognize the symptoms of DH... the pressure points, the symmetry of the rash outbreaks and the ever changing rash to full blown and very painful blood blisters. Any activity (even getting dressed) let alone sweating was just cruel.  I’m happy to say my primary care Dr finally correctly dx’ed me, ran the Gluten panel blood tests and confirmed the DH, Celiac Disease that was ruining my life and am now almost Rash free from a  gluten free diet and I chose to take 25 mg a day of Dapsone. 

 

 

[Barbie Wickham]

On 12/15/2017 at 11:19 PM, Barbie Wickham said:

 

Reading back to all DH topics posted here, many references to how the DH rash appears and changes or “morphs” over time. I was affected on my hands, elbows, inside forearms/wrists, tops of thighs and the absolute worst, my bottom. I’m posting a few pics of my year and a half of this unknown Rash from He**...  maybe it will help someone else recognize the symptoms of DH... the pressure points, the symmetry of the rash outbreaks and the ever changing rash to full blown and very painful blood blisters. Any activity (even getting dressed) let alone sweating was just cruel.  I’m happy to say my primary care Dr finally correctly dx’ed me, ran the Gluten panel blood tests and confirmed the DH, Celiac Disease that was ruining my life and am now almost Rash free from a  gluten free diet and I chose to take 25 mg a day of Dapsone. 

 

On 12/15/2017 at 5:28 PM, squirmingitch said:

Yes! Sweat, heat & humidity drove me crazy with aggravating the dh! DH likes to attack pressure points too. Like AWOL said, waistbands & such. I had to get boy shorts type underwear that were seamless ( I like all cotton). they still had a little seam on one side that ran for about 2". That 2" killed me so I figured out that if I wore them inside out, then the seam did not affect me. Forget a bra!!!!!!! NOPE, no way!!!!! Even now, when I wear jeans, the button part at the front makes dh flare, also where they wrinkle at the torso to leg area when you sit down --- I still get flares there. My dh liked to hit scars too. Old scars, new scars. 

 

 

I’ve tried to add a few more pics but am limited to 1.95 mgb - I will try again later to add a few more of my hands and bottom 

[Barbie Wickham]

 

On 12/12/2017 at 4:35 PM, Awol cast iron stomach said:

Is anything rubbing it clothing a seam etc? If you can alleviate that it may help some too. Although the location sounds most inconvenient.

My biggest issue was rubbing. The sweat seemed to help the clothing bond to me more excebaying the rub. I would have more form fitting workout gear I could wear without underwear. my bum would flare, waistband, and my elbows. The sweat in the bum area with the rub of the band seam on underwear made it worse. I switched to form fitting wicking type material with the seam running more on the sides to alleviate as much as possible. Rinse in shower asap. 

Also a call center phone job my elbows would constantly get rubbed by clothing on my elbow from constant rubbing of my blouse sleeves typing. I made sure I could roll them up.

if you can eliminate the adhesion sweat material rub it may help.

 

good luck

Such a horrid rash, I ended up wearing my hubbys soft cotton boxers, also turned inside and waistband rolled over to prevent the raw rubbing. And yes, no way was a bra in my wardrobe! Good ol seamless cotton tanks, not the bra strap type, was the best I could handle! 

 

[Barbie Wickham]

Image censored by Google for being "too shocking".

 

[Barbie Wickham]

A picture is worth a thousand words!

 

 

 

[Barbie Wickham]

On 12/12/2017 at 12:53 PM, Jane87 said:

DH exacerbated by sweat? Any relation/connection there in your experienced opinions? If I flare up on my (as yet unidagnosed) lower back, it's hugely aggravated by exercise as I sweat on my lower back when I run so it makes it even itchier (100 times itchier)!! My youngest said it looks like "bubble wrap" on my lower back. Anyone else have experiences of DH (or other bumpy, red, itchy rashes) being irritated by sweat?

