Is dermatitis herpetiformis hereditary?
1 in 10 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis have a family history of it, or of coeliac disease. What are the symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis? Intense itching is the first and main symptom. Symptoms of an associated coeliac disease may be present in a minority of those with dermatitis herpetiformis, but are usually mild. They include weight loss, abdominal discomfort and pale-coloured bowel motions. What does dermatitis herpetiformis look like? Dermatitis herpetiformis usually first appears in young and middle-aged adults but is occasionally seen in children. The rash consists of small red spots, small tense fluid-filled blisters and wheals. The most common sites are the backs of the elbows, the fronts of the knees, the scalp, bottom and back. If it is not treated, dermatitis herpetiformis usually runs a very long course, over many years – sometimes improving, sometimes getting worse – but it may go away eventually. How is dermatitis herpetiformis diagnosed? The rash can be hard
