Itch Relief for dermatitis herpetiformis

[ItchyHell]

Sorry to bring back this thread from 2020, but am I the only dermatitis herpetiformis sufferer using WET WRAP like cold water dampened clothes to soothe the nerves for a few hours until water evaporates? I tried creams none worked better than wet wraps, also dermatitis herpetiformis is too widespread and frequent that I would need buckets of cream not mere grams. Isn't there some long-lasting anti itch, burning feeling pill without side effects if used for long therm? I won't use dapsone due to serious side effects.

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum, @ItchyHell,

Have you tried antihistamines?  

Niacin Vitamin B 3 helps. 

I use Vintage Traditions Tallow Balm which is absorbed into the skin and calms my dermatitis herpetiformis down.  

I'm concerned about your dermatitis herpetiformis being widespread and frequent.  Are you getting gluten in your diet?  

Eliminating foods high in Iodine will help.  High iodide foods include dairy products and crustaceans and other seafood including seaweed.   Switch to Pink Himalayan salt, instead of Iodized Salt.  

Hope this helps!

[Scott Adams]

If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful:

 

[ItchyHell]

Thanks for the replies. I stay away from gluten like it's the plague. Yet time to time I get dermatitis herpetiformis attacks, somehow.

Yes, I tried 2 different antihistamines given by a doctor. They gave me the worst itch of my life. Only 2–3 hours of terrible sleep a day for 4–5 days because of the burning itchy hell, nothing helped!

I am scared of taking niacin, I am pretty red and itchy already

I will stop iodized salt, even though I don't think it's a trigger for me. Dairy is my daily main source of calcium, and I don't think that also triggers my version of dermatitis herpetiformis.

I am looking for an FDA approved pill that both numbs the burning kinda pain and stops itching for a day without serious side effects when used long term as I said not for more home remedies, lotions. I tried so many of those, only wet wrap therapy works for me. There has to be some pill that moderate burn patients use, right?

[knitty kitty]

Removing dairy from my diet significantly improved my dermatitis herpetiformis.  My skin and itch cleared rapidly afterwards.  I suggest you try removing dairy and see if it makes a difference.  

Taking the flushing kind of Niacin, Nicotinic Acid (not related to nicotine in cigarettes), sounds counterintuitive because of the flushing, but it really helps.  

Selenium, Pyridoxine B6, and Riboflavin B 2 interact with iodine to make thyroid hormones.  Adding more of these nutrients would allow a different way for iodine to be taken out of circulation.  

Vitamin C, Biotin B 7, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D are important to skin health, as are Omega Threes.  

Thiamine B1, Pyridoxine B6, and Cobalamine B12 together have an analgesic effect.  

Neuropathy caused by vitamin deficiencies can feel like intense itching and burning.  Deficiencies in any of these B vitamins, Thiamine, Niacin, Pyridoxine, and Cobalamine, can present with neuropathy.