Does this look like DH?

[jimmy381]

Hi, I’m a male, early 30s, never really had any problems with skin rashes all my life until the last 12-18months, and now have problems with a extremely itchy rash on my elbows/inner forearm, top of my feet /calf and a patch in the middle of my back. I was prescribed a topical steroid crème which helped a bit but it always comes back as soon as I stopped using it or would pop up elsewhere. Seems to start as small itchy blisters which then turns into a big patch of eczema. I have also since learned that my grandpa had celiac disease also and had DH, although he has since passed away so can’t ask him. I live in fairly remote area of Australia so don’t have good healthcare or dermatologist available without travelling 700kms

thanks for any replies
 

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d9lBzjl1BjVPhgAxYUdSMi2g

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Jimmy!

I would suggest you get antibody testing done for celiac disease as a first step. This involves a simple blood draw which is sent to lab for analysis. Any primary care physician can order this. It does not require a specialty doc. Celiac disease is the only known cause for DH. If you have celiac disease there is a good chance your rash is DH but regardless, the antidote is the same, life-long abstinence from gluten. Ask the doctor to order a full celiac panel and not just the tTG-IGA. Here is a primer for antibody testing: https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

There is also another test for celiac disease involving an endoscopy with biopsy of the villi that line the small bowel to check for damage. It is usually ordered after the blood antibody testing as confirmation. You must not be eating gluten free until all testing is done.

[Wheatwacked]

11 hours ago, jimmy381 said:

don’t have good healthcare or dermatologist available without travelling 700kms

Does anyone else in you family have symptoms of Celiac Disease? There are lots of symptoms that are often put off as "just the way it is". Headaches, stomach problem. DH, and around 200 more. https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/what-are-the-symptoms-of-celiac-disease-r1090/page/12/#comment-22626

Once you start a gluten free diet the symptoms should improve. Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of vitamins and minerals. Replenishing them is an important part of healing.

If you choose to get tested later be sure to eat gluten for 4 weeks prior to the testing for antibodies.

You may be able to get the local clinic to draw blood for a mail order test. Lots of options to check out on google.

 

[trents]

26 minutes ago, Wheatwacked said:

If you choose to get tested later be sure to eat gluten for 4 weeks prior to the testing for antibodies.

According to the Mayo Clinic, that would need to be 6-8 weeks.