Can Someone Clearly Explain Mild Dh?

[Mballerina]

I wanted to know the mild symptoms of Dh because every dermatological picture or explanation is of the most extreme cases. I would like to know the mild symptoms once and for all.

I have scaly dry skin on my elbows with what looks like severe red razor burn.

I have clear bumps that sometimes puss on my elbows.

I get the same bumps in pink or clear on my arms, back, neck and in my hair.

I get little versions of this around my mouth.

At first i thought that some of these are pimples, but they are obviously clear bumps with some kind of fluid way under the skin.

Even if this is not DH, please tell me the symptoms.

[lovegrov]

My Dh was probably mild. I took just 25 mg of dapsone and I didn't take it every day. When it was cool, I took it maybe only once a week. When hot, once every other day or every third day.

My Dh was always the same -- intensely itchy blisters with clear fluid. Usually on the elbows, knees, and upper buttocks. Sometimes other places but these were most common.

richard

[Pegster]

Mine has never looked like the pictures either. I get patches of red itchy skin on my elbows. Sometimes they become blisters with clear fluid. I also get these blisters on my face, especially around my hairline. My scalp gets itchy, too. Every once in a while I have maybe one itchy spot on my knees. One thing I do notice that if I get a spot on one side on my body, it won't be long before a matching one shows up on the other side. I also seem to break out in places that my skin gets warm, like under elastic or around my bra. I have been gluten-free for 7 months, but have been having flare ups for the last month or so. I'm trying to track down what is causing the flare ups. I never went on Dapsone. I think that no two cases are just alike!

[Mballerina]

Thanks so much Peggy,

That is very similar to mine. You have been a big help. I notice that no two cases are alike, you are very right. I used to get the clear things more often when i was younger (i ate way more gluten then) and my doctor told me they were nothing and actually cut them off with a razor and just left it at that. Thanks.

[Rikki Tikki]

I woke up monday itching on my legs and arms. It appears to be slightly raised red bumps on my legs, arms and ears. I was diagnoised about 2 years ago with celiac disease and have struggled to regain my health since then.

How do I know if this is DH or something else? Going to my doctor is really not an option as he says I teach him about it.

Thanks for your help

[lovegrov]

Can you get your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist? That's who would know about DH. I wouldn't expect a family physician to know.

If you've been gluten-free for two years and you are careful, DH would not just suddenly pop up.

richard

[anerissara]

Reading this has been really helpful! I get the little red bumps where my bra touches, too. I also have had chicken-pox like bumps since going gluten-free for some reason, they didn't crop up until I had an encounter with a can of non gluten-free chilli....then I got a couple of them and they hurt. I have had eczema for quite a while, although it never followed a typical eczema pattern. In the last 2 years a new rash has started, this one is worse, itches like crazy, and looks more like the dh rash in the photos than the eczema did. BUT not exactly like that, either...mostly the bumps are closer together and not as wide spread, just in patches here and there. They don't go away with creams. Finally, I had started getting these little pin-head sized blisters filled with clear fluid. The blisters pop and leave little pits, and the skin around the whole area is very dry. The whole area will crack and bleed, especially since the worst of it seems to be on my fingers and where the joints are is awful. This went away when I started the gluten-free diet, but I got a new crop of it with the chilli incident.

Oh, and for some reason the skin on my face is clearing up! It used to break out often, I'm pretty sure just with acne however since I've been gluten-free it's really improved.

[laurie-carr]

I wanted to know the mild symptoms of Dh because every dermatological picture or explanation is of the most extreme cases. I would like to know the mild symptoms once and for all.

I have scaly dry skin on my elbows with what looks like severe red razor burn.

I have clear bumps that sometimes puss on my elbows.

I get the same bumps in pink or clear on my arms, back, neck and in my hair.

I get little versions of this around my mouth.

At first i thought that some of these are pimples, but they are obviously clear bumps with some kind of fluid way under the skin.

Even if this is not DH, please tell me the symptoms.

