Dermatographism - Allergies Message Board

Batistara · 02-06-2001, 03:33 PM

Hello everyone!
I figured that this would be the most appropriate place to post about dermatographism, so here goes!
I was diagnosed at the age of 9 (I am now 19); my doc said that an ear infection - which I have had *plenty* of - triggered it. I have been on several different meds for it, including hydroxyzine, Zyrtec, Claritin, Benadryl, Tagamet, and others. Nothing ever did any good at all!! It really bites because I itch ALL THE TIME, all over my body! Of course, the slightest scratch and I puff up and turn red, so I have to be really careful about not scratching. Just opening my mouth wide enough to eat a hamburger or such makes my whole lower face get all swelled and red.

Does anyone know of anything I can try? Any new meds or supplements? I'll try just about anything, no matter how crazy - I want to be rid of this stuff!!!!!! Oh, I had a friend that had it too and she took two different meds (I'm assuming anti-histamines) with an acid reducer - Pepcid, I think. She let me try it for a few days and it realy worked pretty well. However, she moved recently and I've lost contact with her; I've tried to ask my doc about it and he says that he's never heard such "total garbage"

Does anyone know what the combo might be? Any help whatsoever would be greatly, greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
Amanda

Bepp · 02-16-2001, 09:59 PM

Hey Amanda,
I have Dermatographism too i hope u reply to this i have no one to goto about it. i know no one who has it and it is really making my life horrible. do u know of any ways to help with this disease? please still be hear i need someone to talk to. bye

Brian

Batistara · 02-17-2001, 03:32 AM

Hi Brian!

I definitely know how you feel - this stuff is horrible! I only know one person with dermatographism, and I've lost touch with her.

Well, as I said in my post, I've been on all sorts of medication for it and nothing has helped me. However, the meds *do* help some people, so you might want to ask your doctor - or better yet, a dermatologist - about some meds to try such as Zyrtec or Claritin. The only thing I can do is try not to scratch, which is hard because I tend to itch constantly!

It cant't hurt to give the meds a try, and they just might help you out.
I'll be here if you want to talk!

Amanda

Bepp · 02-18-2001, 11:23 PM

Hey Amanda,
Yah im going to see a doctor sometime this week i hope he can help. do u know what causes your Dermatographism? like food, allergies, ect.? Do u find that with age Dermatographism lessens like is harder to get grom light scratching and such? I have to go so
Best Wishes,
Brian

Batistara · 02-19-2001, 01:31 AM

Hi Brian!
Well, as I said, I was diagnosed with dermatographism about 10 years ago. I haven't found that it gets any better - at least it hasn't for me. I've read that some people may only have it for a few weeks/months/years and then it clears up by itself. Unfortunately that wasn't the case for me.

As for what triggered it: I've always been very bad about getting infections - sinus infections, tonsilitis, strep throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, etc. Ear infections are the wors - seems like I have one constantly! Well, I was in the fourth grade, just getting over a bout of bronchitis with an ear infection when I went outside in some tall grass by my house to play. The grass made me all itchy, so I started scratching my legs - next thing you know, my legs were covered in long red whelts. This went on for several weeks - scratch, swell up, scratch more, swell more. Finally I went to my doctor and he said that I had dermatographism and that it was probably caused by my recent ear infection. How he figured that, I don't know! Since then, it's seemed that instead of just getting an itch and scratching and swelling up, I itch all over, all the time now. I've pretty much tried everything I can think of to be rid of this stuff - at least the itching - and nothing's helped. Now I just try to bear it and scratch as little as I can!
It's great that you're going to the doctor! He/she will probably put you on an allergy pill like Zyrtec or something - whatever the doc tells you to try, try it! SOme of those meds work for some people, so it doesn't hurt to try! Let me know if the doc puts you on any meds, and let me know if they help!
Good luck!!
Amanda