Dermatographism question

billybob0 · 11-27-2004, 07:27 PM

Hi all.

I have a itch that comes and goes. Where I itch I get these red blotches on my body where I have scratched at. About a week ago I visited a dermatologist and he said I had dermatographism. He showed me by taking the end point of a pen and writing out some lines on my skin. Within 5 minutues those lines had risen and you could see them clearly. He prescribed me allegra and said that should help. I have been doing some research on the internet and they say that medicines ussualy help to fix the problem.

I have had this problem for about 12 years now. It started when I was about 12 years old. I was just wondering if anyone that has dermatographism has found out if any certain things have caused it, like foods, soaps, detergants ect?

Thanks!

CheerAngel · 11-30-2004, 01:11 PM

Hi, my mom has it and found that the cause was an underlying infection. Have you gone for any blood test and is the demographism affecting your life badly?

quincy · 11-30-2004, 03:13 PM

Hi Cheer Angel, just out of curiosity, what was the infection your mom had? How has she improved since the infection was taken care of?

billybob0....I have a friend who has the same problem. She has some food allergies, but will admit that stress has exacerbated the problem. The itching is definitely the most uncomfortable. She is on Singulair for her allergies (lung/cough related), and the allergist prescribed hydroxyzine HCL for her to take daily. I think it has to be taken at night/evening because she really feels "out of it" the next morning if taken too late.

When she forgets to take it for one night she's fine, but two nights...she definitely starts itching.

Her dermagraphism is still there, tho. But since she's not itching and scratching as much, it's not as evident.

Hope you get to the bottom of it.

quincy

billybob0 · 11-30-2004, 09:42 PM

Thanks quincy and cheerangel for replying. I have not had any blood test recently but it would be a option. I tried allegra today for the first time and I have not itched all day which is encouraging. I am trying a soap called cetaphil and using a laundry detergant called dreft to see if that helps any. Also clothes that I wear that are not 100% cotton seem to bother me a little bit.
I have to admit it is a annoying problem. With most of the information I have read on the net people are using medicine to treat the problem. Just curious to see what other people may have run across besides using medicines to treat the problem.
Thanks again!

CheerAngel · 12-05-2004, 02:41 PM

Hi quincy, my mom had recurrent UTI. I didn't thought that the infection might be a cause of her urticaria. But it seems that whenever she has the itch going on... she will also be having the infection. So after when the UTI was treated, her dermagraphism got better eventually. She hasn't had any episodes till today... hope i answered your question.

billybob0, there are people out there that goes for alternative treatments like accupunture, herbal medications, homeopathy, etc... I have never really gone to these except for the herbal one, so I cant give you much info. Some people have got better while some got worse... it depends on the skills of the person treating you too. good luck...