[laurie-carr]

I am so thankful to have this website to go to. I am also thankful that everyone writes in. When I had a TTG done it said that I was positive for celiac disease along with DH. I am like a lot of you with the mild case....I done have it on my elbows.....but .....I have those little bumps (acne like) all over my chest and upper back...I also have acne on both sides of my jawline...that never go away> proactive doesnt even help.....I had an outbreak on both sholders that took about 2 weeks to go away...there are some reminants left of the out break....I am itchy all over eventhough there is no rash visible.....I am even itchy in other places!!!! I have problems sleeping too......Let me know if anyone has these symptoms too.......thanks

[hawaiimama]

I have JUST clued into the fact I likely have DH. I'm reading the Dr Green book and he talks about it. I had positive ttg and positive gliadin antibodies but a neg biopsy. I have the thryoid issuse too. He says in this book that that is often the case with DH. Low and behold, I have the rash on my behind and have for YEARS. I thought it was from sanitary products. I guess I have to moon my doc when I see him. I had a HORRID rash all over my trunk when I was preg with my DS and nobody knew what it was. It all adds up. I'm shocked.

I toovery occasionaly get the odd DEEP acne. I also get what I've thought to be REAL bad cold sores but they are usually on the skin between my nose and my lips.

My "rash" is red inflamed spots that sometimes will give off fluid but not usually. They do scab over. I've always thought it was acne but I've never had really acne even as a teenager so why would I get it down there? I remember YEARS ago my old doc asked me what it was from. I dont' even know how long I've had it, because it seems like its always been there and its not like its somewehre I can see it.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I guess I have to moon my doc when I see him.

:lol: !!!

[Amber M]

I have JUST clued into the fact I likely have DH. I'm reading the Dr Green book and he talks about it. I had positive ttg and positive gliadin antibodies but a neg biopsy. I have the thryoid issuse too. He says in this book that that is often the case with DH. Low and behold, I have the rash on my behind and have for YEARS. I thought it was from sanitary products. I guess I have to moon my doc when I see him. I had a HORRID rash all over my trunk when I was preg with my DS and nobody knew what it was. It all adds up. I'm shocked.

I toovery occasionaly get the odd DEEP acne. I also get what I've thought to be REAL bad cold sores but they are usually on the skin between my nose and my lips.

My "rash" is red inflamed spots that sometimes will give off fluid but not usually. They do scab over. I've always thought it was acne but I've never had really acne even as a teenager so why would I get it down there? I remember YEARS ago my old doc asked me what it was from. I dont' even know how long I've had it, because it seems like its always been there and its not like its somewehre I can see it.

Glad I read this page. I have had many coldsores, and a rash on my butt off and on for 8 months, dry scaily elbow, knees and feet. My back itches steady! I also always wondered why my palms and feet bottoms were always orange. Any one know about this one? Amber M

[DebNC84]

Can you get your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist? That's who would know about DH. I wouldn't expect a family physician to know.

If you've been gluten-free for two years and you are careful, DH would not just suddenly pop up.

richard

my dermatologist didn't have a clue and the lab, where they sent my biopsy didn't either. and DH does suddenly pop up - where I don't get any other symptoms like gut pains I will get the rash - or just itching depending on how severe. it's always accidental of course.

People who get DH are more sensitive to gluten than celiac disease people who don't suffer from this unbearable symptom. Also high stress levels can cause the rash to become worse or bring it out for the first time.

I have suffered from the blisters on my hands and feet for as long as I can remember...

just a tip - my rash around my mouth and nose stopped when I became faithful to charmin and bounty (blowing my nose with non gluten free products seemed to be the cause) And I thought it was my hubby gluten kisses that were causing it!! I'm glad that's not the case!

[Happy Holly]

Have you tried staying away from yeast?

I have found that yeast causes my skin to have problems.

Mine has never looked like the pictures either. I get patches of red itchy skin on my elbows. Sometimes they become blisters with clear fluid. I also get these blisters on my face, especially around my hairline. My scalp gets itchy, too. Every once in a while I have maybe one itchy spot on my knees. One thing I do notice that if I get a spot on one side on my body, it won't be long before a matching one shows up on the other side. I also seem to break out in places that my skin gets warm, like under elastic or around my bra. I have been gluten-free for 7 months, but have been having flare ups for the last month or so. I'm trying to track down what is causing the flare ups. I never went on Dapsone. I think that no two cases are just alike!

[Happy Holly]

Be sure to check you birth control pills or any other prescriptions you are taking.

In addition to Celiac Sprue and DH, I also suffer from hypothyroidism. I cannot take synthroid, the most prescribed medication for hypothyroidism. I take Levoxyl instead. Also, I was on a birth control pill for years that caused the DH breakouts on my face. I really wish I knew then what was causing it. Now that I have changed birth control pills (I take Ortho Tricyclene), I have the most clear skin ever. Unfortunately, all of the breakouts on my face were so deep, that my pigmentation has been permanently destroyed. I have permanent white marks where all of the breakouts were.

