Mary's Gluten Free Zone

Dermatitis herpetiformis, once considered celiac disease of the skin, is known to occur in a number of different autoimmune disorders.Dermatitis herpetiformis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic, intensely pruritic (itchy) symmetric groups of vesicles, papules, and wheals (hives), that may occur on the elbows, knees, arms, legs, shoulders, scalp, buttocks, neck, and face. Dermatitis herpetiformis, which is also known as Duhrings’s disease, Brocq-During disease, and dermatitis multiformis, usually occurs in people with CD and well as milder forms of gluten sensitivity, and less often, in people with thyroid problems.It can also  occur in people with  type I diabetes,as well as some other auto immune diseases. The rash ususally starts in the late teens and early twenties, or in the third or fourth decades of life, although it can affect people of all ages. Males are affected twice as often as females, and it occurs more often in whites than in people of Asian or African descent.

Symptoms

Dermatitis herpetiformis causes small blisters, discrete papules (bumps, pimples), itchy smooth lesions resembling hives, and waxy lesions. Blisters and papules frequently appear on the face and and may cause intense itching. Clinical signs are often highly variable ranging from groups of papulovesicles with excoriations or eczema-like lesions to minimal variants of discrete redness with small water blisters or areas of small purpura (purple bruise-like lesions).

Treatment

There are some antibiotics that are effective, but they would have to be used constantly. A gluten free diet seems to be the best treatment, although it can take 6-12 months for a noticable improvement. People with this consition have to be especially careful about hidden glutens in items such as lotions, creams, toothpaste, shampoo, lipstick, etc. Always read labels and if in doubt, contact the manufacturer. I read somewhere that about 20% of celiacs can have this condition, but not all people with the rash have Celiac in their small intestine.......It can be named Celiac of the skin as CD is sometimes called Celiac of the gut.The only way to know for sure if you have this as opposed to something like psoriasis, is to have a small biopsy of the skin at your Dermatologists office. If you have the Disease, a certain protein will be visible.