First time having it, what should I do?
Hi everyone,
I’m a 20-year-old female, and about two months ago I suddenly started developing what I believe is dermatographism (skin writing).
Whenever I lightly scratch or rub my skin, I get raised, red, itchy welts that follow the exact pattern of the scratch. They usually appear within a few minutes and disappear on their own after about 15–30 minutes.
The hives are triggered by things like scratching an itch, clothing friction, or even light pressure on my skin. I don’t have swelling of my lips, tongue, or throat, and I’ve never had trouble breathing.
I’ve been taking cetirizine daily, which helps a lot, but the symptoms come back if I stop taking it.
I haven’t been able to identify a clear trigger. I did start experiencing this rather suddenly, and I’m wondering if anyone else had a similar experience.
I have a few questions:
Did your dermatographism eventually go away, or has it been chronic?
Did you ever find out what triggered it (infection, stress, allergy, medication, etc.)?
Has anyone been tested for histamine intolerance or DAO deficiency? Did it make any difference?
Besides antihistamines, is there anything that has helped you?
I’m seeing a doctor soon, but I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences. Thanks!