Final answer:
Dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten ingestion, leading to blisters and hives on the skin. Treatment includes a gluten-free diet and medications like dapsone. Patients with dermatitis herpetiformis may also have an increased risk of other autoimmune diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic skin condition characterized by clusters of intensely itchy blisters and hives. It is associated with celiac disease, which is an autoimmune condition where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. Dermatitis herpetiformis arises as a result of antibodies produced in response to gluten ingestion that cross-react with proteins in the skin, causing the skin symptoms.
Common treatments for dermatitis herpetiformis include a lifelong gluten-free diet to manage celiac disease and medications like dapsone to control the skin symptoms. Because celiac disease and its associated dermatitis herpetiformis involve an autoimmune response, people with these conditions may also be more susceptible to other autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes mellitus type I, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.