skin disorders
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Introduction
Dermatitis herpetiformis is an autoimmune disorder causing clusters of intensely itchy, red blisters and hivelike swellings in people who have celiac disease. In this autoimmune disorder, glutens in wheat, rye, and barley products cause the immune system to attack the skin. People have red, itchy blisters and hivelike swellings on various areas of the body. Doctors diagnose dermatitis herpetiformis by examining skin samples under a microscope. People usually respond to treatment withdapsoneor sulfapyridine and a gluten-free diet. (See also Overview of Blistering Disorders .) The body's Overview of the Immune System makes special cells that protect the body against harmful foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Some of these cells respond to invaders by producing proteins called antibodies. Dermatitis herpetiformis often occurs in young adults but can occur in children and older people. It is rare in Black and Asian people. Despite its name, dermatitis herpetiformis has nothing to do with the herpesvirus. The termherpetiformisis used to describe the way in which the blisters cluster together (similar to a rash caused by some herpesviruses). In people with dermatitis herpetiformis, glutens (proteins) in wheat, rye, and barley products somehow activate the immune system, which attacks parts of the skin and causes the rash and itching. People with dermatitis herpetiformis often have Celiac Disease , which is an intestinal disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, but they may not have symptoms resulting from the celiac disease. People also have a higher incidence of other autoimmune disorders, such as 