Interesting Biopsy Results

[wowzer]

I've been having itching for months in the female area along with other places on my body. I really thought I had DH with my symtoms. I had a biopsy of that area and got the results today. They called it spongiotic dermatitis. I have only talked to the nurse on the results. Of course the doctor is out of town until Monday. I've been searching the internet, but everything I'm finding is very hard to understand. I just wondered if anyone has heard of this? I have to say some of the pictures I've found look a lot like DH. I did have a negative blood test for celiac. I am trying the diet and have seen a little improvement. I just want to find what is causing whatever is going on, which I know you all understand.

[Sophiekins]

Spongiotic Dermatitis is doctor code for yet another version of "Idon'tknowwhatitis-itis": it means that roughly what your doctor found in the biopsy is intercellular edema (cells that combine to contain fluids. . .ie blisters or liquid pustules) in the lower layers of your skin which is causing surface lesions. It has literally thousands of causes, ranging from immunological reactions involving T-cells or antigens, to allergies involving histamines. It can be contact or diet related, caused by foods, pharmaceuticals, light, soaps, parasites, pests, or (my personal favourite) "unknown causes". It also commonly occurs as a secondary reaction on top of another skin condition. Well gee, that sure clears things up, right? This could be consistent with DH, but it could also be consistent with psoriasis, mild chronic staph infections, an allergy to soap, or any number of other dermatological conditions.

I too suffer from itching in the female bits (along with other areas, although let's be blunt, it's the female bits you're most bothered by, right?) along with occasional blistery swellings. . .the blisters turned out to be a chronic staph infection that finally erupted and hurt like blazes. My doctor put me on kick-ass antibiotics for three weeks and the pain and blisters went away. The swelling and itching, however, stayed put. On my doctor's advice, we eliminated detergents, cleansers, soaps, scents, balms, lotions, etc. . .I wash my underwear, clothing, towels and sheets in Zero (ultra-sensitive-skin laundry detergent), sometimes with an extra rinse cycle to be sure all the detergent is gone. I use a sensitive-skin gluten-free glycerine body wash for my body, and don't use any kind of soap or detergent at all on my lady bits (if you go this route, you'll need a hand-held sprayer in your shower, or a bidet or shallow bowl filled with clean warm water at least every other day to be sure your lady bits stay sparkly clean without soap). Wash your hands before and after the toilet (I know, it's a pain in the ass, but at least not a literal one) and steer clear of scented or coloured toilet papers and definitely avoid the ones with "soothing balm". I also have a thick cortisone lotion that I put on at night if the itching is really bad. . .it smells gross and feels worse but it does work.

Oh and one last thing about the anti-staph antibiotics - they cleared up the itching elsewhere as well. . .worth mentioning to your doc. . .I think the one I was on was erythromycin?

[wowzer]

Thank you for all your information. I'm still trying to find soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner that doesn't cause problems. I also do have thyroid and take synthroid. My little sister is a celiac.

I have seen some benefits, since going gluten free. I quit using colored tissue long ago. It used to give me blisters inside my nose. I have been washing everything in unscented laundry soap. I have had many major rashes that they never knew what caused it. So nice that they put a name on what I have has an I Don't Know. I have been tested for all sorts of things including herpes. They all come out negative just like my celiac blood panel. I have been told that I had impetego, poison ivy, eczema. In fact my X gynecologist told me I could have poison ivy down there. It is amazing how much doctors don't know. I have experienced it in the female area also. Thanks again.

[Sophiekins]

I use the body shop's brazil nut foaming bath as a body wash and when I lived in Canada, I used to use Ice shampoos and conditioners. . .but it's been a couple of years since I bought shampoo in north america.

And it's truly awe-inspiring how many medical conditions break down to just a fancy way of saying "I don't know". . .(my personal all-time favourite is the diagnosis of "neurodermatitis". . .known to the layman as. . .scratching. . . :lol: :lol: thump . . .)