Overview

What Is Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)?

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), also known as Duhring disease, is an autoimmune blistering disorder that’s linked to gluten allergies. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains and is the trigger for celiac disease, an autoimmune disease of the small intestine.

People with dermatitis herpetiformis get clusters of small, very itchy blisters and bumps scattered on their body when they eat gluten. They may also have celiac disease, but only about 15 percent of people with celiac disease have a skin rash. DH usually appears in early to late middle age and becomes a lifelong condition.

Despite the name, dermatitis herpetiformis is not at all related to the herpes virus.

Risk factors for DH include:

• Northern European ancestry
• Age 30 to 60
• Male
• Additional condition, including:
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Autoimmune thyroid disease
  • Sjögren syndrome
  • Lupus