Description

Dermatographia is a condition in which lightly scratching your skin causes raised, inflammation of the lines or welts. These marks tend to disappear in less than 30 minutes. The condition is also known as dermatographism, and the skin of the writing.

The cause of dermatographia is unknown, but may be related to an infection, emotional disorder or a medication you are taking.

Dermatographia is harmless. Most of the people who have this condition do not require treatment. If your symptoms bother you, talk to your health care provider, who can prescribe a medicine for the allergy.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dermatographia may include:

  • Raised, inflammation of the lines where you lined.
  • Welts from the friction.
  • The swelling.
  • The itching.

The symptoms may appear within minutes of the skin by rubbing or scratching. They tend to go away within 30 minutes. Rarely, the skin symptoms develop more slowly and lasts several hours to days. The condition itself can last for months or years.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care professional if your symptoms bother you.

Causes

The exact cause of dermatographia is not clear. It can be an allergic reaction, although not specific allergen has been found.

The simple things can cause symptoms of dermatographia. For example, the rubbing of the clothes or sheets may irritate the skin. In some people, the symptoms are preceded by an infection, emotional stress, vibration, exposure to cold, or of taking a drug.

Risk factors

Dermatographia can occur at any age. Tends to be more common in adolescents and young adults. If you have other skin conditions, you may be at greater risk. One such condition is atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Prevention

Try these tips to minimize discomfort and prevent the symptoms of dermatographia:

  • Treat the skin gently. Use a mild soap or nonsoap cleanser and pat the skin dry. Wear things made of fabric, they don't sting. The use of hot water when you take a bath or a shower.
  • Does not scratch your skin. Try not to scratch. This is good advice for any skin condition.
  • Keep the skin hydrated. The use of creams, lotions, or ointments daily. Creams and ointments are thicker and tend to work better than lotions do. Apply to your product from the skin while the skin is still damp from washing. You can use it again during the day as needed.

Diagnosis

To test if you have dermatographia, your health care provider may draw a tongue depressor through the skin of your arm or on the back. If a raised line or a wheal appears within a couple of minutes, it is likely to have the condition.

Treatment

Treatment for dermatographia is often not necessary, because the symptoms tend to go away on its own account. But if your symptoms are bad or upsetting to you, your doctor may suggest a mild antihistamine medication that is taken by mouth. These are sold in pharmacies. First try of a type that does not cause drowsiness, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, and others) or cetirizine. If none of this helps, your health care provider may prescribe a stronger medication to use at bedtime. An example is the doxepin.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. Or you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin. This type of doctor is called a dermatologist. Or you might need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies. This type of doctor called an allergist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

At the time of making the appointment, ask if you need to do anything. For example, you may be asked to stop taking antihistamines pill for a couple of days before your appointment.

You may also want to:

  • List of symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to your symptoms of the skin.
  • The list of personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • List of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you a few questions, including:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • He fell ill just before symptoms begin?
  • Did you start taking a new medication immediately before your symptoms began?
  • The symptoms been non-stop? Or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms get in the way of your daily activities?
  • Do you have allergies? If so, what are you allergic to?
  • Do you have dry skin or any other skin conditions?
  • Is there something to improve your symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse?
Symptoms and treatment of Dermatographia (Dermatographism)