Need Info (again)

[tiredofdoctors]

I know I have bothered you guys so many times, and I am really sorry. I am just really confused as to this stupid rash on my face. I was glutened at Christmas time, and it popped up -- itchy, kind of blistery-looking pimples that bleed, and it went all the way back throughout my scalp. Then, I used a gluten-containing cleanser about 3-4 weeks ago, and the same thing happened. (didn't know it contained gluten at the time). Now, I was glutened by my husband (Penn Station Subs -- kissing prior to flossing), and these same stupid "things" are on my face and scalp. Could this possibly be a mild form of DH, or is this all just a weird coincidence? My neuro doc wants me to have it biopsied during a breakout. Do you really think that's necessary? . . . Thanks (again) for your help . .. . Lynne

[Guest Viola]

I know I have bothered you guys so many times, and I am really sorry. I am just really confused as to this stupid rash on my face. I was glutened at Christmas time, and it popped up -- itchy, kind of blistery-looking pimples that bleed, and it went all the way back throughout my scalp. Then, I used a gluten-containing cleanser about 3-4 weeks ago, and the same thing happened. (didn't know it contained gluten at the time). Now, I was glutened by my husband (Penn Station Subs -- kissing prior to flossing), and these same stupid "things" are on my face and scalp. Could this possibly be a mild form of DH, or is this all just a weird coincidence? My neuro doc wants me to have it biopsied during a breakout. Do you really think that's necessary? . . . Thanks (again) for your help . .. . Lynne

I think you should have it biopsied ... if it is DH, you are treating it wrong and it will drive you crazy. The other option is, it may be pusculiar psorisis (sp) and that requires different treatment as well. So, would be better if you knew what you are dealing with. Good Luck with it!

[Guest nini]

you need to have a dermatologist look at it while it's flared up... take pictures of it if you can't get into the office soon enough, I don't know anything about the DH biopsies so you'll have to ask the "experts" on this board about that!

[tiredofdoctors]

Thank you for your input -- I'm getting really tired of looking like I have some kind of pox around my face!

[teebs in WV]

My skin biopsy was done on my arm and it took several weeks to heal. They took a fairly deep section of skin about the size of a pencil eraser. It was painless. I am not sure if this is a typical biopsy size. I really wouldn't like to have it done on my face - it left a pretty good scar. But if that was the only place that I had breakouts and I wanted to know if was DH, then I would definitely get the biopsy. I am on dapsone for my DH and couldn't imagine not having it to help me through this until I get the darn gluten out of my skin. I have been gluten-free since end of October, but I guess it can take several months before all of the gluten-infestation is out from under the skin.

Hope this helps.

[tiredofdoctors]

teebs --Thanks for the info - I guess having a biopsy on your face wouldn't be great, but I've had one on my neck muscles, on the deepest muscles of my inner thigh, my small intestine, two after lumpectomies, why not my face, too???

I do think that it's odd that the "pustules"? come out each time I'm glutened. I've been strict on the gluten-free diet for 33 weeks now, and when I don't accidentally come across gluten, my face looks really good. (you know what I mean -- my skin)

The things are starting to leave, because I was glutened last Monday, and my ataxia is not as bad as it was last Tuesday. I guess I will have to wait until the next time I'm glutened . . . . but hope that it never happens!

Where in WV do you live? I have in-laws there -- it's beautiful!

[FairySprinkle]

Hi, there is a cracker that I didn't eat for a long time, and I ate them last week for two days straight with cream cheese and tuna. Both days, I woke up with ugly acne on my face. Like around 6 pus-filled. They do not look like blisters. It also appeared below my earlobe and between my ear and face. I almost never have acne there. I am having bumps uder my chin and jawline. I almost never have it there either. When I eat like crap like breads, desserts or ice cream (not sure if the ones I ate had gluten), my face looks dull-like I didn't have enough sleep.

Last Christmas of 2005, I made Fruitcakes 2 times and I had fruitcake for like a week with eggnog, and I got really ugly disgusting acne on my chin and maybe on my cheek, but I don't remember my cheek area. I do remember how gross my chin looked, and I was so embarrassed at work not wanting to look at anyone. After that, it cleared up because I didn't have fruitcakes or crap. They are always filled with pus, and I drain them because they are too embarrassing to go anywhere. I didn't dare make fruitcake this year. They are good, but not worth the price of what it does to my skin.

I don't know if they are pustules, nodules or cysts because I don't know the differences to well, but I know I have had pustules, and I do know they are far worse than pimples.

[tiredofdoctors]

Fairy Sprinkle -- that sounds JUST like what breaks out on the whole perimeter of my face -- my mom even commented one time "WHAT has happened to your face -- it was fine yesterday." Then told me that, if I thought it was gluten-related, she wanted me to have it biopsied. Easy for her to say -- the thought of having a chunk of your face removed is kind of unnerving . . . . Lynne

[jerseyangel]

I used to get the "breakouts" on my chin--always below the mouth. They would start out as sore spots under the skin, and then grow to look like large pimples--they were painful. If I ever tried to pop them, they would turn into ugly sores. That used to happen frequently, but not all the time. The strange thing is, they would reoccour in exactly the same place over and over. When I started the gluten-free diet, they came back a few times, each time, there would be less of them--maybe 1 or 2 at a time. Now, at 8 mo. gluten-free, I haven't had any in probably 5-6 months. I know that breakouts in that area are thought to be connected to digestion.

[tiredofdoctors]

Thanks for the heads up, Patti -- I am really starting to believe that this is DH. When I do pop them, I have sores for about two weeks -- makes you really want to leave them alone, becaue you know that you're just going to look worse! . .. . Lynne

[teebs in WV]

Lynne,

I live near Parkersburg - right along the Ohio River. It is pretty here (but not right now - it is ugly this time of year unless there is snow). Where do your in-laws live?

[tiredofdoctors]

My in-laws (my husband's brother and his wife) live near Franklin. They have a farm -- it is so cool. They're very environmentally conscious, so they grow grass-fed cattle, with NO growth hormone, no unnecessary antibiotics, and grow goats for goat milk. My sister-in-law doesn't even like the thought of putting dye on easter eggs, so she buys chickens that lay eggs in color! Seriously -- some lay pinkish eggs, some lay the regular peach-y color, some lay TEAL eggs -- it's amazing! She had an elderly man come onto the property with a divining rod to find a spring. The first spot he found, he told them not to drill, it just wasn't strong enough. The second spot he found, he said "this is it" -- they drilled there, and the spring started out pumping 50 gallons of water per minute! My brother -in-law couldn't believe it. He had told her that they couldn't afford it, that they would have to rent the equipment for months before they found a spring that would run enough to supply all five fields (they rotate the cows each day), and it was impossible. She always believes that there's nothing impossible, and she's the one who usually proves it -- what an AMAZING woman!

BTW: Your picture is not, I hope, of the area in which you live. If so, I can tell you that YOUR version of the Ohio is a lot more beautiful than OUR version!

[FairySprinkle]