 

(For anyone that's not read my previous posts I'm due to attend a provisional Drs appointment tomorrow regarding long standing itchy bilateral rashes & I have a family history of Coeliac, Crohn's, Lupus etc.)

Jane, oh I feel for you... I can’t imagine even trying to exercise at the height of my unyet dx’ed DH.... just getting dressed was a dreaded experience for me. The symmetry and bilateral rash and blisters were big clues to my Hero of our family  Dr. (not the dozens of specialists I saw!), along with rash on the pressure points of my body... hands, elbows, tops of thighs and the ultimate worst area, my bottom. I posted some pics prior to this, in reply to squirming itch and cast iron stomachs posts... I’m going to try to add a few more pics here, (site only allows a small upload for each reply). I hope your provisional Dr appt went well and your questions were answered. I’m 2 months into a gluten-free diet and a 25mg daily dose of Dapsone . Every time I try to stop the Dapsone I suffer a new breakout, so I’ll continue until my immune system gets stronger. I had my Thyroid gland surgically removed almost 40 yrs ago due to Hyper-Thyroidism and a very large goiter.  I then quickly went to Hypo-Thyroidism, (Graves Disease) and have since taken Synthroid daily.  I’ve read Thyroid problems are quite common amongst Celiacs and/or Celiac DH patients.  Best wishes to you of a correct diagnosis and  good health to you (and all of you reading this post) in the upcoming New Year! 

[Barbie Wickham]

On 12/12/2017 at 1:04 PM, Jane87 said:

Thanks Victoria. I never scratch my elbows  (just run my fingers around the outside as I feel v.uneasy about scratching the bumps, like sickened, so it stops me scratching and my elbows are the least itchy). However when it's on my lower back or both calves I scratch like crazy!!! 

Could it be the iodine in sweat? I'm wondering now as I've been told on here that iodine foods can aggravate DH when injested. 

Victoria- In reference to my previous replies to Jane, Squirming Itch & Cast Iron Tummy, I’m trying to upload a few more pics of my ever changing (& daily worsening of my DH rash). Site only allows small uploads...  I think the iodine is not just bad for the Celiac Disease but your Thyroid Gland as well, it’s not intended as medical advice, just a read observation from this wonderful forum. Best of all to you, wishing you all a healthier and therefore a Happier New Year in 2018! 

[Barbie Wickham]

On 12/12/2017 at 1:42 PM, ejk said:

Hi there. I am not formally diagnosed with DH yet (that will happen in Jan or Feb), but my dermo and I are pretty sure that's what I have. I didn't want to be diagnosed in 2017 because I wasn't sure what was going to be happening with healthcare. I didn't want it as a preexisting condition.

Anyway, I exercise almost every day - hiking or cycling - and my sweat does seem to exacerbate the itch and bring new bumps up. Especially around my waistband area. I have been gluten free now for about two months, and the bumps and itching are less, but still there. I've started coating the area (and my behind) with Vaseline before I exercise, and that seems to help.

 

You might want to give a try to Aquaphor,  (the jelly type, just like Vaseline) instead of the Vaseline. I had several Drs tell me it is much better for your skin than petroleum based Vaseline. I found it protected the rash and blisters really well, but I also felt like my skin was able to “breathe” easier than with the Vaseline... Best of luck to you with your upcoming diagnosis! 

[Jane87]

8 hours ago, Barbie Wickham said:

Jane, oh I feel for you... I can’t imagine even trying to exercise at the height of my unyet dx’ed DH.... just getting dressed was a dreaded experience for me. The symmetry and bilateral rash and blisters were big clues to my Hero of our family  Dr. (not the dozens of specialists I saw!), along with rash on the pressure points of my body... hands, elbows, tops of thighs and the ultimate worst area, my bottom. I posted some pics prior to this, in reply to squirming itch and cast iron stomachs posts... I’m going to try to add a few more pics here, (site only allows a small upload for each reply). I hope your provisional Dr appt went well and your questions were answered. I’m 2 months into a gluten-free diet and a 25mg daily dose of Dapsone . Every time I try to stop the Dapsone I suffer a new breakout, so I’ll continue until my immune system gets stronger. I had my Thyroid gland surgically removed almost 40 yrs ago due to Hyper-Thyroidism and a very large goiter.  I then quickly went to Hypo-Thyroidism, (Graves Disease) and have since taken Synthroid daily.  I’ve read Thyroid problems are quite common amongst Celiacs and/or Celiac DH patients.  Best wishes to you of a correct diagnosis and  good health to you (and all of you reading this post) in the upcoming New Year! 

Hi Barbie thanks for sharing your pictures and story! I'm glad gluten-free and dapsone have finally gotten you relief. How many years did you suffer with this?

I've just finished a flare up of this as yet undiagnosed rash so I've the Dr booked me in for bloods tests in the NewYear although Awol and others on this forum have told me that Coeliac blood tests are not always "positive" for DH. I'll upload my latest elbows pics etc below. 

[Jane87]

[Jane87]

[Barbie Wickham]

Those elbows look very familiar! I had that rash for a little over a year and a half, and with each break out, the blisters would change, worsen in appearance and the itch got insanely itchier.  The only topical product I found that helped a bit, was GoldBond lotion or liquid spray with Lidocaine.... Drs had me then just use Aquaphor (the Vaseline jelly type ointment) So, yes, I’ve read too that blood tests can have false negatives & positives.  However, my Dr ordered a complete blood work up and then added a special Gluten panel order... I gave  about 6 vials of blood for all tests. I was having so many vitamin deficiencies and off the charts inflammation levels throughout the year & 1/2... it all made such sense when we looked at all my symptoms & also the positive bloodwork. He told me I lit up not like a Christmas tree, but like the entire tree lot. It also made sense why all biopsies and cultures kept coming back as “unknown uticaria”       The specialists were taking samples incorrectly. What should have been a somewhat easy diagnosis turned into just a nightmare. All the misdiagnosis (scabies 3 Times, spider bites, excema, herpes and 3 Drs flat out just said I don’t know, try another Dr.) and the heavy medications prescribed (methatetrix, Otesla, shots of cortisone followed by 6 months of oral steroids, the anti fungals and the parasite pesticides!) I was a mess! All unnecessary and many were very harmful to my overall health. Since I’ve not had many stomach problems,  my Dr. & I decided to just go with the gluten-free diet and Dapsone and see how I responded. Incredibly within 2-3 weeks the Rash was gone from everywhere except for my very worst area, my bottom. I may have some intestinal testing done next year to be sure there’s no damage there. So between the  positive blood test and diet changes are working so well, I’m convinced I do indeed have DH. It’s also genetic and I have 2 first cousins with Celiac Disease. I’ve also learned from people here and the great information site provides, you must still be eating gluten for tests to be accurate. I can’t imagine eating the poisonous Gluten to further confirm DH, so I chose just to go with Diet and Dapsone. I hope you get proper results next month and on to a rash and itch free life!  Below is the picture my Dr found on his own time, on his “weekend” research... he was so excited he phoned me and had me come in first thing that following Monday morning. That picture looked exactly like me! I am his first case of DH in over his 30+ years of practice. 

Image censored by Google for being "too shocking".

[Barbie Wickham]

57 minutes ago, Jane87 said:

Jane your fingers look exactly as mine did! So very painful, I remember feeling like I had broken a glass and shards were stuck in my fingers and hands.... 

