What is Dermographism ( dermatographia)?
Dermographism (also called dermatographia , dermatographic urticaria , dermatographic hives , or writing on the skin) is a condition that produces red, itchy bumps or raised lines on the skin, and is considered a type of hives. 1 The marks usually appear after the skin is irritated by scratching, rubbing, pressure, or another form of contact.
What is the connection between autoimmune disease and Dermographism?
Dermographism is a form of hives that occurs when the skin is scratched, rubbed, or irritated, leading to itchy, red bumps that last for about 30 minutes. Since dermographism is a reaction to direct contact it can show up in patterns like scratch lines. The connection between dermographism and autoimmune disease is not fully understood.
How common is dermatographism (dermatographia)?
About 2 % to 5% of the population is affected by dermatographism, also called dermatographia or skin writing. This condition, which is not dangerous, causes welts when skin is scratched, rubbed, or otherwise exposed to pressure.
Does Dermographism go away on its own?
The disease however, is benign and usually resolves on its own after some time or after it has lingered for several months to several years. The signs and symptoms of dermographism usually take a few minutes to occur after the skin has been scratched or rubbed.
What triggers Dermographism?
When people who have dermatographia lightly scratch their skin, the scratches redden into a raised wheal similar to hives. These marks usually disappear within 30 minutes. The cause of dermatographia is unknown, but it can be triggered in some people by infections, emotional upset or medications such as penicillin.
Is dermatographia an autoimmune disorder?
Dermatographia may be an autoimmune disease. Healthcare providers and medical researchers think it might be an inappropriate response from your immune system. Your immune system registers scratching or pressure as an allergen. It sends the chemical histamine to the area to remove the allergen from your body.
Is Dermographism a disease?
The exact cause of dermatographia is unknown. However, it appears to be an autoimmune disease in nature because autoantibodies to certain skin proteins have been found in some patients. Dermatographia can be linked to the inappropriate release of the chemical histamines.
Can you grow out of dermatographia?
In many people, dermatographia improves over the years and clears on its own or with treatment. Approximately 36% of symptomatic dermatographia clears in five years and 51% in 10 years.
Is dermatographia related to lupus?
Dermographia as a first manifestation of lupus | Rheumatology | Oxford Academic.
Is Dermographism a mast cell disorder?
The name dermatographism derives from the Greek language and translates literally as “skin writing” (see picture). It is believed to be caused by mast cells, a type of white blood cell often involved in allergic reactions, releasing histamine and other inflammatory substances into the surrounding skin.
How common is Dermatographism?
Dermatographism is the most common type of inducible/physical urticaria, occurring in approximately 2% to 5% of the population.
How is dermographism treated?
Symptoms of dermatographia usually go away on their own, and treatment for dermatographia generally isn't necessary. However, if the condition is severe or bothersome, your doctor may recommend antihistamine medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra) or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
How do I get rid of dermatographia permanently?
Dermatographia is most often treated with antihistamines to reduce itchiness and overall discomfort. There's no cure for this condition, although the symptoms don't last long. Rare cases require more in-depth medical treatment from a dermatologist.
Is dermatographia curable?
There's no cure for dermatographia. And because the symptoms usually go away very quickly, you probably don't need treatment. But some people may find their hives are very itchy or bothersome. Medications.
How do you treat dermatographia?
Symptoms of dermatographia usually go away on their own, and treatment for dermatographia generally isn't necessary. However, if the condition is severe or bothersome, your doctor may recommend antihistamine medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra) or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
What autoimmune disease causes welts?
These welts, also called wheals, are chronic when they last more than six weeks. You may hear this condition called chronic idiopathic urticaria: Chronic: A symptom or condition that persists even with treatment.
What is Dermographism?
Dermographism is among the most common type of urticaria. This skin condition is characterized by wealing of the skin in a rather exaggerated manner. Dermographism is also referred to as dermatographic urticaria, dermatographism and skin writing. The term skin writing generally describes the characteristic of the disorder where a person affected can literally write on their skin as a result of the exaggerated response from a stimulus where a slight scratch can create a raised weal resembling a hive.
How long does it take for dermographism to show?
The signs and symptoms of dermographism usually take a few minutes to occur after the skin has been scratched or rubbed. A friction from the clothing such as from the cuffs or collar of the clothes can initiate the onset of hives. There are cases however, that the onset will take a few days before it develops although this is rather rare.