Interestingly enough, Synthroid is listed as a celiac friendly prescription. I absolutely cannot take it though. There is clearly something that causes DH that is above and beyond things that Celiacs can take.

I have JUST clued into the fact I likely have DH. I'm reading the Dr Green book and he talks about it. I had positive ttg and positive gliadin antibodies but a neg biopsy. I have the thryoid issuse too. He says in this book that that is often the case with DH. Low and behold, I have the rash on my behind and have for YEARS. I thought it was from sanitary products. I guess I have to moon my doc when I see him. I had a HORRID rash all over my trunk when I was preg with my DS and nobody knew what it was. It all adds up. I'm shocked.

I toovery occasionaly get the odd DEEP acne. I also get what I've thought to be REAL bad cold sores but they are usually on the skin between my nose and my lips.

My "rash" is red inflamed spots that sometimes will give off fluid but not usually. They do scab over. I've always thought it was acne but I've never had really acne even as a teenager so why would I get it down there? I remember YEARS ago my old doc asked me what it was from. I dont' even know how long I've had it, because it seems like its always been there and its not like its somewehre I can see it.

[mags]

I have wondered about "mild" DH.

I get these little red spots on my forearms that show up 8-10 hours after I eat something bad. Bad for me is gluten or casein. Sometimes I get really nauseated when I get them, and sort of shaky or weak. They don't itch though. And they go away any time between 8 hours and 4 days later, without blistering or scabbing. So in that respect it doesn't sound like DH at all. But on the other hand it's *clearly* tied to gluten and casein and I don't have any other symptoms that say "allergy" plus it's not an immediate reaction. My allergist says it's not an allergy.

It's weird. I've been to all kinds of specialists about it. I've scoured the internet. I only found one other person who seems to have the same thing out there, and she has even fewer answers. So I just don't eat those foods, and every once in a while I check the internet in case someone figured something out.

[mymagicalchild]

I have wondered about "mild" DH.

I get these little red spots on my forearms that show up 8-10 hours after I eat something bad. They don't itch though. And they go away any time between 8 hours and 4 days later, without blistering or scabbing.

I've had them for years. They're usually on my arms or chest/stomach area. I've never thought of connecting them to food allergies, though.

They're not a bruise. Kind of like the size of the tip of a pen and bright red. A naturopath told me once, "Oh, those are really not good!"

I had a major problem about 15 months ago that made me address intestinal issues...first with fasting and cleansing, now with treatment for candida and gluten-intolerance. I haven't had a red spot in all that time.

[DebNC84]

I have wondered about "mild" DH.

I get these little red spots on my forearms that show up 8-10 hours after I eat something bad. Bad for me is gluten or casein. Sometimes I get really nauseated when I get them, and sort of shaky or weak. They don't itch though. And they go away any time between 8 hours and 4 days later, without blistering or scabbing.

My experience with DH has ranged alot - most times they itch - sometimes they hurt -and sometimes they just sit there on my skin looking like they should hurt or itch but I don't feel anything. If they don't get scratched open they go away quickly most times if I get rid of the "offending food source" but if it's an itchy bump most times they end up getting scratched and it takes a while to heal. I use clobex to relieve the itching - and that works for me. I get it all over - mostly knees, around areas where my clothing is tighter, upper arms, back , chest, scalp and my face is finally clear after 15 years of battling "acne" - (i'm 46)

[mamaw]

I'm asking this question for a 13 1/2 year old male. He has not been dx'd with anything except excema ( spelled wrong) sorry brain fog day! How can we tell between the two? All the DH pics look severe! Anyway he has got bumps around his eyes, swollen & beet red around the eye but the eyes are okay. Then he developed a sore on the side of his lip ( not a cold sore), & a rash on his arms & legs & knee. Very itchy & he is miserable...

He is small in size for his age.....

I feel he has dh & celiac but the doctors will not even consider testing him. I told the parents to first find a new doc asap. He was treated twice in the Er & they gave him steroids which are not helping much & have him take benadryl. I understand that this is not an ER issue but he was so swollen ,red & itchy that his parents didn't know what else to do ..But the PCP is a total jerk.

