🦴 Musculoskeletal & Dermatology🟢 BasicImmunobullous Disorders

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

An intensely itchy, blistering skin disease strongly linked to coeliac disease and sensitivity to gluten.

Key points

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic, intensely itchy rash of small blisters, grouped like those of herpes but not caused by a virus.
It typically appears symmetrically on the elbows, knees, buttocks and scalp.
It is strongly linked with coeliac disease, a gluten sensitivity of the gut, even when the gut causes few symptoms.
Under the microscope, deposits of IgA antibody are found at the tips of the dermal papillae in the skin.
Because it is driven by gluten, avoiding gluten in the diet improves both the gut and the skin.

Memory trick

Dermatitis herpetiformis is intensely itchy grouped blisters (elbows, knees, buttocks, scalp); linked to coeliac disease (gluten); IgA deposits at the dermal papillae tips; a gluten-free diet helps skin and gut.

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🦴 Musculoskeletal & Dermatology🟢 BasicImmunobullous Disorders

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

An intensely itchy, blistering skin disease strongly linked to coeliac disease and sensitivity to gluten.

Key points

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic, intensely itchy rash of small blisters, grouped like those of herpes but not caused by a virus.
It typically appears symmetrically on the elbows, knees, buttocks and scalp.
It is strongly linked with coeliac disease, a gluten sensitivity of the gut, even when the gut causes few symptoms.
Under the microscope, deposits of IgA antibody are found at the tips of the dermal papillae in the skin.
Because it is driven by gluten, avoiding gluten in the diet improves both the gut and the skin.

Memory trick

All of Dermatology More Musculoskeletal & Dermatology