The chronic itching of Duhring’s Disease can be intensively painful, but the herpetiformis dermatitis causes have not yet been specifically identified. This skin condition results in a rash with blisters that are filled with a watery substance. Although the rash can appear anywhere on a person’s body, the most common areas for an outbreak are the lower back, buttocks, elbows, knees, or on the back of the head. This rash is extremely itchy and patients often scratch the blisters until they have erupted. Contrary to what the name may imply, a dermatitis herpetiformis skin rash is not caused by herpes. The name only refers to the appearance and nature of the blisters, which do have a similar appearance to blisters caused by herpes. The condition of dermatitis herpetiformis skin rash, also simply known as DH, may date back many centuries, but the first documented case comes from the year 1884.
Nearly a century after the first documented case of the disease, a relationship was found between sufferers of DH and an intolerance of gluten products. Called celiac disease, some people have a specific disorder in the small intestines that makes them incapable of digesting certain foods, particularly those made with gluten. This substance is found in a wide range of food as it is one of the chemical components of wheat, which is included with many different food options. When a person with celiac disease eats this substance, the intestines react with an inflammatory response. There is no known cure and it is not understood why this reaction is one of the primary causes of dermatitis herpetiformis.
A local physician making a diagnosis of DH will test for IgA deposits in the skin of the patient as it is one of the indicators that that the person may have encountered one of the causes of dermatitis herpetiformis. In most cases, the appearance of the skin rash will come after the patient has inadvertently ingested a food product made with gluten. The severity of the rash is varied and each patient may experience the rashes a little differently.
One such method that has been shown to have positive results is the medication known as dapsone. It is administered in pill form and can take up to two days before the patient experiences the effect of the drug. In addition, while taking dapsone, a patient will need to have their blood tested on a regular basis. Most people will need to take the drug for a period of six months or more to ensure that the condition is indeed under control. During this time and afterwards, a patient will need to be vigilant not to eat any gluten products as this can be one of the herpetiformis dermatitis causes.