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Difference Between Acne And Dh?

Woolygimp

By Woolygimp
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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Woolygimp Contributor
Woolygimp
Posted

I went gluten free, and about 2 weeks in got tested and those tests came back negative. During the 2 months or so that I was gluten free a lot of my intestinal symptoms faded out. Since i learned that the tests were negative, I've been eating anything again. I didn't notice anything sudden, but my diarrhea and bloating have come back. I've also gained about 20 lbs, so this is a little baffling. I'm hesitant to ask for another test, but I think the key lies on this acne on my chest.

It didn't completely disapear when I went gluten free, but it definitely faded out a lot. Also some acne on my scalp underneath my hair that itches like crazy. It's flared up since I started eating anything again, so I'm trying to find out what the difference between acne and DH is.

I've also got some on my back, and since the pictures I've been able to find of both DH and acne vary so much I can't tell. If I've got DH then I've obviously got to get re-tested since the first blood-tested could've been falsified due to already being on the diet, but it takes months to get into a dermatologist. Already planning on getting an appt. as soon as possible...but anyway, can you guys describe DH to me?

My back looks almost exactly like this.

http://www.netterimages.com/images/vtn/000...551-150x150.webp

However, that looks a lot like acne. : D

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brizzo Contributor
brizzo
Posted

man , my story is almost identical to yours. Except my "acne or DH" is on my scalp. It just started like 2 years ago. (I'm 28yo). So instead of retyping my "medical" nightmare" Here is the link to an earlier post...There is more than this , but this will give you some idea...

Open Original Shared Link

Anyways, a gluten-free diet completely makes me better. And non gluten-free foods make me flare up like CRAZY. In order for medical tests to be accurate, (as far as blood tests) you must be on a gluten-free diet! As referenced in the book "Celiac Disease" by Dr. Peter Green. Sorry I don't have the exact page reference.

You also have the option of getting a biopsy. But you MUST ENSURE that the biopsy is taken on the reddened area of skin just aside of the actual "zit" (Not the zit itself. This will show a false negative) You must also ensure that the test is done using immunoflouresence. The result is read by an individual pathologist. (so there is still room for error and faulty interpretation.) Make sure that these tests are done as described, DO NOT LET THE DR DO A STANDARD BIOPSY FOR DH!!!! YOU WILL WASTE $$$$$ AND TIME

You are right, it does take forever to see a dermatoligist. And only 1 in 10 are actually worth going to. Just remember that DH can show in MANY different forms. It is NOT always knees and elbows! No matter what an uneducated Dr tells you. If you don't consume gluten and you get better. You don't need a Dr. to confirm this. Am I correct? Good luck, brizzo

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
I went gluten free, and about 2 weeks in got tested and those tests came back negative. During the 2 months or so that I was gluten free a lot of my intestinal symptoms faded out. Since i learned that the tests were negative, I've been eating anything again. I didn't notice anything sudden, but my diarrhea and bloating have come back. I've also gained about 20 lbs, so this is a little baffling. I'm hesitant to ask for another test, but I think the key lies on this acne on my chest.

It didn't completely disapear when I went gluten free, but it definitely faded out a lot. Also some acne on my scalp underneath my hair that itches like crazy. It's flared up since I started eating anything again, so I'm trying to find out what the difference between acne and DH is.

I've also got some on my back, and since the pictures I've been able to find of both DH and acne vary so much I can't tell. If I've got DH then I've obviously got to get re-tested since the first blood-tested could've been falsified due to already being on the diet, but it takes months to get into a dermatologist. Already planning on getting an appt. as soon as possible...but anyway, can you guys describe DH to me?

My back looks almost exactly like this.

http://www.netterimages.com/images/vtn/000...551-150x150.webp

However, that looks a lot like acne. : D

Acne doesn't itch. Nor does it leave the purple scars that DH does.

You just did a gluten challenge and your body has clearly told you that gluten is not for despite what the blood tests showed. You need to be gluten free including your shampoos etc. You could always do another gluten challenge after a couple of months of clear skin.

  • 1 year later...
mysecretcurse Contributor
mysecretcurse
Posted

Wow.

I mean I already knew gluten was the cause of my skin condition, but hearing someone else say "acne doesn't itch" and about the scars..thats exactly whats been happening on my face and scalp for so many years now. And for all that time, I would always say "this doesnt seem like normal acne." It itches, its extremely painful at times. I went to countless dermatologists and doctors and probably spent thousands of dollars trying to cure my skin condition. Never once did they suggest to me it could be something I was eating.

  • 2 months later...
munchkinette Collaborator
munchkinette
Posted
Acne doesn't itch. Nor does it leave the purple scars that DH does.

Never? I always get this bad acne on my face after being glutened, and it's really, really itchy. They are the deep cystic ones that hurt a lot, and they are almost always on my chin. They are generally filled with clear liquid and itchy like crazy... but they don't look like the pictures I've seen of DH. They are too deep, and all the pics I've seen of DH show shallow bumps.

I also get a lot of tiny red bumps all over my stomach when I get glutened, but those are tiny with no liquid like a heat rash. Those also itch like crazy. I'm also allergic to wheat (not just intolerant), but I don't know if those cause other reactions. It's only on my face, and occasionally my body.

ohsotired Enthusiast
ohsotired
Posted

The same thing happens to me. On my scalp, chest, face (mainly my chin and neck right near my jaw bone) and they ITCH like CRAZY. But I also get tiny ones on my upper arms that itch, and on my back.

The ones on my chin are deep and painful, but everything else just looks like little pimples.

I thought perhaps the itchy scalp was related to all of this, but didn't realize that what I thought was acne could be as well.........

Live2BWell Enthusiast
Live2BWell
Posted

I have the major itchies :blink:

I have never had acne, and have always had good skin, but over the last year and a half or so, my skin has become a canvas of itchy, rash, small red pin size dots, or clear looking splotches that kind of look like dried glue in "dot" formation (haha if that makes any sense whatsoever!) Sometimes I itch so bad my skin peels off, or I get these horrible callous/scabby looking things on my fingers. Sometimes when I stop itching enough and my skin begins to clear up, the remnants are bluish/purple looking bruises, almost.

Not sure if that is any help to you, but I wanted to atleast reply because I empathize!

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purple Community Regular
purple
Posted
Wow.

I mean I already knew gluten was the cause of my skin condition, but hearing someone else say "acne doesn't itch" and about the scars..thats exactly whats been happening on my face and scalp for so many years now. And for all that time, I would always say "this doesnt seem like normal acne." It itches, its extremely painful at times. I went to countless dermatologists and doctors and probably spent thousands of dollars trying to cure my skin condition. Never once did they suggest to me it could be something I was eating.

If "they" tell you to stop eating something and it would fix the problem, then you would'nt be giving them any more $. Supposing "they" don't know, why not? Who is teaching them? There are tons of Celiacs. I don't blame the docs but the ones teaching them...unless "they" both know...hmm. Other docs know and care to help their patients. My sister went to her GYN years ago and he said she needed a partial hysterectomy and would need to finish it in 10 more years. As she was leaving she heard him tell the office ladies: Jamaica here I come! She really could have taken a different route at that time had she gone to a different doc. And he got to go on vacation :angry: Live and learn the hard way...2nd opinions do count.

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