Hives and Dermatographism Blog Continued
I take Reactine (a histamine blocker) to relieve the itchiness. I did not have dermographism and hives UNTIL I came to Canada. Perhaps my skin is not adjusted to the drier Canadian climate because I used to live in the tropics. Moreover, I have difficulties wearing jackets and sweaters, because sometimes, if it gets too hot, I itch. If it
gets too cold, still the same. In addition, when my body is worked up (i.e. doing
physical work or getting overexcited), my body starts to itch!
Rolando – September 19, 2007
I'm sitting here typing this in tears. I am very depressed about this. I am 39, female and live in Florida. Two weeks ago while sitting in a movie theatre, I had sudden onset of intense itching. Next day I ended up in the ER with a diagnosis of hives. They gave me Prednisone and Benadryl.
After seven days, the visual redness of hives were gone and the itching was gone, but my
skin felt like it was on fire. It was very tender. I went to an internist and she said to
stop the Prednisone, continue the Benadryl, and see a dermatologist. I saw the dermatologist today and told him the above and he wrote an X on my back and diagnosed me with dermatographism.
The dermatologist gave me a prescription for Allegra - 60 mg twice a day and to have blood drawn tomorrow for thyroid and ANA. I looked up Allegra and it has quite a few side effects, and I am worried about taking it. I take a beta-blocker for heart palpitations and I am on estrogen due to a hysterectomy two years ago. I am quite anxious about
going on this medicine, but I can't live like this, so I guess will try it.
I
could use a few words of encouragement since I am feeling pretty down. Thanks
for listening.
Sandy – September 13, 2007
I am 17 years old and heard about dermatographism and hives about one year ago. I went
to the doctor’s office after getting scar like marks or raised welts all over my torso from scratching. The scratching has been a main problem for me. I cannot sleep because of it and it occurs frequently. I do not know if it is part of the symptoms or not. It is not possible for me to be normal while I have these hives from scratching.
When I found out I had this skin problem, I just thought it would be an interesting a party trick to show everyone, but then people did not really see it that way. They did not
see it as an interesting thing, they just saw it as weird and sick all because
it is not normal. Well, I just mainly posted this up to see if anyone else had
this scratching problem or was I just the only one. Thank you.
Joe – August 23, 2007
I just wanted to add an update of my hives and dermatographism condition. I decided to try taking noni juice again. I wanted to try the natural remedy again because I was not quite as diligent about it before and I was also taking antihistamines. I have been taking noni now for about 1.5 months and I really am seeing a significant improvement. I only have been taking an antihistamine once every week or two. I have not had anyone tell me that I have a scratch mark or hives somewhere. My boyfriend has also noticed the improvement. I have been taking one ounce of 100% organic noni juice every morning. It is expensive but it is so worth it. I did read somewhere that there were a few cases where Noni juice caused liver damage, but right now it is worth the risk. I hope this
helps and good luck to you all, I know how frustrating this condition can be.
Ivy – August 21, 2007
I am 26 and I was diagnosed with dermatographism and hives about
a month ago. I had started taking the birth control pill Yasmin in May, and on
the first week of my second pack of pills in June, I noticed a rash on my arms
and legs. I thought that it would go away, but it got worse and worse, so I
went to the dermatologist. The skin doctor told me it was a virus and gave me steroid
cream. Well, it wasn't a virus. The hives got so bad that I had bruises and
broken blood vessels all over my legs from scratching in my sleep, and they
spread to my face and ears.
I went back to the doctor, and he gave me
Prednisone, and took biopsies of the hives. He told me to stop taking
Yasmin, which I did (and which I still think caused this), but the hives came
back as soon as I stopped the Prednisone. I diagnosed myself with
dermatographism before the skin doctor did. I looked up "hives" on google, and then
read about how dermatographic hives were caused by scratching, so I scratched
my arm and waited. It turned bright red and puffy, and hives popped up all
along the scratch.
The doctor called me a week later to tell me I had
dermatographism. I'm currently on Allegra and hydroxyzine, but I don't want to
be on them forever! I think that I'm going to see a homeopathic doctor soon.
All that regular doctors are doing is treating the symptoms. They're not
fixing whatever is causing my body to get hives. Good luck to everyone out
there who has this, I hope we all find something to make us better!
Rachel – August 13, 2007
Most of you say that you have hives that itch, well my dermographism seems
to be a little bit different. I don’t get hives, I just seem to get raised skin
if it get hit or scratch my arm for example. I have never taken meds for it, but
may look into it. I was hoping that my condition would just go away over time,
but I started noticing it when I was 11 and I am now 16. At first I thought it
was just hay fever or some reaction to something, but after about 3 months I just
accepted it and moved on. However, it now upsets me because I play a lot
of football and physical sports which is hard with dermographism.
Ben – August 13, 2007
I have had dermographism and hives as long as I can remember. It isn't too hard to deal with, as I think I have a mild version, and the most I have to do is explain to people why my skin is all red and welty on occasion. The welts or hives do not cause too much itching, but I often end up with welts without even realizing I have been scratching. I like to explain the condition as a sort of 'skin allergy to anything' or a 'skin sensitivity'.
Katie – August 12, 2007
I have had this condition since I was nine (13 years
ago). When I was younger I was always afraid of what the other kids would say
if they saw my welts or hives. I have learned not to care, but I still suffer with the
discomfort every day. The constant itching, like my skin can't settle down.
Tara - August 6, 2007
I am sick of itching and hives!!! I have been suffering from
this condition for over 5 years now and I am told the only thing that will work
is Cyproheptadine, generic for Periactin, which is the reason I have gained over
50 lbs in 5 years. Periactin is a medication given to people who can't gain
weight. I have never had a problem with my weight until I started this
medication. I am reaching out for anything other than Cyproheptadine to take to
eliminate the symptoms and not gain weight. At one time, I was taking 3 cypro's
a day and needless to say... I slept most of the day. I cut myself down to one a
day and now I am excited to get off of this medicine all together. What do you
take to stop the itch?
Crystal – August 6, 2007
I suffer from dermatographism (skin writing hives) and as a result, have
completely alienated myself from even wearing or using certain products. My
skin is far too sensitive and it seems there is always something plaguing me. I
worry about what other people might think of me as a result. I only wear jeans
and shirts to hide my markings. It isn't painful physically, but mentally I am
unprepared for such a thing when it is quite rare here in the Pacific from
where I come from.
The heat in the tropics adds to my discomfort and my sinuses
also makes things worse because I start to itch when I perspire. I have
noticed that perspiration makes it worse so I keep away from the sun, choosing
to remain indoor most of the time. I also noticed that cold weather seems to
fix the dermatographism or hives temporarily as I spent 2 years in England and did not have any signs of the problem. Perhaps this information can help the medical professionals to come up with a much-needed solution to this problem.
Michelle – August 1, 2007
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