What is dermatitis herpetiformis? What does it look and feel like?

What is dermatitis herpetiformis? What does it look and feel like?

Dermatitis herpetiformis (sometimes known as DH, Duhring’s disease, the gluten rash or the celiac rash), is a long-term (chronic) skin condition that causes itchy bumps and blisters. The direct cause of dermatitis herpetiformis is a sensitivity to gluten. Gluten is found in common foods such as wheat, rye and barley.

Of those diagnosed with celiac disease, 10% to 25% also have dermatitis herpetiformis. Dermatitis herpetiformis patients usually don’t have the digestive symptoms that go along with celiac disease.

Almost all patients with dermatitis herpetiformis have celiac disease, though the disease is asymptomatic (they have no gastrointestinal symptoms). Dermatitis herpetiformis is sometimes called the skin manifestation of celiac disease. Diarrhea, exhaustion, weight loss and abdominal discomfort are all symptoms of celiac disease.

In the word “dermatitis,” “derm” means “skin” and “itis” means “inflammation.” The word as a whole means “inflammation of the skin.” The word “herpetiformis” is used because the blisters and bumps look like herpes lesions. Note, however, that dermatitis herpetiformis is not caused by the herpes virus. The only connections it has to the herpes virus is sharing its name and the way it looks.