Does This Sound Like The Right Testing For Dh?

[climbmtwhitney]

Hi All,

My already gluten-free DS has been getting awful rashes on elbows, back of neck, sometimes above knees too. They're very infrequent--about every few months sometimes six months or longer. Perhaps when he is being accidentally glutened. I have Celiac and my son is gluten intolerant. So, I'm wondering if he is actually Celiac as well and getting DH. From my research the rashes resemble DH in every respect. Took him to an allergist and did full skin testing. Nothing turned up. She suggested a dermatologist to look for DH or something else. Did that. He said he would do 2 biopsies on the next rash. The 1st to look under a microscope and see if the visual is consistent with DH. Then, if so, do a 2nd biopsy to check for the antibodies. Well, we did the 1st biopsy and just got the results. The visual looks like eczema. So no 2nd biopsy. Since when is eczema super infrequent and painful (brings him to tears)? Hmmm.

My questions....Can you tell if something is DH with a visual only? Or do we need a new doctor and a antibody biopsy? Has anyone else had a doctor insist on a visual look only first?

I'd really appreciate some insight. Thanks!!!

Jillian

P.S. I re-posted in this section. Thx.

[WheatChef]

Find a new dermatologist and certainly don't let any friends go to that one. DH is a form of eczema. If your dermatologist wont test for dermatitis herpetiformis because he thinks it's a form of dermatitis (eczema) then he's completely incompetent.

[climbmtwhitney]

Find a new dermatologist and certainly don't let any friends go to that one. DH is a form of eczema. If your dermatologist wont test for dermatitis herpetiformis because he thinks it's a form of dermatitis (eczema) then he's completely incompetent.

WheatChef,

You're right! I didn't realize that, but googled it and it's correct. That doctor is an idiot! Thank you! Thank you!

Jillian