Is this DH?

[Judy]

Strawdog - my husband has DH (was found through biopsy) and he NEVER gets it on his trunk or arms or legs. It appears first on his face - cheeks and under eyes (soft skin) then he'll get it in his scalp, elbows and knees if its a bad breakout. Don't listen to that dr. ,if you feel better gluten free stick with it. Hubby says the DH blisters are miserably itchy and painful. Good luck!
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Judy

[dkad not guest]

When I was first diagnosed with DH in l977 it had started on my knees, elbows,rump. Left untreated it spread until it was all over and I was so miserable. When it got on my face I had had enough and went to see and derm. He did a biopsy and he said I had DH and iodine allergy. He gave me a an antibiotic because I had so much infection and gave me coal tar, which is wonderful but getting a dr. to perscribe it is unreal. Anyway see if leaving off iodine helps. It really makes a big difference for my itching. When I left off the iodine I got a lot better and decided the wheat free diet was too hard to follow. If only I had known what I know now. And yes for me it is a watery blister that first starts out as an itch. Since eating gluten doesn't really make me sick sick but just bad Diah. the one way I know I have had gluten is by the itching.
Hope this helps.
Have a great day
Going to change my users name. Tired of it not letting me get in. Do I need to reregister and start all over.
dkad

[dkad]

this is a test

[dkad]

Sorry about the last note. I didn't mean to click submit but preview but good news I think I just discovered why I my useres name doesn't come up.

[Judy]

My husband uses a prescription called Gentamicin Sulfate ointment. Its an antibiotic cream and it really helps heal the blisters. Before he was diagnosed he thought he had poison ivy. It was all over his butt and private area, his elbows, knees. He was miserable. Several years ago he had a terrible rash all over his chest and back that we assumed was DH, but never really found out. At the time he was drinking gallons of iced tea (from a mix) and we figured it was the tea that did it to him. He's never ever had another outbreak like that. Now he mostly gets them on his face. Several years ago I inadvertently glutened him really bad and his face was such a mess he had to cancel a business trip. Tell me I didn't feel like a big SHMUCK. I don't remember what he ate, but I can tell you I'm totally devoted to keeping him gluten free and boy did I feel as though I'd failed him.
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Judy

[Chris]

Hey people, I have DH for sure and perhaps I can add some personal insight. First of all, nothing can rule DH out, ESPECIALLY not elbow rashes. I had a substantial rash that, yes, did in some spots show the signature blisters. The very first post sounds VERY familiar. After a recent slipup, I did not get many visible signs, BUT I could feel my knees, elbows, butt, and even eyelids ITCH despite lack of a rash. I have had rashes on the inside and outside of my knees and elbows, plus face, back, butt, hands, feet, and even the inside of my mouth. They ranged from blisters, blood blisters, plaques, bumps, to just an itch. DH apparently is the 2nd itchiest disease in the world, after rabies...I didn't make that up. Andi, I know how your child feels if it's DH. I have scratched myself raw even when there was no rash. Remeber that the simplest solution is often the correct one. For your child's sake I wouldn't rule out gluten, especially in a celiac family. Just a warning though - It can take a long time being GF before DH disappears once it occurs. I would suggest a blood test, though a negative result wouldn't rule it out. The best way is a very specific skin biopsy from near a rash (if your child ever gets one). Good luck
Chris

[Judy]

My husband saw several different doctors with several different theories as to what was wrong with him before he finally met a dermatologist that knew what it was as soon as he looked at the blisters. He did the biopsy and the diagnosis was finally made. My husband has been taking dapsone and colchicine (sp) for over 20 years for this - no matter how GF and iodine free he seems to be, he still gets the blisters. He's tried to wean himself off the meds, but to no avail. Stay with the GF diet, but also eliminate iodine - its a major factor in DH. Most doctors/dietitians don't have a clue about the iodine. At least none that we've seen.
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Judy