<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear List Members, I received so many wonderful suggestions for dealing with this problem. It seems that many of us have suffered from a variety of skin problems, including DH, Atopic Dermatitis, hives, rashes, etc. Some are gluten related and others are not. I wanted to share some of the suggestions with the list, as I know how desperate I am to find a solution to this problem. Long list, but very light reading. 1. Jeff in London, and many others suggested stress is a factor. This would be so hard to get rid of right now with the world in such a mess, having just lived through a nightmare in my home town losing so many beautiful people, having a new and very noisy upstairs neighbor move in, and so much more. Fortunately I am adept at dealing well with stress, but my skin may not be--so thanks for the suggestion. After all, it must manifest in some way, right? 2. Ann offered me wonderful explanation about how canola, vitamin E and some vinegar might be a problem. I do use Balsamic, and have not had a problem, but I will watch out for the cheap kind in restaurants, and maybe skip it all together and use lemon juice instead. I do take Vitamin E twice a day and am thinking of switching to Flax Seed Oil. 3. Sharon in Topeka brought up some concerns about a friend of hers on Dapsone for a long time. Dapsone is not a choice for me to try, but I find it is important that we support people who choose to try it by offering them suggestions for dealing with side effects and potential dangers. In line with this I offer up that I suggest Milk Thistle should be taken to protect the Liver. I have spoken with someone who is active in the AIDS community who told me that Dapsone is used in HIV and it accummulates in the liver and causes harm. Milk Thistle is a powerful herb which is safe and GF and helps to detoxify the liver and keep it regenerating. I also heard from some people who did take Dapsone for short periods of time and did experience relief. 4. Lots of recommendations on laundry products. Dr. Bronner's and Ivory Flakes were offered up as was Baking Soda instead of fabric softeners. I also appreciated the explanation of how some fire retardants in clothing could cause problems and how all clothes should be washed before wearing to eliminate chemical residue. This is also important to remove all traces of possible gluten contamination from glues used in packing boxes. I do know that I am sensitive to those wheat packing peanuts which are now being used in place of styrofoam. Be careful of those beige colored packing peanuts. 5. A few people told me they can't even enter a bakery to accompany a friend or they get DH. I hate to admit it, but I did go shopping in the Supermarket last week, and did bend over to smell some loaves of bread just to remember what it was like in the old days. However, I don't even admit a cracker into my own home. When eating out, I order food like a drill sargeant (only nicely!) and am very specific about what cannot be on my plate. 6. Lots of recommendations about hair products, shampoos, gels, etc. This is a problem and I am finding Wheat Protein, Wheat Germ Oil, and other gluten type substances in MANY skin creams, skin washes, shampoos, hair sprays, etc. Be careful with Aveda. They claim to be oh so natural, but the Brilliant line is loaded with Wheat Protein and I am convinced that this gave me a head rash. Also mentioned were skin lotions and face creams. There was already a posting on this in summary which was very complete. I have thrown out or given away all that contained any trace of gluten. 7. Patsy told me that Clorox can trigger an outbreak. I have been using Clorox and will stop. 8. Thank you Bev for a wonderful description of how IgA is under the skin and how iodine can inflame it. Vance also pointed this out, as did many others. Bev and Gary also described how other substances such as . iodized salt, vitamins, and products from the ocean--seafood, shellfish, sea salt, and things made from seaweed. This can included emulsifiers called alginates, carrageenan, irish moss, and Red coloring #3 which is made from red seaweed. Bromines are a related family of chemicals and some with DH react to those as well. I have been avoiding shell fish, but wonder if plain fish is also a problem.= I will keep my eyes open on this. I have seen carrageenan in many foods I have been eating and will try to cut them out to see if this helps. I had no idea it was a form of iodine. 9. Howie has had success with pancreatic enzymes with ox bile and probiotics. Deb used a cream called Clobetasol with success. Ann suggested Vetgraum Alb 30c....a homeopathic remedy, which I will be purchasing tomorrow morning! I have tried homeopathic Sulphur which did nothing at all. 10. Many wrote that soy and corn gave them problems. 11. One of you suggested muscle testing with a chiropractor, which I did for soy and that is how I first suspected it. Very interesting work, for those of you who have never done it. You take the suspected allergen to the chiropractor and they test the organ's reaction to it by how it affects muscle strength. I noticed the difference immediately when I wasn't holding the soybeans and when I was holding them. I am not big on chiropractic, but have seen one for a bit to help with a recurring problem in a thoracic vertebra, which has felt better now that I've had a few visits. Be careful to choose carefully if you do try chiropractic, as there are many snake oil salesmen in those woods. 12. Thanks to all who recommended Aloe Vera gel, which I have at home and will try tonight. I also have used straight tea tree oil, milk of magnesia,= and bathing with honey and salt. I've also gone into tanning beds (yes, I must be desperate or crazy or both), which only made the blotches appear darker and risked my skin to dangerous UV light. 13. Many suggested wearing only cotton. I do. I never wear synthetics and I can't wear wool without a t-shirt under it. I change my clothing often and bathe daily. One doctor said to bathe less often, so I tried that too. 14. Many of you used my request to vocalize how upsetting DH has been in their own lives, and I am glad you got to vent on this. As a woman, it is particularly upsetting because of how I want to see myself and have others see me. I heard from one person who actually left her work and a relationship because of DH, and how hard it is to constantly make excuses for "what ever is that on your face". My own experience has been that it appears mainly on either my chest, left upper arm, torso, back or ribcage. Now it is appearing sometimes on the buttocks. When I look at the photos on the Web, mine is not the open oozing type, but it looks almost as if it would be dermatitis or acne, but it isn't. Several dermatologists have seen it and have tried to blame it on me for scratching. I am told to cut my nails, or to moisturize better, or stop exercising to the point of sweating. Or I've been given cortisone creams and sent home to poison myself with it. It didn't even work on me. Many of you shared how it appears on your faces and how upsetting this is. Thankfully I don't get it on my face, yet. Thank you to all who responded with your wonderful suggestions, comments and anecdotes. I know this is long, but I hope it helps some of you to get some relief. Remember, just because one thing didn't work for some of us, doesn'= t mean it won't help you. Try any or all of what is suggested and let us know how it works out for you. Good luck and the next time a doctor tells you to "Just Stop Scratching!!!", tell him/her to go scratch his/her ******!!! Stay well and enjoy life, Libby NYC