itchy

I disagree a little about scratching. Clearly it makes the itch or sting feel better or people wouldn't do it, although ultimately it may make the problem worse. Keeping the lesions moist with creams may help a lot. Notice that for many of us DH is often worse at certain times of the day, usually evenings, so that may help you concentrate your efforts at...

Yes, I would call them 'active' lesions. They are certainly 'active' as evidenced by the red inflammation. And lesion is a word with a broad definition that basically means diseased area or injury. To me your lesions look like DH, and I would expect if they get worse or you scratch harder they will become 'excorciated' and become bleeding sores. In mine...

I would consider reporting this guy to the org that oversees physicians where you live. Being careful of libel, of course. Unfortunately many of us have encountered physicians who aren't much better.

Thank goodness for the internet that helps us take responsibility for our own health. I'm not sure what the problem is with MD's who refuse to recognise DH. Perhaps they are convinced that we are part of what they consider to be a gluten-free 'fad' around the English speaking world. I think they often see 'wheat intolerance' as an 'alternative medicine' diagnosis...

You refer to 'pustules'. I know there are people who have a variety of lesions, but for my part I have never had anything that I would call a pustule, which suggests 'puss'. My lesions have always had blood or clear bloody fluid. In the 'pre-DH' or 'post-DH' stage (if there is such a thing), the lesions seem to be without fluid and just involve...

Mikyraso First off, it sounds like you might still be eating too much gluten. Many people with Dermatitus Herpetiformis don't have as bad gastro intestinal symptoms as other coeliacs, so find it easier to control GI problems with reduced gluten. But unless your gluten intake is very near zero, you will continue to have DH. That was my experience. So getting...

Then we're agreed. I respect the vast amount of knowledge you bring to this conversation.

I don't blame you for being confused, but I don't think there are any easy answers. Because DH is an auto immune disease it seems to be partly subject to circumstances in our body that we may not understand. I think most times one will react within a short time or a few hours to a glutening, but there are exceptions. And I've had 'reversals' that didn...

Eatmeatforgood: If you read my comments you will understand that they don't contradict the quotes that you posted. Note the use of 'some'in the quote.

Squirmingitch, please go back and reread the thread. I did not at any point suggest people shouldn't reduce their iodine if that's what works for them. However I object to the constant statements by some that iodine reduction is absolutely necessary to deal with DH. It's not. Surely the experience of most people here is that 'experts' don't have...

Squimingitch, there have been a number of people who have stated they didn't associate iodine with any effect on the DH. Because a number of vocal people say it is so, or even various studies identifying a statistical association doesn't make it so for every individual. Low iodine diets are a risk for some people. Furthermore, I am proof that DH can be...

All good advice from Squirmingitch, except re iodine, which we disagree about. I have never been able to detect an effect from iodine, and I choose not to mess with iodine in my diet due to frequency of thyroid diseases in my family. You will get better if you concentrate on eliminating gluten. I think people should experiment with iodine limits, don't assume...

BTW, some of the MD's I encountered were so egotistical and cynical that you couldn't shame them by giving them cut and dried evidence, once they've made up their minds. I'd save your energy for something more likely to yield rewards.

I agree with the others, it certainly looks like DH! In my opinion, unless you have some overpowering need (perhaps legal) for a formal diagnosis, forget the need for confirmation by doctors. So far, four of the five doctors I've used were completely lacking competence (well really most of them were aggressively unhelpful, even antagonistic to the idea...

Kellbeth, it certainly is plausible that it is DH, especially considering your gastrointestinal symptoms. That said, it isn't as severe or stereotypical as my rash was. Have you compared your rash with the many photos online? Your rash appears to be intensely itchy, bilaterally symetrical, found often on elbows and and limbs, reddish. Those are all characteristics...