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Skin Trauma: Please Tell Me I'm Not A Hypochondriac

Jenniferxgfx

By Jenniferxgfx
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted

The other day I burned myself in the kitchen. I had a very minor blistered burn on my fingertip and a not blistered, but exceptionally painful (for no blister!) burn on the inside of my forearm. I drowned both in aloe and cold packs, and after a couple days both were healing fine. My forearm had a red spot, but I was sure it'd be gone in a day or so.

Last night, my forearm got really itchy (like what I've come to realize is DH itchy), but I fell asleep before I itched my arm off. Today, I see my forearm burn is covered in little water blisters. (1 inch by 2 inches). it's itchy, too.

Do you think it's new DH lesions because of the skin trauma? I've never had anything like this happen before, but I've only started to see an improvement in my skin, too. I feel like I'd been living in an endless flareup till I went gluten-free 3 months ago. My skin was really improving, and I was still getting occasional very small spots, but this cluster of water blisters feels like more of a confirmation of DH than anything.

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eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I've read about that very thing!

DH is sensitive to any trauma to the skin.

So a burn could activate your DH too.

Of course if you have only been gluten free for 3 months you still have antibodies in the skin and it is very sensitive to trauma.

That is why itching DH makes it so much worse.

I have read about this happening in articles and in the archives here on the DH thread...

Someone posted the very same thing you describe. If they had gotten a burn or a small cut from cooking they would always break out in DH blisters in that area of the skin.

It makes perfect sense to me.

So I vote, NO you are not a Hypochondriac!!

Yay!!

Hopeful1950 Explorer
Hopeful1950
Posted

No, you are NOT a hypochondriac!

When my DH was at its worst, if I got a paper cut it would end up itchy and blistery. Same thing under where my bra straps would stress the skin and also across my back where my bra is. When one dermatologist insisted on doing a biopsy on a lesion it went crazy and I got huge blisters and it took forever to heal.

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted
  • Author

Omg thank you both so much! I actually searched the archives and didnt find any posts, but I know I just wasn't searching the right terms. I heard of psoriasis reacting this way, but not DH. (I have a family member with psoriatic arthritis... I think I know more about psoriasis than DH!)

Omg my bras too!!! I've found over the years if I rotate my bras, my skin behaved better, but I've lost a lot of weight and am down to just one bra, and even if I only wear it a couple hours a day, my skin reacts to the straps in the same place all the time. I assumed it was acne but now I know it's not.

And papercuts! Omg, they itch and swell... They require bandaids and Neosporin, no matter how tiny. Even a sliver will do it. I thought it was "infection," but now it sounds like it's all connected. DH!

Thank you so much!

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted
  • Author

What a jerk dermatologist, btw. :(

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I just want to add that although it might seem appropriate to use Ibuprofen for the anti-inflammatory effects or for pain management, it is not a good choice for DH. DH is sometimes very sensitive to NSAIDS and salicylates.

I used it to manage the pain of DH for years not knowing it was actually making things really way worse. I found several articles on the sensitivity of DH to NSAIDS.

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted
  • Author

That's also a good reminder! I know I've read that here-- I think from you! I used to use voltaren gel because years of NSAID abuse (doctors orders), I tore up my stomach. The gel really bothered my skin, and I just thought I was over sensitive, but after I went gluten-free and tried the gel again, I had terrible DH flare.

I tried my husband's shampoo a couple months ago, not seeing there was seaweed in it... I STILL have spots on my shoulder, and they're aggravated by my bra... Iodine and NSAIDs are a HECK NO now.

