Dermographia and hives

[Melissa05]

I have been suffering of what the doctor calls dermographia.I guess it is what i have since I could write my name on my skin if I wanted. It itches really bad to the point I feel like i can get a nervous break down. I have had it since mar 28 this year and now it is august 1st. and i have it as i'm typing this note. It is everyday on and off, specially at nights when I go to bed. when i scratch, these lines como out and stay for about an hour or sometimes more. they could be thin lines or patches, sometimes I think they move arround. At times I don't see anything, but I do feel the bad itch. The doctor prescribed medrol (steroid) for 5 days. I hope it works since I have already tried everything over the counter. Does anyone have ideas? If you have something like this please tell me what you are doing.

Thanks for your attention.

[WH05]

Hi Melissa,

I have been diagnosed Dermographia 3 months ago from a skin allergy specialist. I think stress, weather and the food you eat plays a big part in causing the dermographia to appear on your skin. The doctor has prescribed me Zyrtec and said to take it once a day and it has controlled the itchiness and welts so far which is heaven for me but if i accidently scratch myself anywhere on my skin then i still get welts raised on my skin but not as itchy and it goes away after few hours or so.

I have been told by my specialist to control what food i eat as well cause it releases histamine in my body and these food includes: Strawberries, Some fish, eggs, some wine, chocolates (not happy about that one) and artificial colourings in food. So i have been trying to avoid this and it has worked so far but at the same time Im still taking Zyrtec.

I have tried to go without Zyrtec for 24 hours and my legs started to itch in white little patches (like mosquito bites) and thats when I know I still have it. Iam going to see the Specialist next week for the 2nd time to see my blood results, so will let you know how that goes and hopefully have a cure.


WH

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine.

Some of the triggers that you should consider are Medications, foods like Shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, and other foods, Pollen, Animal dander (especially cats) and Insect bites.
Since you also have dermographism, you could be allergic to even heat, cold or exposure to sunlight, even to emotional stress.

Hives usually disappear on their own. To reduce itching and swelling you can take the following measures:
-Avoid hot baths or showers and wearing tight-fitting clothing.
-Apply calamine lotion or Pramoxine lotion on the afffected areas.
-Take antihistamines like Cetrizine or Loratidine

ref:http://www.myonlinewellness.com/topic/adam1000845