How long do the marks stay?
Most of the time the marks stay visible for 15 to 30 minutes on my skin. I’ll post step by step photos soon.
How did you get it?/How long have you had it?
I have had temperature induced hives for quite some time but I just started showing skin writing symptoms in early 2008. Dermatographia can be stress induced – I was feeling stress at this time, so maybe that’s how I developed it. There is no way to know for sure.
Does it hurt?
Pain varies case by case. I don’t have pain associated with my dermatographia – I just itch. The itching can range from a little annoying to about to drive me insane. I carry Benadryl with me at all times in case I have a super itchy day.
Showing posts with label hives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hives. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
What is Dermatographia?
People with dermatographia develop hives when the skin is irritated by light scratching or other stimuli. Skin cells known as “mast cells” become extremely sensitive to physical stimulation. When the skin is irritated, the it releases histamines. This causes blood to leak out of the blood vessels under the skin, and the result is hives or raised, red lines where you’re scratched. They are itchy, and can also burn or sting.
Those with dermatographia may notice symptoms within a few minutes of the skin irritation. The symptoms may last 30 minutes to a couple of hours, but typically fade within 15 minutes. Rarely, dermatographia develops slowly and lasts several hours to several days and causes pain.
Triggers. Simple things can trigger symptoms of dermatographia. For example, rubbing from your clothes or bedsheets, cold, heat, pressure, sunlight, exercise, water and emotion are known triggers.
Cause. Dermatographia can occur at any age, but it tends to be more common in adults in their 20s/ 30s.The exact cause of dermatographia is unknown. It is believed to be an allergic reaction. If you have other skin conditions or a history of allergies, you may be more susceptible to dermatographia. And dermatographia may be hereditary.
Treatment. If you see a doctor, an antihistamine or a steroid is usually recommended to relieve the symptoms. The goal of this treatment is to relieve the symptoms while the hives go away by themselves. Often hives will go away on their own, but in many cases they can last for years. There are no approved medications that can cure hives, and there is no guarantee that they will go away on their own.
Those with dermatographia may notice symptoms within a few minutes of the skin irritation. The symptoms may last 30 minutes to a couple of hours, but typically fade within 15 minutes. Rarely, dermatographia develops slowly and lasts several hours to several days and causes pain.
Triggers. Simple things can trigger symptoms of dermatographia. For example, rubbing from your clothes or bedsheets, cold, heat, pressure, sunlight, exercise, water and emotion are known triggers.Cause. Dermatographia can occur at any age, but it tends to be more common in adults in their 20s/ 30s.The exact cause of dermatographia is unknown. It is believed to be an allergic reaction. If you have other skin conditions or a history of allergies, you may be more susceptible to dermatographia. And dermatographia may be hereditary.
Treatment. If you see a doctor, an antihistamine or a steroid is usually recommended to relieve the symptoms. The goal of this treatment is to relieve the symptoms while the hives go away by themselves. Often hives will go away on their own, but in many cases they can last for years. There are no approved medications that can cure hives, and there is no guarantee that they will go away on their own.
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