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Has Anyone Had Diagnosed Dh That Resembles Acne On The Face/chest/back?

BelleVie

By BelleVie
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

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BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted

I'm wondering because the primary symptom that first started me on my explorations of health, nutrition, the body, and holistic wellness was a sudden outbreak of acne at age 19 that increasingly got worse and worse and worse as time went on.

 

I distinctly remember the whole thing beginning with my face becoming extremely oily, far more than what would be considered normal for anyone at any age. Then I got one VERY, very painful "pimple" at the edge of my eyebrow toward my nose. From that, came another...then another...and so on...and then, at age 19, I suddenly had full-blown acne, though I'd had perfectly clear skin for my entire life before. Over the years, it became more and more cystic, and my face took on a constant red flush. My face was also constantly itchy. 

 

I'm wondering if this could be at all related to DH, particularly because most of the time these breakouts were along my hairline, and if bothered, never came to a head. Only HURT or seeped a clear liquid. And the spots that were not along my hairline were on my cheeks, and were symmetrical on both sides of my face. (When I would have two spots on the left cheek, there would generally be two spots on my right cheek, exactly mirrored.) 

 

No acne creams worked, cutting dairy didn't work...nothing worked, for years, until I stopped eating gluten at age 24. My skin, quite remarkably, stopped breaking out immediately, and now is completely healed. 

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and could it be DH related? I seem to remember reading somewhere that auto-immune related acne tends to take on symmetrical patterning. 

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squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

There are many skin conditions related to celiac disease that resolve once gluten free. I can't answer your question as I never had an acne problem thankfully.

sisterlynr Explorer
sisterlynr
Posted

Sorry, never had acne either.  My rash initially presented on my scalp and feet.  

  • 1 month later...
Atmn44 Newbie
Atmn44
Posted

I have actually, but I am extremely gluten sensitive now that I've been diagnosed and finally cut gluten out of my life. If I get cross-contamination at all now, we are talking huge patches of painful blisters and my face and entire scalp full of bleeding blisters. Up until the diagnosis I was getting what I thought was "strange acne" starting around my nose and mouth and sometimes my hairline. If I was stressed maybe my neck by my lymph glands. They hurt, they would ooze, they would NEVER heal. Within the first week of my gluten free diet they diminished with my scaly patches and the big blistery rashes I had. Now, they reappear every time I am exposed. After taking a closer look one day I realized they are actually more like isolated blisters than acne. I occasionally use a prescription antibiotic on my face. It has been helpful. (Accidental miracle :) )

I hope that helps a bit.

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