Jump to content

  • You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Help please, is this dermatitis herpetiformis?

Marshmallow99
 Share

Recommended Posts

Marshmallow99 Newbie
Marshmallow99
Posted

Hi,

I recently went to the doctor with some health issues and they are doing blood tests, stool tests etc. I forgot to mention this as it’s only just flared up.

See pics. For a few years I’ve been getting these spots on my elbows, and less often knees. It comes and goes every few months or so, sometimes slightly itchy but never really to the itchy extent I think people with eczema get. It’s always worse on one elbow/knee. 
 

Any help will be massively appreciated.

08E29E89-4AA2-420F-8A2A-56CF33B3F2BE.webp

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Marshmallow99 Newbie
Marshmallow99
Posted
  • Author

1st photo was elbow, this is knee:

4F24B2F0-851A-4F78-85D7-FC1D2817EDA4.webp

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Hi @Marshmallow99 and welcome to the forum!

I don't see the little clear blister heads, but certainly the areas where you are affected, and the general look, are consistent with DH, so you may want to get to a dermatologist who can biopsy for DH. The process is very specific, and must be done correctly, so be sure to ask them beforehand if they can do this.

Have you every had a blood panel done for celiac disease? DH is the skin manifestation of celiac disease.

Marshmallow99 Newbie
Marshmallow99
Posted
  • Author
On 3/1/2021 at 7:38 PM, Scott Adams said:

Hi @Marshmallow99 and welcome to the forum!

I don't see the little clear blister heads, but certainly the areas where you are affected, and the general look, are consistent with DH, so you may want to get to a dermatologist who can biopsy for DH. The process is very specific, and must be done correctly, so be sure to ask them beforehand if they can do this.

Have you every had a blood panel done for celiac disease? DH is the skin manifestation of celiac disease.

Hi @Scott Adams

Thanks very much for your helpful reply. Sorry picture quality isn’t great due to upload size, I’ve attached another if that’s any better.

 

It’s now gotten worse on my other elbow and knee, and more itchy. It’s been coming and going over 2 years. 

 

Think I have had a blood panel, possibly not celiac directly but not sure. This year and 2 years ago went to Dr saying I had bowel problems, bloating etc and have felt like something is wrong in the stomach area for years, either to do with the gut or female things (bad periods and associated symptoms).

 

On my recent blood test tissue transglutaminase IGA levels were at 0.5 U/mL, as they were 2 years ago, and from reading think that is a negative result for celiac disease? 

 

Other options I’ve looked at are eczema or ‘granuloma annulare’. If there is any other advice you could give that would be appreciated. Thank you 

139CCFDA-0A6B-41F6-9C43-071363C825D8.webp

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

It looks like it could be DH, but again, to be sure you'd need to see a dermatologist.

Do you have the full results, and the scale used on your TTG test? I can't really comment on it without more info, as the scale used changes depending on the lab used.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Parkrunner
      - Parkrunner commented on Scott Adams's article in Spring 2025 Issue
      1

      How Celiac Disease Impacts Bone Health: What You Need to Know

      4.5 years ago I had 2 vertebrae fractures. After several months, 4 doctors, and numerous tests, it was determined that the root cause of my fractures was long term undiagnosed celiac. My DEXA tests 4 years ago showed significant osteoporosis; -3.3 T-score on my left hip. I had to wait 5 months before going gluten free. After wearing a back brace for ...
    2. trents
      - trents replied to Ben Cohen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      How much gluten do I need to eat prior to testing?

      Thanks for the update, Ben. If you will be having an endoscopy/biopsy to confirm the results of the blood testing - and this would be the normal protocol - you will still need to continue the gluten challenge until that is done.
    3. Ben Cohen
      - Ben Cohen replied to Ben Cohen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      How much gluten do I need to eat prior to testing?

      Update on how things went. To meet my daily quantity of gluten I had a measured amount of gluten flour with my breakfast and 2 slices of bread later in the day. I still had discomfort but it wasn't debilitating. My blood tests results came back this week and they were positive so I've been referred to a specialist.
    4. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 posted a topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      0

      Skin issues

      Hello, Ive been to the dermatologist ( two different ones) and now made appointment, soonest is NOVEMBER. Ive been dealing with skin issues for a while and its getting worse because nothing has worked.I feel the bumps, gently squeeze and a itty bitty hard thing is coming out.I took a picture and did close up and in the MANY pictures ive taken this past...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Does Mirin Contain Gluten? What People With Celiac Disease Need to Know

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,039
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    maxgforce
    Newest Member
    maxgforce
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      How much gluten do I need to eat prior to testing?

      By trents · Posted

      Thanks for the update, Ben. If you will be having an endoscopy/biopsy to confirm the results of the blood testing - and this would be the normal protocol - you will still need to continue the gluten challenge until that is done.
    • Ben Cohen
      How much gluten do I need to eat prior to testing?

      By Ben Cohen · Posted

      Update on how things went. To meet my daily quantity of gluten I had a measured amount of gluten flour with my breakfast and 2 slices of bread later in the day. I still had discomfort but it wasn't debilitating. My blood tests results came back this week and they were positive so I've been referred to a specialist.
    • Jmartes71
      Skin issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Hello, Ive been to the dermatologist ( two different ones) and now made appointment, soonest is NOVEMBER. Ive been dealing  with skin issues for a while and its getting  worse because nothing has worked.I feel the bumps, gently squeeze and a itty bitty hard thing is coming out.I took a picture and did close up and in the MANY pictures ive taken this past few days, there's a " string" type thing at the end. I FEEL IT COMING OUT.... At first few pic it looks like hair, its not.Its  part of what ever is in my skin...I did call my Dr yesterday and will be seeing him this Monday. What test should I request to see what the hell is causing my skin to have?I don't know what to call it.I do sleep with my indoor cats.I also have an inheritance cat two years ago who took to sleeping with me as well.I also was on topiramate but had to stop because of speech issues, memory and it can affect those with  kidney stones. I did suffer kidney stones in past.So i had to completely stop.Since freaking out of what i KNOW what I saw, i took matters in my own hands and decided to eat several whole cloves a day.Since doing so, though im not to eat garlic.My skin is actually clearing up sloooooooooowly.but then again I just started 4 days ago and already notice a difference. My husband thinks im seeing things.I know what I see and feel. what test is there to ask doctor about what is in my skin? Husband thinks im seeing things, because of the meningioma and stopping meds.i know what i saw.
    • trents
      Worsening vision 🕵🏽‍♀️

      By trents · Posted

      Vitamin A is important for vision health. But be careful in supplementing it as it can lead to toxicity. Research it and consult with your medical professional. I do not have a definite answer to your original question but I was pursuing the possible cause of nutritional deficiency. But your visual deterioration could be unrelated to your celiac disease so don't rule that out.
    • Name
      Worsening vision 🕵🏽‍♀️

      By Name · Posted

      Currently 19. Doctors think I was 1 year old when celiac started, but I wasn't diagnosed until 18, because they didn't do lab work on minors. I've been on a strict gluten-free diet for 14 months now. For example only certified gluten-free nuts and I've researched best brands a lot. I take B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, Curcumin with black pepper, black sesame and green tea extract, magnesium, iron, and a little selenium and zinc, beef liver capsules. I recently had my vitamin and mineral levels retested and D is the only one I don't have enough of now. I had my eyes tested at 17 and they were good back then.
×
×
  • Create New...