An autoimmune skin condition which can be linked to skin changes in thyroid, celiac disease, arthritis, sjogren’s and other similar diseases because of the sensitivity to gluten is called Dermatitis herpetiformis.

Consumption of gluten or food items that contain gluten can further worsen the condition. The skin condition is caused due to reaction of immune system to gluten leading to formation of histamine that causes sever itching.

Symptoms of this skin disease include burning sensation and eruption of sores. Herbal remedies are considered to be the best treatment for relieving the irritation.

Severe form of this autoimmune disorder is sometimes characterized by emergence of papules, vesicles and wheals. These are generally visible on elbows, arms, knees, scalp, shoulders, neck, buttocks and face. Dermatitis herpetiformis is also called Brocq-During disease, Duhrings’s disease and dermatitis multiformis and it usually faces on people’s skin who are suffering from celiac disease. Dermatitis herpetiformis sometimes also affect people with type I diabetes and vitiligo.

Who is Affected?

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a condition that can be usually encountered in late teens or in early twenties. Sometimes one also gets the skin disease in late 30s or 40s. The disease is more likely to happen in males than that in female. Similarly white people are more prone to disease than that of Asians and Africans.

Symtoms

The main symptoms of the disease includes discrete pimples and bumps, small blisters, itchy lesions, and waxy lesions and hives. Papules were and blisters appear frequently over the face and may result in excessive itching. It may take a few weeks or several years for the symptoms to completely disappear but you have to totally refrain from gluten diet.

Environmental Triggers

Environmental triggers include all food items that contain gluten for example rye, wheat and barley. Gluten is also present in hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, malts, artificial colorings, monosodium glutamate, modified food starches, preservationists, beer and vinegar. It has been reported that food that contains high iodine content also cause disease flares.

Treatment

Treatment for this skin disease includes antibiotics such as sulfapyridine and dapsone. A gluten free diet is also very helpful. It is also better to adhere to precautions so that this condition does not arise.