Do I Have Dermatographia?

Do you have raised red marks on your skin after slight scratching, rubbing or pressing your skin in any other way?

Do you have hive-like welts on your skin that appear within 5 minutes after a minor skin irritation?

Do you have hives that occur in the same direction and orientation as the irritation (scratching often produces distinct linear hives while direct pressure may lead to a broad looking hive)?

Do you have welts on your skin that last for 15 to 30 minutes after a light scratching?

Do you have swelling in the affected area?

Do you have redness in the affected area?

Do you feel generalized itchiness or the sensation of burning?

Do you have deep wounds on your skin?

Can your symptoms be caused by tight or abrasive clothing, watches, glasses, heat, or cold?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have dermatographia. Dermatographia is a skin disorder also known as skin writing, dermographism or dermatographic urticaria. It is characterized by an excessive skin reaction when the skin is scratched, rubbed or exposed to minor pressure. Normally, when the skin is scratched, a white line first appears on the skin, which then turns red, followed by mild swelling and redness in the surrounding area. People who have dermatographia develop an intense, exaggerated localized reaction similar to hives when they scratch their skin. Dermatographia is not that common, it affects about 2 to 5 percent of the general population.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have dermatographia. Dermatographia is a skin condition that refers to an urticarial skin reaction after a slight pressure or other minor trauma to the skin. When people with dermatographia are scratched, linear red, swollen marks form on the skin that retains the shape of the force that caused them. These marks appear within 5 to 7 minutes after the skin is irritated and disappears within 30 minutes. The exact cause of dermatographia is not known, but it is believed to be the result of inadequate histamine release. A diagnosis is based on a skin test.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have dermatographia. Dermatographia is a disorder characterized by an intense localized skin reaction similar to hives at the site of minor skin irritation. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in young adults. Dermatographia often occurs in people with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, during menopause and pregnancy. It can also be a drug-induced condition. In most cases, treatment for dermatographia is not necessary, the symptom usually disappears on their own. However, sometimes when the symptoms are severe or annoying, the condition can be treated with antihistamines.