Another could this be DH question

[CelestialMark]

Hello all,

 

so last year I started getting small bumps on my hands and fingers, it wasn't too bad so didn't think much of it. They it spread to inner elbows, elbows, hips, shins and inner forearms. At that point, around Sept last year I went to the doctor who said it was viral, after a few weeks of no improvement I went to dermatologist who said allergy, so went from there to allergist who did skin prick test and proclaimed dust mites were the problem. So invested in new vacuum cleaner, dust mite proof bedding and a dehumidifier, still no improvement. So went  back, had patch testing and now I'm told its a chemical used in soaps laundry detergents etc. So changed all those, and still no improvement. In the mean time went to Naturopath who recommended food sensitivity testing, that came back with the usual wheat, dairy, some nuts and oddly plums, so been avoiding them, I still doing think it is really any better, now have it on shoulders, neck, base of back, and today started with two red patches on my face around my mouth. I have been off gluten for a about a month now, and it doesn't really seem much better. Its is mildly itchy and flares up and down. Sometimes I think it is going and then it comes back.

I have another dermatologist appointment in August, but as I am not eating gluten now, even if they test me I am assuming it will be negative.

I am fairly sure it is DH from what I have read, but I am not 100%. Thinking of asking my doctor to try my on Dapsone for a couple of weeks just to see if there is improvement. I can deal with the rash even if it takes a year or two to go, I really just want to know whether it is DH, as if it isn't no point being Gluten free!!

It is all quite frustrating.

Attached are pictures of thigh and shin from one leg, but its the same on both, as with the arms, same on both.

 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

 

Mark

[squirmingitch]

You really need to research Dapsone & it's side effects before you go running for that route. Also there are regular tests that need to be done while you are on Dapsone.

Your best bet for a dh dx is a dh biopsy but just like the blood tests, you have to have been eating gluten everyday for the prior 12 weeks and the biopsy needs to be taken from a clear spot adjacent to an active lesion not ON a lesion.

60% of those with dh test negative on the celiac serum panel.

[CelestialMark]

I know, and that's the problem, I have a dermatologist appointment in August and so would have to start eating gluten again now, and if I do have DH then it will only make me worse. So not too keen on doing that.

I did have a blood test for anti-tissue transglutaminase but it was negative which again I know is not conclusive.

I was reading something last night about Niacin, maybe I will try that.

Its hard to know what to do, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to eat gluten unless I can establish it isn't the cause.

 

Mark

[squirmingitch]

I hear ya! It's like being stuck between a rock & a hard spot. The worst problem, I think, with eating gluten for people who do have dh is that MORE antibodies are going to get deposited under your skin that aren't necessarily going to affect you right away but that you know will affect you somewhere down the line. Like a time bomb just ticking away & you never know when it's going to go off.