Dh Relief

[jobys tutu]

I was diagnosed with DH a a few years ago and, with the exception unintentional ingestion, maintain a gluten free diet. The main culprit for recent DH flare-ups seem to be various dietary supplements I've been trying to combat fatigue and a very slow metabolism. Since I'm not on Dapsone on a regular basis anymore, I was searching for any type of relief during a recent outbreak and found that a really cold ice pack helped me weather the outbreak. I had to leave the ice pack on for a few hours, but it's so worth it. I hope this helps someone else.

[Lisa16]

I have found two rather unexpected things help me. I discovered them because my outbreaks were misdiagnosed as shingles (three times!) so I treated them like shingles.

The first thing was "abreva" in the little OTC tubes. It is a product for cold sores. It is a little expensive, but for some reason it worked for me. It appears to make the blister shrink. It also seems to help with the itch/pain. Of course, using it depends on where the outbreak is (I think it would not be so good for fingers, say). It seems to be similar to dapsome in effect-- maybe a related compound? I have never tried the spray. Kind of bizarre.

The second thing is carmex in the little pots with the yellow lid. It is formulated for cold sores, but again, for some odd reason, it really seems to make me more comfortable. It is a little stickier, so you could put it on fingers or toes and then put a bandaid or something to keep it in place.

For what it's worth.... hope this helps somebody. I now keep these thing on hand, just in case.

Lisa

[linuxprincess]

I have found that tea tree oil helps quite a bit with me. Discovered this inadvertently when we bought some tea tree oil bath soak and it really helped. I can normally barely sit in a tub of hot water with out it making me itch, but the tea tree seems to help. My sister uses straight tea bags on her areas. She makes a cup or a pot, whatever and uses the left over wet leaves for her rash areas. She saw improvement.

Cold packs help me tremendously also. The carmex / abreva connection sounds like it might be worth checking out as they are intended to treat blisters and I could see the possible help from them.

[ljmaine]

I was diagnosed with DH a a few years ago and, with the exception unintentional ingestion, maintain a gluten free diet. The main culprit for recent DH flare-ups seem to be various dietary supplements I've been trying to combat fatigue and a very slow metabolism. Since I'm not on Dapsone on a regular basis anymore, I was searching for any type of relief during a recent outbreak and found that a really cold ice pack helped me weather the outbreak. I had to leave the ice pack on for a few hours, but it's so worth it. I hope this helps someone else.

I am new to this dont know if i will get right but i have outbreaks on my right foot and both hands it takes a long time to heal. Accidentily found that purell hand sanitizer works really well to stop the itch and seems to make the healing faster.

[purple]

I read many pages on here just yesterday and made a bunch of notes. All the tips given above are new to what I read, so try them too. Here is a list.

No Dapsone, its not worth it, bad side effects

Stay away from iodine, table salt, sea food, salmon

No NSAIDS

Possibly eliminate dairy

take potassium

cortisone cream may help

>>>moistened black tea bags helped many people<<<

avoid Applebees and Arby's

bathe in bath salts (without iodine)

cold shower or cool bath helps

Calamine lotion helps

ice packs help

don't eat too much fruit

check your hair care products

stay away from salty chips

dairy can have high levels of iodine so use organic products

there is iodine in thyroid meds

iodine and gluten can flare it up

Hope some of this helps you.

I would try the tea bags and ice packs and those previous tips too. I would suggest rinsing your canned veggies like beans to remove the salt.

[rmducote]

I read many pages on here just yesterday and made a bunch of notes. All the tips given above are new to what I read, so try them too. Here is a list.

No Dapsone, its not worth it, bad side effects

Stay away from iodine, table salt, sea food, salmon

No NSAIDS

Possibly eliminate dairy

take potassium

cortisone cream may help

>>>moistened black tea bags helped many people<<<

avoid Applebees and Arby's

bathe in bath salts (without iodine)

cold shower or cool bath helps

Calamine lotion helps

ice packs help

don't eat too much fruit

check your hair care products

stay away from salty chips

dairy can have high levels of iodine so use organic products

there is iodine in thyroid meds

iodine and gluten can flare it up

Hope some of this helps you.

I would try the tea bags and ice packs and those previous tips too. I would suggest rinsing your canned veggies like beans to remove the salt.

How does salt effect? my hubby has to eat gluten free but loves salty corn chips. does this make breakouts worse?

[jitters]

My DH is always worse in the mornings. I usually get up and hold a cold pop can for awhile. It helps a lot and by the time its warmed up a little it doesn't itch any more. I use ice packs as well, but when I'm in a hurry and just want to grab something to help a cold can works wonders for me!

[Mims]

I was diagnosed June 1...so I am really new to Celiac, ...but definitely not new to the rash.

Having fought this rash, on back, neck, arms, wrists, hand, legs, and knees I can tell you that lots of things make it worse. I have had it so bad on my neck and head that I could not even brush my hair. Some mornings, just turning my head would have blood running down my neck and back. For years I did not own a shirt that was not covered in bloodly stains. Once the flare began, it could be days (weeks, months, years) before it would calm down. Immediately following my diagnosis and I began my gluten-free diet, there was an immense improvement.

Since then I have found that Advil and Tylenol will cause a flare up in a matter of hours. Being glutened will also cause a quick and nasty flare-up.

But a few years ago a doctor had given me a sample of OLUX. It is a foam which is great because a little goes a long way....Stings like crazy, especially on recently scratched lesions. But within moments, the itch stops - completely!!!! Ending the itch torment would be good enough for me, but it actually heals the lesions. It dries them up, stops the oozing, and helps with the size of the actual lesions. It doesn't happen over night, but it does heal them and in the meantime it does control the maddening oozing and itch. It is greaseless and odorless so you don't stain your clothing. There are two formulas - one can is purple the other green. By mistake the doctor wrote the script for the green formula, but it did not work for my rash. Go with the purple. Everyone out there should ask their doctors for a prescription for this stuff. It is primarily used to treat "contact dermatitis" and other "allergy rashes" but as they say - Couldn't hurt to give it a try....you never know... As far as I know there are no serious side effects or anything and it just might help someone out there.

Remember that Viagra was initially used to treat a specific heart condition....and we all know where that went!

I also figured out on my own that iodine was a major cause of reflux.... Quite by accident, I found that once I switched to iodine free salt, and sea salt (in everything-even packaged foods- check the label use only products that say sea salt in the ingredient list) there was a great improvement in the reflux and the rash!

I am also Lactose Intolerant....three weeks ago I discovered Digestive Advantage...a once a day pill to prevent dairy symptoms (nasty bellyache, gas, bathroom trips etc.)... Well this stuff is a "Magic Potion"...Oh, to be normal again (as normal as one can get while being Celiac)... I don't know the connection, but the rash has calmed down considerably too. I have been glutened twice since the first of the month (cc issues), but the rash flares were just not as nasty as usual...so I am thinking there might be a connection to the dairy issues too.

Yet it still does not really ever go away.............

I have not heard of the connection with thyroid medication until I read it tonight - and wonder if there is any information around on that school of thought...

Talking to my doctor regarding that issue should be exhausting at best....she said I couldn't be Celiac because I was too tall... I insisted on testing, and wow, I guess I am not too tall after all............