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Need Help--please!

skipper30

By skipper30
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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skipper30 Enthusiast
skipper30
Posted

I don't usually post here, but my son has something going on (again) and I am confused.

He has been gluten free since his dx in Jan 06. He got glutened in the last few days and has, as of this evening developed these small bumps...some look like a blister or tiny trail of blisters and some look like a blackhead. They are in small "patches" in many areas...on his chest, back sides, armpits and a "scabby" place under his eye. I am trying to figure out if this is DH or a reaction to something else. He isn't a complainer and I am trying not to make too much of it. Is it normal to develop this after a Celiac dx? He is pale again and looks washed out? I am also wondering aboout his iron levels, too!

Those of you with DH...will benadryl help with the itchiness?? When did you decide it was time to see a doctor about that as a side to the Celiac?

Sorry so many questions...TIA

Dallas

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lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

I had DH for 20 years and it doesn't sound like my DH. DH presentation differs, so of course I can't diagnose over the web.

richard

almostnrn Explorer
almostnrn
Posted

I've had my DH pop up in lots of different places but never on my back or torso. Mine usually appear as red bumps that look like blisters if I haven't scratched them. They also tend to form in a pattern of rings or circles. For instance all around the elbow. I have personally found that benadryl spray helps to calm the intense itching altough my dermatologist looked at me like I was nuts when I told him that. I have also found that vaseline on really bad patches helps sometimes too. As for complaining....when you have a bad break out of DH there is no complaing needed, you just can't stop itching (well once the hurt and burning goes away). It almost gets to an involuntary thing for me, and it just doesn't stop. You could ask your son (if he's old enough) how it feels. I often describe a fresh outbreak as feeling like rug burn at first. Good luck I hope you find a solution to his issue!

hannahsue01 Enthusiast
hannahsue01
Posted

This can have many presentations from my understanding. I get the blistery looking spots that start out looking like a small pimple.....they itch like nothing else......when scraced open they have clear liquid in them and then scab over. I get them on the back of the neck....under my chin....my arms.....my legs. My daughter gets them most frequently on her face and arms but has had them other place (once the doc diag it as chicken pox but it has came back over ten times since then). Mine do seem to acure with glutening. My daughter hasn't been gluten free yet so I can't judge on hers.

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      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
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