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Dermatographism and the Hives – Reader's BlogDermatographism or physical urticaria is a skin condition that produces raised hives, a rash, or welts on the skin. These welts usually appear as a result of friction or pressure applied to the skin. In many cases, the condition can be controlled somewhat. Treatments usually involve an assortment of prescription and non-prescription antihistamines. However, there is no cure for this skin condition. In addition, determining an exact cause for this skin problem is also extremely difficult. Therefore, dealing with dermatographism and the raised hives is very problematic for individuals and their doctors. One method that can be used to help individuals that suffer from dermatographism or hives is to read other people’s experiences. The purpose of this web page is to provide individuals with other people’s personal experiences with this skin or hives problem and to examine the questions that individuals commonly have with regards to dermatograhism and the hives caused by this condition. Various individuals, doctors, and other experts in the field provide answers for these questions. Keep in mind that the information on dermatographism and hives provided below is for information purposes only. It forms part of an overall treatment plan for the hives that should include consultations with a dermatologist.
Submissions to www.healthy-skincare.com:
This disease is horrible. It freaks people out when I swell up! One time someone wrote their name on my arm and took a picture. I have not gone to any doctors because of all the things I have read online about how they do not help. I am just looking for relief; all of us that have this deserve it. Randie – April 26, 2008
I have been to allergists and doctors. I have been put on many different types of medicated lotions and antihistamines and nothing works. It is not an allergic reaction to anything. It comes at least 2 times a day. I cannot find any pictures that resemble what happens to my skin. Does dermographism burn? My skin burns before it welts and breaks out. Tiara – April 26, 2008
For those of you who are suffering with dermatographism, try Caladryl Clear Lotion. I keep a bottle in every room of the house. It cools down the burning right away and really helps the itching to subside or at least become bearable. JoLynda – April 25, 2008
My doctor ordered me the new Zyrtec, Xyzal. It sucks that nothing really works and all you can do is alleviate the pain by going to sleep because all of the medications seem to make me sleepy. Elisa – April 25, 2008
One day at work, my fingers had swollen so bad I had no other choice but to leave and call the allergist and told her that I needed to come now. I told her what was happening and she said to come now and she would see me. Well, much to her surprise, when she saw my hands, she was shocked as to how swollen they actually were. Now at this time I was not diagnosed with Dermatographism. The doctor talked to me and asked me a number of questions, ran a tongue depressor down my back, and then diagnosed me with Dermatographism. I was scared to death and did not know what it was or how I got it. She stated I have had this all my life and would continue to have it the rest of my life. She promised that although she could not make me better, she could make me more comfortable than I was, but as soon as I left there I was to go to the ER and have my wedding band cut off so I would not loose my finger. I could not straighten my fingers because they were so swollen. The doctor asked me how long I had been having these symptoms. I stated about 2 years but no one could seem to figure out what it was. I was tired of being on prednisone to relieve the hives and so I decided to see an allergist. She said she I have the most severe case of Dermatographism she has ever seen. Let me tell you I am taking 3 medications a day. I take Zantac 150 mg twice a day and in the evening I take Xzyal 5mg and Singulair 10mg. This is suppose to relieve the symptoms some, but I can tell you I still have episodes that flair up when I cannot even walk because my ankles and feet swell so bad. I still get hives on my back and arms almost everyday. I work 5 days a week and have two days in a row off and when I return to work the next day I start to have problems with my feet swelling and itching and hiving up. I called the doctor and asked for a pain killer, but to my surprise, no pain killers can be prescribed stronger than extra strength Tylenol, about every four hours. If painkillers are prescribed they will make the hives worse. So, I have tried to find all the information about this skin disease that I can. I have read that it is not life threatening and therefore I am not scared anymore, just tired of the hives and itching and swelling it causes. Being stressed out causes it. Another name the allergist gave me is Urticaria. Like I say, it is very annoying to me. It is hard to do things when you have hives all over your body and people ask what is wrong with you - why you breaking out? I do not want to go into details with everyone I come across that ask questions, so I just do not do much anymore. I try to not let it bother me but it does. Sometimes I find myself crying asking myself why me. Then I stop and think and stop crying because it is not going to make it better. In fact crying it is going to make it worse. It really seems to be worse now than before. I do not know why, but hopefully it will subside and go away. When this all started with the allergists, she did every test she could think of and she did not stop until she found a diagnosis. I can give her credit for that. Thanks for listening to me. Kathy – April 21, 2008
The next year, when I was a freshman, people started noticing that I welted if I was scratched or flicked. The kid behind me, and the other kids around, thought that it was funny when he would flick me in the back of my arm and it would welt. The welts burned and hurt, but it was funny to them so it didn’t matter that I told them to stop. I always felt like I was weird because I have never known anyone to have this condition, and until recently, I did not know that it was a disease and others had it. I always tried to explain to my nurse at the high school but she had no idea, so could not help me. My mom thinks that I am a hypochondriac, so she would never take me to a dermatologist. Even now, knowing that I have dermographism, I have to bribe her to come to a dermatologist so I can prove it to her. Dermagraphism is very uncomfortable and very embarrassing. I believe that I have a severe case of it because of how ridiculous it gets. I take off a sweater and my face breaks out in hives minutes later from where the neck of the sweater rubbed. As weird as it is to say this, I cannot pop a pimple anywhere except at my house, because of how embarrassing the welt is. Geniveve – April 11, 2008
Recently, I have switched to Polaramine, as I am trying to get pregnant and Zyrtec is not safe to take during pregnancy. I am not sure if this is related either, but I have recently found out that I do not ovulate naturally and after doing some research on Zyrtec, I found that it could effect ovulation! I was very annoyed that no doctor has ever told me this, as I have asked several different doctors if there were any problems with being on it long term and they all said NO! Polaramine is not as good as the Zyrtec, but it is doing enough to stop me from going crazy. Most days I am fine but on the odd occasion I get uncontrollably itchy after water related things such as having a shower, shaving my legs, going to the beach, going in a pool or the river, after which I have to take a Zyrtec and ride it out for about 20 minutes until the tablet works. During that time I feel like a mad woman and once the itchiness subsides I feel weak and exhausted! I am pretty nervous about my dermographism and pregnancy as I am not able to take polaramine during the third trimester, so I have no idea how I am going to survive. I have never been able to go more than a couple of days without the medication. I would love to hear from other people that have this annoying disorder and natural treatments you have found to work. Erin – April 7, 2008
It was a dermatologist that told me what this condition was. Since then, I take 25 milligrams of Hydroxyzin - a miracle because it is totally gone. I take one at night and if I miss a dose, I can feel the itch coming back. The dermatologist told me it is caused by a virus, like the histamine cells are being attacked from the inside, not from an outside source. The weird thing is, I know someone else who just got this too, who had never had a problem until he met me. Also, my 4-year-old daughter is starting to show signs. I don't think you can put kids on that kind of antihistamine though, so I sure hope she does not have it! Kelly – April 7, 2008
Anonymous - April 1, 2008
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