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Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted
  • Author

Just a quick update... I completely forgot I had an appointment with an asthma and allergy specialist scheduled yesterday, and he brought up DH! I went there to try and get some help managing my asthma, since my GP is now retired and I definitely needed an adjustment (I was taking a milk-containing medicine which was making me worse now that I'm gluten-free, so I switched to something that sucked right when my GP retired). He asked about my reactions to the things that I discovered were triggers, and when it came to gluten, I showed him this healed-burn-induced rash of water blisters on my arm, and he said he thought it was DH! I almost fell off my chair. He also noticed the healing spots on my upper arms, and was concerned I was still having outbreaks while on a gluten-free diet, but when I said this was still a huge improvement and continue to see improvements (even the outbreaks are much less severe-- they're just more obvious now, if that makes sense), he seemed pretty convinced it was DH.

He ALSO asked if I ever felt like anything got "stuck" in my throat when I eat, and I almost fell out of my chair AGAIN. This has been one of my most annoying symptoms-- breads and pastas (with gluten) always get *stuck* in my throat, and I can feel whatever it is slowly traveling down to my stomach, where it sits like a brick and I get bad reflux and nausea. Doctors always passed this off as gastroparesis, gave me the dangerous drug Reglan, and told me to suck it up... this doctor is convinced that's completely wrong, and I actually have eosinophilic esophagitis, and it's triggered by the things I already know it's triggered by (gluten, dairy, eggs).

He was completely comfortable not pushing for biopsies or allergen testing, too, between my preference to avoid it and because I'd pretty much done all the legwork myself, figuring out what I react to. He even admitted the best test is the elimination tests I've been doing, and his testing wouldn't be as cheap, comfortable, or accurate.

I'm *still* floored at how well it went. I've had a LOT of bad luck over the years, and a particularly bad experience with a potential GP very recently, and this guy nailed everything right off the bat, with a smile, and in a "Cat in the Hat" necktie! He also changed my asthma medication to something that felt better within an hour (I feel normal!), and GOT ONLINE RIGHT THEN to make sure it didn't contain any gluten or dairy. I'm sort of kicking myself for not trying this route sooner, but after so many Dr. Duds, I guess I just figured an allergist wouldn't believe my reactions, either. But this guy DID!

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Wow Jennifer, that's great! See, kiss enough frogs....

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted
  • Author

kiss enough frogs....

LOL. I guess the law of averages finally caught up with me! Maybe while I have such good luck, I should buy a lottery ticket ;)

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

Well, good Lord, I just fell off my chair 3 times reading this wonderful post.

Thank that man...and tell him to tell his Dr. Dud friends about DH and your results.

What a wonderful experience you had!

Wow! I am very impressed!

Thank you for posting this positive experience...I hope more Doc.'s will take on his attitude and knowledge.

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

Oh. My. G*d. Bras. Straps.

I tried switching brands of deodorants and had the mother of all reactions to the new "organic natural" stuff. It seems to be complicated by using a razor with one of those lubricating strips to shave with. I had to stop using anything on the skin there for a few days, and have been limited to using a little bit of baking soda since. I just got it to clear up.... And I thought I had tracked down everything that I had worn with the Evil Deodorant and washed it, but last night I put on a regular bra (instead of a sports bra) that must have had some residue because it blew up again within a few hours. I think it's a contact allergy because it goes down somewhat if it's washed and rinsed real well, but aaaaaaaiiiiiieeeeeee. Mind you I can use makeup and perfume and shampoo and what not, as long as I am careful, but I swear I have the most tender skin in the entire state when it comes to running a razor there...... I'm dying here.

rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

I used to have the bra strap reaction, too, but I found out that I was super-sensitive to nylon. I have dermatographia (not sure of the spelling on that), so my skin does poorly with any pressure on it...but nylon made me suffer big time. Just a suggestion--you might try switching to a cotton or microfiber bra to see if you react less.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I geez. Bras.

My rash (DH) has been on my neck, stomach, legs, etc. but the main sites are my pits. I have tried so many bras, shirts (pressure aggravates it), creams, etc. it's ridiculous.

In the end, reducing iodine was the only thing that stopped it from re-erupting. I've got to post pics.

Btw, I can't go to a mall without sneezing and itching. All those chemicals, scents....omg ick!

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