Does anyone become beet red with DH? This kid has missed four days of school over this. For school purposes I think he needs a dx's so he will be able to use the micro & such.

thanks

mamaw

[DebNC84]

Does anyone become beet red with DH? This kid has missed four days of school over this. For school purposes I think he needs a dx's so he will be able to use the micro & such.

thanks

mamaw

during my most severe DH episode - before I found out what was wrong with me I had several places on my body that were broke out - one of the most memorable was a hives type reaction on my buttocks... both sides... heated and raised -

my experience is most of the outbreaks are the same... single "bug bite" looking spots... but sometimes they are clustered and raised , red and ugly looking.. weepy if I scratch them open. I've got one patch on my wrist right now that doesn't even respond to the steroid cream I have... just waiting for it to go away.

why don't these people just try a gluten free diet?! I don't know about anyone else but the itching subsided within 24 hours - after a few days I didn't itch at all! Why do they have to have a diagnosis!! I sure didn't wait until a doctor told me to go gluten free... when I found it on the internet - that very minute I went gluten free.. That poor kid. gluten free won't kill him to try it!

[mamaw]

Hi Deb

I agree with you but some people will not take steps on their own to solve a health issue! God knows I've tried to tell them .I don't have DH so I really can't give a definate answer on the condition -- I can only guess but I certainly think I'm correct on this one. He did go to school today & the steroid for now has lessened his itching & redness. But I tried again to tell them this will continue on & on until someone takes a stance on this, it just will not fade away.

From what you said I can say his sounds much like yours...

I feel so sorry for this kid.

thanks for the info

[DebNC84]

Hi Deb

I agree with you but some people will not take steps on their own to solve a health issue! God knows I've tried to tell them .I don't have DH so I really can't give a definate answer on the condition -- I can only guess but I certainly think I'm correct on this one. He did go to school today & the steroid for now has lessened his itching & redness. But I tried again to tell them this will continue on & on until someone takes a stance on this, it just will not fade away.

From what you said I can say his sounds much like yours...

I feel so sorry for this kid.

thanks for the info

I can tell you that the itching is torturous, and I don't know if that describes the condition in full. When my first derm. said "it's excema...you're going to have to learn to live with it" I didn't tell him that I was just short of putting a bullet in my head.. not really.. but you get my point. But I did tell him I was ready to jump off a bridge... I guess that's a nicer way of saying I didn't WANT to live with it. I went to another derm. doc and she gave me a shot of prednizone and sent me home with pred. pills... which kept it at bay and treatable with the steroid cream - until I found out what the real problem was, about 5 weeks later.

[mags]

I've had them for years. They're usually on my arms or chest/stomach area. I've never thought of connecting them to food allergies, though.

They're not a bruise. Kind of like the size of the tip of a pen and bright red. A naturopath told me once, "Oh, those are really not good!"

I had a major problem about 15 months ago that made me address intestinal issues...first with fasting and cleansing, now with treatment for candida and gluten-intolerance. I haven't had a red spot in all that time.

yes!! Chest, arms, tummy. Mine usually pinker and 2mm or so across, but sometimes they can be reasonably bright. Usually shows up in the morning for me. For a while I would wake up every morning and dread looking at my arms, because if I saw them I knew I was going to feel yucky for at least a few hours.

I have been gluten-free since march, but it didn't totally fix it. A month later I went casein free as well and up until a couple of weeks ago I did great all summer ( meaning only a couple of dots, not like 50 - 100 ). I only had two outbreaks this summer and both of those were after eating in restaurants. I am hopeful that like some people I will be able to put casein back in later, but not counting on it.

Fall allergens are back in the air and I'm trying to figure out if somehow the two combine forces to make the dots, or if something snuck back into my diet. My arms have been pretty clear but my belly has had some. I do know that I have TPO antibodies floating around (which can be linked with hives) at low levels and have had problems with iodine in the past. It's enough for me to assume I have a DH-like thing going on. In my mind I think maybe I headed it off before it got to be really bad. That's not based on anything though.

[Nancym]

Glad I read this page. I have had many coldsores, and a rash on my butt off and on for 8 months, dry scaily elbow, knees and feet. My back itches steady! I also always wondered why my palms and feet bottoms were always orange. Any one know about this one? Amber M

Do you drink carrot juice? When I was a kid my Mom gave us carrot juice every day and our palms turned kind of orangish.

[Rita L]

Geez.... And here I was thinking that I just had a few pimples on my rear... DUH They are always in the same spot. AND yes, it can suddenly pop up. It has with me. May be stress or cc or whatever but I've been Gluten free for almost 10 years!