What is the most important factor that causes dermographism?
Histamine released by the mast cell in the surface of the skin is the most implicated in the onset of dermographism. The histamine is released in the absence of an antigen and as a result of the existence of a weak membrane that envelops the mast cells. The swelling of the skin affected by dermographism is believed to be due to the released histamine.
Which type of dermographism produces a band of large erythema that is studded with?
Cholinergic dermographism produces a band of large erythema that is studded with small weal similar to cholinergic urticaria.
Does dermographism affect the scalp?
Dermographism can affect the entire skin surface of the body with the scalp and genitalia seldom involved in the process. The weal of dermographism is not the typical weal which is roundish but instead has a straight line. The lines of the hives in dermographism are elevated with pale-red to red in color. Inflammation and swelling are also present and itching may also be associated especially in symptomatic dermographism.
Is dermographism asymptomatic or symptomatic?
The onset of dermographism may be asymptomatic or may be symptomatic. Simple dermographism is usually asymptomatic and wealing occurs without significant itchiness. Symptomatic dermographism is usually associated with itching which is often worse at night. The symptoms can be irritated further by heat such as from a hot shower or it can be aggravated with minimum pressure such as from light scratching. Emotional stress, exercise and other forms of stress are also considered to aggravate dermographism.
Is dermographism a contagious disease?
Dermographism is not a serious and life-threatening disease. It is not a contagious skin disease although it is a life-long disease. The disease however has a good prognosis, especially the simple dermographism which is asymptomatic. People with dermographism may remain healthy despite the onset of the hives except for those who are already sick prior to the onset of dermographism. Dermographism on the other hand lingers for several months to several years and may occur sporadically. It will, however, resolve on its own after it has lingered for several years.
What is the name of the disorder that causes pressure rash on the skin?
Dermatographism , also known as dermatographic urticaria, or factitia urticaria, is a disorder characterized by pressure rashes or skin lesions. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), it affects 2-5% of the general population. Most people don’t bother to treat it and don’tt know the characteristics of the condition.
How long does dermographism last?
These cases are less frequent than the first type, and they’re generally chronic. The evolution of the disorder is very uncertain. It can last weeks, months, years or develop intermittently throughout the life of those diagnosed.
What is it called when you have lines on your face?
Dermographism is a rare disorder that produces lines on the skin on contact. Let's see what exactly it is and how it can be treated.
Why is dermographism not known?
Some researchers theorize that histamine release may play a leading role, although so far the allergens responsible for this have not been found.
What is the diagnosis of an allergic reaction?
Diagnosing the condition usually consists of ruling out allergic triggers. The specialist will assess the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and family predisposition before performing any of the allergen exposure tests. Since their manifestation isn’t related to them, the results of the examinations will be negative.
What instrument is used to check the severity of a symtom?
To check the severity of the symptoms, the doctor may use a dermographometer. This is a pen-shaped instrument used to apply different levels of pressure to the skin.
Is dermographism subtle?
The symptoms of dermographism can be subtle in some patients. Therefore, constant self-assessment is important to detect the problem.
What causes dermographism?
Dermatographia happens due to factors inside your body. It is generally caused by a combination of auto-immune weakness, poor diet, excess stress, and of course genetics. Here are a few things that cause Dermatographia: Genetic factors. Weak immune system.
Is dermatogrographia a virus?
Dermatographia is not a virus. Dermatographia is not a virus that you can catch or cure. I have worked for 20 years and have been unable to completely eliminate it from my life. However, there is hope to get relief from the symptoms and reduce inflammation and swelling.
Can dermatographia be spread through the air?
It is also spread through the air if you are near someone who has it. And because people see dermatographia on your skin, their first reaction is to think it’s something contagious that they caught from another person.
Is dermatographia contagious?
The reality is that dermatographia is not contagious. It cannot be spread to another person, no matter how much contact you may have. It cannot be spread by contact, breathing, or bodily fluids. It is completely driven by internally forces.
What causes dermographism?
Skin trauma may release an (as yet unidentified) antigen that reacts with the membrane-bound IgE on mast cells triggering release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Histamine causes local vasodilation and leaking of fluid from small blood vessels which leads to fluid accumulation in the skin. Support for this theory is that dermographism can be passively transferred to others.
What are the clinical features of dermographism?
