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Can Dermatographism be Dormant for 10 to 15 years?
by Michelle
(Sharkey)
Is it possible for this to lay dormant for 10 years and then flair back up? I remember having these particular type of hives 10 to 15 years ago. Antibiotics would trigger it. Then all of a sudden antibiotics didn't trigger it. I'm 40 now and all of a sudden the hives are back. I get them simply by leaning on my desk, sitting on my couch or even laying in bed. I cannot really say anything has changed like different medicines, vitamins and such.
It looks like at first the antibiotics were the trigger and then your body changed in some way and that trigger was no longer a trigger for the dermatographism. This is not that unusual and many have experienced something similar. Your body, which is already sensitive to dermatographism, can be reacting to a new trigger now. This is also not that unusual with this condition. From the experiences of many posters to this website, it does appear that it can be dormant until your body starts reacting to a new trigger. Now your challenge is to find the trigger.
DERMOGRAPHISM
My mother is suffering from dermographism and we are planning to buy a dog. So will there be any problem because of the dog hair or domestic contact etc.
There could be a problem if the dog, dog hair, etc., are allergens that trigger the dermatographism in your mother. If these are not triggers then there is likely not a problem with having the dog.
Dermatographism Gone at Age 58!
by Lucy Grenville
(London)
I have had this dermographism all my life. I am now 58 years old. However it has disappeared since I developed Lichen Planus - a nasty red rash. I have what's called Koebner's Phenomenon whereby the same scratch, pressure or injury to my skin that would have created the hives of dermographism now grows into a new patch of the Lichen Planus rash. This damn rash can last for 18 months and is very itchy and unsightly. I can't help wondering what, if any is the connection between the two conditions.
This is very strange and I have not heard of any such connection but it does not look like a coincidence. It appears that you skin still has a dermatographism type reaction but the ultimate end result has morphed into another skin condition. I hope visitors to this website can comment and perhaps find someone with something similar.
Dermatographism or Urticaria?
by Anonymous
I am a 60 year old man and I wonder whether I also suffer from Dermographism. Whenever I use a pair of pliers my hands itch like crazy and go red, or when working on my laptop and my arm rests on the edge of my desk it forms red welts and itches like crazy. My doctor tells me I have Urticaria. Is this the same thing?
Yes. There are several forms of Urticaria and one of them is Pressure Urticaria or Dermatographism. The application of pressure to skin results in hives or welts on the skin that are often red and very itchy. Leaning on the desk creates pressure on the skin and the hives develop. The pliers are also putting pressure on your skin and the hives or welts appear. The classic test for Dermatographism is to apply pressure to the skin with a blunt object and see if the skin reacts. This is what doctors often do.
Surgery and Dermatographism
by Joy Sheehan
(Wilmington, NC)
I have been dealing with this since birth. I used to write people's names on my arm and they would love to see it bubble up. Now that I'm 35, its just a thing that happens. People still get amused by it. I never knew what is was until now but is this a bad thing to have in case of surgery. Like to the throat. It never stays long, maybe 30 minutes until it is gone.
It looks like you have classic Dermatographism. Sorry it has lasted so long. I would definitely mention this to the surgeon but I don't believe or have ever read surgery and Dermatographism being a problem but check just to make sure.
