<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello everyone,

There has appeared many posts concerning iodine and penicillin. I have
discussed this with my dermatologist and allergist. Question your doctors on
iodine and penicillin. The following comes from my experience.

If your blood tests are normal and you still experience blistering of the
skin, check you iodine consumption. Iodine may cause DH patients to have
blistering of the skin. Sea food is high in iodine. Vitamins with minerals
contain iodine. Eliminate salt with iodine.

What I have stated above also applies to penicillin and mold. Penicillin and
port wine cheese, blue cheese, and many other foods with mold may produce  a
rash andblistering of the skin for allergic people. It is more severe for
those with DH.

There is also some connection with egg products and sulfa drugs.

I have had DH for probably all my life.  However, in 1959 was when I had a
major flair up and I became aware that something was wrong. My wife was the
first to notice that when I ate wheat or oats I would have flair ups. I tried
to avoid these products. I was unaware how they are hidden in most of our
food supply. In 1980 I also started experiencing stomach problems such as
bloating. It wasn't until 1990 that I was diagnosed DH by immunofluoresence
pathology. I can not use Dapsone because I am allergic to it.

After being diagnosed with DH in 1990, I went on a strict gluten free diet. I
was still getting blistering of the skin. I had seen reports that stated it
may take up to seven years for the blistering to stop. I didn't believe them.
Before being diagnosed I would go on a starvation diet for about two weeks,
and would be completely free of the blisters.

Last month I experienced a severe out break of blistering and both of my legs
became infected. I visited my dermatologist and told him that I had been on a
strict gluten free diet; making all foods from scratch. The only changes in
my diet being an increase in sea food and eggs during lent. This shuck his
memory. He recalled when he was in medical school that an iodine patch was
used as a diagnosis for DH before immunofluorescence pathology. He
recommended that I stop eating foods high in iodine.

I took E-Mycin for 20 days and eliminated sea food and eggs from my diet. In
just days my skin started clearing up. Now, more blistering and rash.

On an ID bracelet the #1 item for DH patients should be no topical iodine
solutions. Iodine is the main disinfectant used by most hospitals They should
also include iodine under allergies to food. Sea food, vitamins with
minerals, iodized salt, and etc. should be avoided.

 If a person is allergic to penicillin they may get the same reaction by
ingesting food that contain certain molds such as port wine cheese, blue
cheese, and etc. So, foods that contain mold should be excluded.

Medical advice on the above should be sought.

Bill Vellios Sr.
St. Louis, MO