Definition:
Lightly scratching your skin that may cause red lines on the area where you've scratched is a condition called dermatographia. It can be uncomfortable though it's not serious. Upon scratching, the skin cells are overly sensitive to minor injury with this kind of disorder.
Diagnosis:
A simple test such as drawing a tongue depressor across the skin of your back or your arm may be done by your doctor to diagnose this disorder. You may have dermatographia if a welt (wheal) or a red, swollen line appears within a few minutes after the test.
Treatment:
Antihistamine medications may be recommended by your doctor if the disorder becomes severe or bothersome. The inflammatory chemical released by an individual's immune system during allergic reactions called histamine may be blocked by these drugs.
But usually, the treatment of dermatographia isn't generally necessary for its symptoms naturally go away on their own.
Symptoms and Signs:
The signs and symptoms that trigger dermatographia may be from sunlight, cold, heat, emotion and pressure. It may also be triggered like rubbing your bed sheets or clothes on your skin. Within a few minutes, you may notice the symptoms from your skin that's being scratched or rubbed.
Causes:
Dermatographia may be caused by an allergic response although the exact cause of the disorder isn't clear yet.
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
