Homeopathic Medicines for Dermatitis Herpetiformis 

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) refers to an itchy, burning, stinging, blistering skin rash that commonly occurs in some people suffering from celiac disease (gluten intolerance). Homeopathic medicines for dermatitis herpetiformis bring excellent results in these cases by moderating the overactive immune system. DH is also known by some other names including Duhring’s disease, gluten rash or the celiac disease rash. It is not caused by herpes virus despite the name. Rather, the name suggests that in this disease skin rash and blisters (small fluid filled bumps on skin) having a resemblance to herpes virus infection appear.        

Homeopathic Medicines for Dermatitis Herpetiformis 

The homeopathic system of medicine carries a great scope to treat numerous skin complaints including dermatitis herpetiformis. With its use the intensity and frequency of the complaint is reduced gradually. Initially it aims to heal the blisters and relieve itching already present followed by controlling its future recurrences. Along with homeopathic treatment a strict gluten-free diet needs to be followed. A person should take homeopathic medicines to treat this condition after consulting a homeopathic specialist and should avoid self medication.

1. Natrum Mur – Top Grade Medicine 

Natrum Mur is a top grade medicine to treat cases of dermatitis herpetiformis. In cases where this remedy works well, burning spots appear on the skin. Following this, blisters form on these spots which have a clear watery fluid in it.  

2. Sulphur – When Blisters Form on Itchy Spots

It is indicated for cases where initially itching arises on body areas causing scratching, leading to blisters. The blisters are small sized having watery content and soon get covered with scabs and itch afterwards. Most persons needing it have worsening of the itching from warmth. They also feel a burning sensation in the eruptions after scratching.

3. Graphites – For Blisters that Itch and Burn

It is a very effective medicine for cases that present with blisters having itching and burning in it. The itching is violent and people feel like tearing it with nails. These blisters contain transparent fluid. The blisters may also be covered with scabs. The area is red where eruptions are present. 

4. Rhus Tox – When Blisters are Itchy

It is a very significant medicine for cases in which blisters are itchy. The itching leads to constant scratching. The blisters are tiny and filled with clear liquid. The vesicles are multiple and appear on different body parts. It is attended with redness of the affected skin  and the affected skin is also hot to touch. There is also violent burning in blisters. The skin complaint usually worsens at night.

5. Apis Mellifica – For Marked Stinging Sensation in Blisters

It is the next beneficial medicine for cases of dermatitis herpetiformis. It works well in persons who complain of intense, intolerable stinging sensation in the blisters. The blisters sting like a bee sting and there are numerous small blisters on the skin. Along with stinging, they also have itching and burning sensation in the blisters. the itchy can be so severe as to cause scratching till eruptions bleed. Soon these blisters crust over. 

6. Arsenic Album – For Blisters with Burning

It is a very useful medicine for blisters that have burning in it. The burning is violent. The burning is mostly worse at the night time in cases requiring it. Along with burning, itching is also complained in the blisters.

7. Merc Sol – For Tiny Blisters with Clear, Thin, Watery Fluid

Merc Sol is a valuable medicine for cases where tiny blisters with clear thin watery fluid is present on the skin. The blisters form on a red base on skin. These blisters appear in various body parts and are itchy. The blisters may appear most times in morning time in cases needing it.

8. Ranunculus Bulbosus – When Small Blisters Appear in Oval Groups 

It is prepared from a plant named as buttercup belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. This medicine is indicated when small blisters appear in an oval -shaped group. The blister size is like a pinhead. These blisters heal then a fresh crop of blister form again. For using it intolerable burning and itching are also present in the blisters. 

9. Cantharis – For Burning, Smarting Sensation on Touching

Cantharis is also a very useful medicine where burning, smarting sensation is felt in the blisters on touching them. The blisters have watery fluid, and itching may appear along with burning sensation.

10. Clematis – For Blisters with Red, Burning, Inflamed Skin

This medicine is prepared from leaves and stem of plant Clematis erecta. This plant belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. It is indicated when blisters form with red, burning inflamed skin. These blisters exude a clear, watery secretion followed by formation of scabs. 

11. Lachesis – For Burning Spots on Skin Followed by Blisters

This medicine is usually considered when initially burning spots appear on the skin, followed by blister formation. These blisters are water filled and attended with much itching. Marked inflammation surrounds these eruptions. 

12. Mezereum – For Blisters that Burn 

This medicine is prepared from plant Daphne Mezereum also known as spurge olive. This plant belongs to the family Thymelaeaceae.The part of this plant used to prepare homeopathic medicine is fresh bark gathered just before it flowers in February and March. This medicine is used when the skin blisters burn intensely like fire. The blisters have fiery red tips. They appear recurrently and also have violent itching along with burning sensation.

Causes and Risk Factors

 1. DH is a skin manifestation that usually arises in celiac disease. Celiac disease also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, refers to an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye) triggers an immune reaction in the small intestine in person having this disease.
It is estimated that about 15 % – 25 % of people having celiac disease also have DH. Very rarely people with DH may have gastric symptoms of celiac disease (like loose motion, weakness,  bloating, abdominal pain) along with skin complaint but majority of the time, they don’t have any accompanying gastric symptom of this disease and only have skin manifestation. Though they don’t have any gastric symptoms, more than 90% of people with DH do have associated intestinal damage which is of the same kind as seen with celiac disease.
In a person having celiac disease, the skin rash and damage to intestine appears when gluten protein reacts with an antibody known as immunoglobulin A (IgA). When such a person having celiac disease eats gluten then, IgA is being produced by his body to fight with gluten. On reaction of IgA antibodies to gluten damage to the lining of the small intestine occurs that normally helps to  absorb nutrients from food. When IgA attached to gluten gains entry in the bloodstream it builds up and clogs small blood vessels under the skin. The WBC’s (White blood cells) start to appear in clogs and trigger the DH rash.

2. A genetic predisposition is also present and is associated with human leukocyte antigens HLA – DQ2 and HLA – DQ8. A person having a family history of gluten sensitivity is at risk of it. Having a personal or family history of any other autoimmune disease like vitiligo, thyroid disease, and alopecia areata also puts a person at risk. Though DH can appear at any age, it is mostly seen to begin  between 20 to 30 years of age. DH is  more common in men as compared to women, and rare in children. 

Signs and Symptoms 

In cases of DH, initially before the appearance of rash there is a burning, stinging sensation or itching on some of the skin areas prone to develop this rash. Following this, small, red pimple-like bumps filled with clear fluid (called blisters) start appearing in clusters. The size of the blisters vary from very tiny up to 1 cm. They are highly itchy and are among the one of the itchiest rash known. In around 1-2 weeks time, these bumps scabs over and heal leaving purple marks behind. New bumps begin to appear as the old ones heal. The rash of DH mostly appears on the elbows, knee, lower back, buttocks, scalp, hairline, shoulders, back of neck and sometimes face and groin. The rash in DH most of the time appears on both sides of the body at a given time (i.e. have symmetrical body distribution) and is of the same shape and size on either side of the body. The signs and symptoms of DH can  continue for many years together or it goes in remission state temporarily and then flare up again. Usually it is a lifetime condition where it goes and appears again and again.

The skin features of DH can be mistaken for many other skin conditions (like atopic dermatitis, scabies, pemphigoid) that share similar features.