Dermititis herpetiformis

[fellingletdown]

Hi everyone

I go to allergy clinic for my first appointment on the 26th. Can I be diagnosed from the blister rash alone or will there be several tests? I've cut out a lot of gluten but not been totally gluten free.

[jnbina]

Hi there

I was diagnosed with a biopsy of a blister before it had been scratched!

I'm on a GF diet and take a Dapsone tablet every day and this keeps the DH at bay.

So try not to scratch so you have a good blister spot for them to test. Thats the only test they did.

Good Luck

Bina

[Towels]

Hi, I suffer with DH. I had a biopsy while the blisters were out. I get them on my buttocks and can be very painful. My doctor was giving me a steroid cream for eczema. The blisters just got worse so I asked for a second apinion with a dermatologist who took one look at the blisters and asked if I suffer from Coeliac disease. The biopsy didn't hurt at all, I only had a couple of stitches. The result of the biopsy was DH. I don't eat anything with Gluten but some gluten must have got through. I'm not on medication as I keep to a strict gluten free diet.

Good luck at the clinic

[Hil101]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with DH by skin biopsy while I had a bad outbreak with a maddeningly itchy rash over much of my body. I refused Dapsone as it's a serious medication (for leprosy, for goodness sake! A doctor friend of mine couldn't believe it is used for DH) which has potential side effects worse than the condition itself. Some of them may already be issues if you have coeliac, such as anaemia from which I suffered badly. Instead of Dapsone, I started with Fucibet (steroid) cream and when it was more controlled I switched to Elocon ointment (still quite strong and needs very sparing use). I have Synalar now and I only use the minimum when it's absolutely necessary, then tail off applying it gradually if it's a bad outbreak. Not had any for a while now. This treatment method worked well for me. I suggest you look up Dapsone on Wikipedia if it is suggested that you take it. Best of luck.

[corsaUMM in reply to Hil101]

Had Dapsone.....Awful side effects.. I am using synalar at present ... Blisters are either burning or itching. I started with it 3years initially thought it was Pemphigoid. The when diagnosed as Coeliac, did biopsy but was negative, I had not been eating gluten at the time so consultant thought it may be false negative. So he is treating me for DH . Does it get anyone down , it get's to me at times and I just have to get as cold as possible to ease the symptoms.

Igloo no good. !!!!!

[fellingletdown in reply to corsaUMM]

Hello corsaUMM

Mine gets very sore burning,stinging and its on my hands so very painful when I grip anything.im having gluten in the hope I will get a good test result so I have dry patches and fresh blisters,gets me down.

Are you totally GF,has it improved at all for you?

[corsaUMM]

I am totally gluten free.. stomach problems gone, long may it last.!!!!!!!! However plagued with DH. I see dermatologist Fri so will have a chat with him...Someone suggested cutting out dairy but I would rather be tested first. You poor sole o nyour hands must be unbearable, my Dh is right across back shoulder to shoulder.

[fellingletdown in reply to corsaUMM]

Glad the stomach problems are gone for you,hope your dermatologist can sort out the DH

[corsaUMM in reply to fellingletdown]

Do hope so. Really getting to me.

[corsaUMM]

I had biopsy but because I had given gluten up came back negative. However because blood tests for CD were high Dermatologist leaned towards DH.

Before then was being treated for Bullous Pemhigoid. Now theres a question mark over all that. Had Dapsone awful side effects. To cut a long story short I have to go to a special clinic ...different Consultants seeing me and yet another biopsy. So hope your biopsy is positive. Keep eating some gluten in the meantime.

[fellingletdown in reply to corsaUMM]

I did have a couple of weeks gluten free,I'm making sure I have some in two meals everyday......did you only have blood test for CD or did you have to have endoscopy