Immediate dermographism presents with linear weals and a surrounding red flare which appears 1–3 minutes after stroking and resolves in 30–60 minutes. It can be classified as:
How is dermographism diagnosed?
Dermographism is a clinical diagnosis elicited using a sufficiently firm stroke of the skin usually across the back and waiting several minutes for the reaction to develop. A dermographometer is a device that applies a range of pressures, for example the Fric test, uses a plastic device with pegs of varying lengths which apply varying pressures. Antihistamines taken in the preceding days can cause a negative result.
What is the differential diagnosis for dermographism?
Mastocytosis: Darier sign of urticaria pigmentosa and other cutaneous mastocytoses.
What is the most common form of physical or chronic inducible urticaria?
Dermographism is an exaggerated weal and flare response that occurs within minutes of the skin being stroked or scratched. Dermographism is the most common form of physical or chronic inducible urticaria. It is also called dermatographia and dermographic urticaria. Dermographism.
How long does dermographism last?
Dermographism can last for months or years , with idiopathic symptomatic dermographism typically persisting on average for 6 years. Red dermographism can improve within 6 months. Dermographism associated with a recognised trigger such as scabies lasts only days to weeks. Spontaneous resolution is common.
What percentage of people have a red flare?
In 25–50% of people, firm stroking of the skin first produces a red flare, then slight swelling along the line of the stroke. In 5% of the population, this response is exaggerated enough to be called dermographism. Only in a minority of cases does it cause symptoms. Most people with dermographism are otherwise healthy.
What is the condition that causes welts on the skin?
About 2 % to 5% of the population is affected by dermatographism, also called dermatographia or skin writing. This condition, which is not dangerous, causes welts when skin is scratched, rubbed, or otherwise exposed to pressure.
What is it called when you scratch your skin?
Dermatographism is a common, benign skin condition. People who have this condition develop welts or a localized hive-like reaction when they scratch their skin. It can also happen when the skin is exposed to pressure or rubbing. This condition is also called skin writing, dermographia, or dermatographic urticaria.
How long does it take for dermatogographism to appear?
Dermatographism appears within 5 to 7 minutes after skin is irritated. If the skin is stroked and hives appear, they will occur in the same direction and orientation as the irritation. The doctor will likely use a tongue depressor to scratch or press on the skin of your arm or back and see if welts appear a few minutes later.
How long does dermatographism last?
For patients who have dermatographism, the condition may last anywhere from months to years, or last throughout their lives. For many, it clears up in a year or two, or in such a way that the skin irritation does not create substantial symptoms.
Can dermatographism cause allergies?
A person with dermatographism may also have an allergy to an external substance. However, this is uncommon.
Does dermatographism leave a mark?
Generally, dermatographism leaves no lasting mark s, causing only minor, short-lived irritation and symptoms.
Is dermatogroscopic disease common in young adults?
Dermatographism is most common in young adults. Generally, people with this condition are healthy and live a normal life.
How Dermographism Works
Dermographism Causes
Symptoms
- The most common symptom of dermographism is red, itchy bumps on the skin.7 Since the reaction occurs in response to physical contact, the marks usually appear in lines or patterns where the skin is scratched. The word "dermatographia" translates to "writing on the skin" and is how the condition got its name.1 Dermographism symptoms include:8 1. Swelling or inflammati…
Treatment
- Dermographism typically goes away on its own and doesn't require treatment.1 However, there are treatments to help cope with the discomfort of symptoms. Medications called antihistamines can be used to relieve the itch by blocking the histamine response that leads to hives.9 Anti-itch creams can be applied directly to the skin and may help relieve symptoms, but are generally not …
Prevention
- First-line therapy, avoiding triggers, and second-generation oral antihistamines are effective treatment options for dermographism.9 People experiencing dermographism can also try preventive strategies to avoid symptoms.10
Summary
- Dermographism is a form of hives that occurs when the skin is scratched, rubbed, or irritated, leading to itchy, red bumps that last for about 30 minutes. Since dermographism is a reaction to direct contact it can show up in patterns like scratch lines. The connection between dermographism and autoimmune disease is not fully understood. For some pa...
A Word from Verywell
- Living with dermographism can be challenging, especially when the condition becomes frequent and/or comes and goes for a long time. The symptoms can be uncomfortable. If you or someone you know is experiencing dermographism, talk to your provider about prevention and treatment options.