Dermatographia is a type of allergic skin rash that is triggered by external factors or chronic urticaria. The skin becomes unusually sensitive to irritants. Even a light scratch can cause an immediate reaction. It may appear as a white scratch on the skin or a red, raised mark where the scratch is located. However, this raised mark will gradually subside to normal within about 30–60 minutes.
Dermatographia can occur at any age, but it is more common in teenagers and early adults. The cause of this rash is not known for sure, but it is thought to be caused by infection, allergies, taking certain medications, as well as emotions and stress. Most patients do not seek treatment because the symptoms will improve on their own. However, if the symptoms are chronic and affect daily life, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines to help relieve the symptoms.
Symptoms of Dermatographia
Dermatographia symptoms usually do not occur on their own, but rather are a reaction of the skin to scratching, rubbing, or touching something. People often do not know they have it until they develop symptoms on their skin. Symptoms include:
- Skin has redness
- The skin has lines that look like pencil drawings.
- There is a deep wound.
- There are long marks on the skin that look like hives.
- Itchy skin in the affected area
- Skin swelling or inflammation
Symptoms usually appear within a few minutes after the skin is rubbed or scratched, but gradually improve and disappear within 30 minutes. In some cases, symptoms may last for hours or days. Symptoms may also come and go, or may last for months or years, and recur when the skin is stimulated or rubbed. If you find these symptoms uncomfortable and disrupt your daily life, you should see a doctor for treatment.
Causes of Dermatographia
The exact cause of dermatographia is unknown, but experts suspect that it may be caused by the body releasing more histamine than normal. The immune system produces histamine when the body comes into contact with an allergen, causing the skin to develop raised, red lines.
Factors that may trigger or worsen dermatography include:
- Stress and anxiety
- High temperature conditions, such as taking a hot shower or bath
- Exposure to cold air
- Exercises that cause skin friction, such as boxing, rugby, or wrestling.
- Pressure on the skin, such as clapping hands, putting on clothes, wiping the body after bathing, sitting or lying down, and working with tools, etc.
- Certain skin infections
- Use of certain medications, such as penicillin
Dermatographia can also be caused by other risk factors such as dry skin, a tendency to scratch the skin, a history of dermatitis , hyperthyroidism , abnormalities in the nervous system or other body systems, and being in adolescence or early adulthood.
Diagnosis of Dermatographia
To diagnose dermatography, the doctor will ask about the patient’s symptoms, activities, or lifestyle, and examine the skin using a tongue depressor to gently press or scrape the patient’s arm or back to look for red, raised lines or depressions on the skin. Symptoms usually appear within 5–7 minutes before gradually disappearing. The doctor may also examine other areas of the skin that may have additional symptoms. The patient does not need a blood test or X-ray to diagnose the symptoms.
Dermatographia treatment
Since dermatographia symptoms usually resolve on their own within 30 minutes to an hour, patients may not need treatment. However, patients can take care of themselves by avoiding triggers, such as:
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- Avoid taking hot showers and pat yourself dry after showering.
- Avoid scratching the skin.
- Use gentle shower creams and skin care products or those that contain natural ingredients such as oatmeal, aloe vera, and tea tree oil.
- Manage stress with regular exercise, meditation and yoga.
- If you suspect that a medication may be causing the symptoms of the disease, stop taking the medication and consult a doctor.
If symptoms are severe or interfere with the patient’s daily life, the doctor may recommend topical or oral antihistamines to help relieve allergy symptoms, such as Loratadine, Diphenhydramine , Fexofenadine , and Cetirizine . Patients may need to use them continuously for about 2–3 months to help prevent recurrence of symptoms.
In some cases, doctors may recommend phototherapy, a treatment that uses radiation to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Complications of Dermatographia
Dermatographia usually does not cause complications, but patients may have chronic symptoms that do not go away completely and may persist for months or years, which can affect the patient’s daily life.
Dermatographia Prevention
There may be no direct way to prevent dermatographia, but you may be able to reduce your risk of developing it by doing the following:
- Avoid wearing clothing or bedding that irritates the skin, especially synthetic fabrics or wool, which can easily cause allergies.
- Avoid taking showers with temperatures that are too hot. Take cool or warm showers.
- Use soap or shower gel that is fragrance-free, as these can irritate the skin more easily.
- Apply moisturizerregularly and use it immediately after showering to keep your skin moist and prevent dryness.
- Use a humidifier in the room when the air feels too cold and dry.
- Avoid scratching your skin as it can easily trigger the disease. If you develop a rash or itchy skin, see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
- Avoid stress and maintain overall good health by exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.