[Jane87]

On 12/16/2017 at 11:15 AM, Barbie Wickham said:

Those elbows look very familiar! I had that rash for a little over a year and a half, and with each break out, the blisters would change, worsen in appearance and the itch got insanely itchier.  The only topical product I found that helped a bit, was GoldBond lotion or liquid spray with Lidocaine.... Drs had me then just use Aquaphor (the Vaseline jelly type ointment) So, yes, I’ve read too that blood tests can have false negatives & positives.  However, my Dr ordered a complete blood work up and then added a special Gluten panel order... I gave  about 6 vials of blood for all tests. I was having so many vitamin deficiencies and off the charts inflammation levels throughout the year & 1/2... it all made such sense when we looked at all my symptoms & also the positive bloodwork. He told me I lit up not like a Christmas tree, but like the entire tree lot. It also made sense why all biopsies and cultures kept coming back as “unknown uticaria”       The specialists were taking samples incorrectly. What should have been a somewhat easy diagnosis turned into just a nightmare. All the misdiagnosis (scabies 3 Times, spider bites, excema, herpes and 3 Drs flat out just said I don’t know, try another Dr.) and the heavy medications prescribed (methatetrix, Otesla, shots of cortisone followed by 6 months of oral steroids, the anti fungals and the parasite pesticides!) I was a mess! All unnecessary and many were very harmful to my overall health. Since I’ve not had many stomach problems,  my Dr. & I decided to just go with the gluten-free diet and Dapsone and see how I responded. Incredibly within 2-3 weeks the Rash was gone from everywhere except for my very worst area, my bottom. I may have some intestinal testing done next year to be sure there’s no damage there. So between the  positive blood test and diet changes are working so well, I’m convinced I do indeed have DH. It’s also genetic and I have 2 first cousins with Celiac Disease. I’ve also learned from people here and the great information site provides, you must still be eating gluten for tests to be accurate. I can’t imagine eating the poisonous Gluten to further confirm DH, so I chose just to go with Diet and Dapsone. I hope you get proper results next month and on to a rash and itch free life!  Below is the picture my Dr found on his own time, on his “weekend” research... he was so excited he phoned me and had me come in first thing that following Monday morning. That picture looked exactly like me! I am his first case of DH in over his 30+ years of practice. Image censored by Google for being "too shocking".

Thank goodness you got a Dr in the end that recognised what was happening! I will have to see what my bloods show in January, I really hope they show coeliac, not because I want it but because I feel that's what this is! 

A fair few people yourself included Barbie have said my elbows remind them of theirs! The only thing I'm wondering is, mine never go bloody/open like yours and some other DH members on this forum. I can't stand the thought of scratching my elbows when they flare so I scratch around the bumps. With my back I can't help but scratch as the itch is wild and as it's a flat surface I feel less sickened by the thought of scratching my back and legs. 

[Barbie Wickham]

Jane, my rash didn’t go to the bloody,  pressure filled blisters until about a year in. They would get filled with so much fluid they would pop on their own, especially my bottom area and elbows. I hope for you you get a proper dx quickly as I found with each passing week my rash worsened and basically took on a life of its own! Of course, I was poisoning myself daily with Gluten, building up more and more deposits,  which just lead to more breakouts. And each breakout got steadily worse, leading to the bleeding and deep scabs that lasted for weeks. I wish you a speedy dx and a quick recovery next month. Do keep us posted on your progress. Happy Holidays. 

[Barbie Wickham]

My fingers went from little bumps to huge fluid filled itchy blisters that would pop, refill, pop again and then would finally scab over. Almost like a burn blister. Just an incredibly painful experience. I so hope you get a proper dx and you’ll be amazed how quickly you will begin to heal & feel better! 

[ejk]

12 hours ago, Barbie Wickham said:

You might want to give a try to Aquaphor,  (the jelly type, just like Vaseline) instead of the Vaseline. I had several Drs tell me it is much better for your skin than petroleum based Vaseline. I found it protected the rash and blisters really well, but I also felt like my skin was able to “breathe” easier than with the Vaseline... Best of luck to you with your upcoming diagnosis! 

Thank you for the information. I will give Aquaphor a try!

 

[squirmingitch]

This is an entire thread with photos of dh.

This is a thread devoted entirely to things people have found helped alleviate their pain, itch, sting, burn of dh.