7th April 2006
Hi Adam
I don't know if you're still on this site but I thought I'd reply just in case! I've had dermographia, what you describe, all my life. It's become really bad in the last two years though and I'm only now getting towards some solutions. Mine is coupled with chronic idiopathic urticaria (this is what causes my random itch, which in turn I scratch, and which in turn makes the dermographia flare). You should start by going to see your GP. Don't let anyone tell you that it's just an itch and you should just deal with it. It's not - it will drive you absolutely crazy and make you very uncomfortable!
If it's just the dermographia (and by that, I mean it's not coupled with anything) then you could ask to try various antihistamines to see which works best for you. I've tried Loratadine, Cetirizine, Atarax and Telfast. I find the latter is best for me but this is very individual so give 'em a shot and see what happens.
If it's not just the dermographia, if you feel there's an underlying cause as to why you get itchy in the first place, see if you can have a referral to a dermatologist for further examination. I've just done this (it took ages!) and have found that I'm allergic to three different things - this might help me, it might not....but it's a good place to start!
Keep in touch with the folks here at the forum though - we can all help each other with this rubbishy disease!
I don't know if you're still on this site but I thought I'd reply just in case! I've had dermographia, what you describe, all my life. It's become really bad in the last two years though and I'm only now getting towards some solutions. Mine is coupled with chronic idiopathic urticaria (this is what causes my random itch, which in turn I scratch, and which in turn makes the dermographia flare). You should start by going to see your GP. Don't let anyone tell you that it's just an itch and you should just deal with it. It's not - it will drive you absolutely crazy and make you very uncomfortable!
If it's just the dermographia (and by that, I mean it's not coupled with anything) then you could ask to try various antihistamines to see which works best for you. I've tried Loratadine, Cetirizine, Atarax and Telfast. I find the latter is best for me but this is very individual so give 'em a shot and see what happens.
If it's not just the dermographia, if you feel there's an underlying cause as to why you get itchy in the first place, see if you can have a referral to a dermatologist for further examination. I've just done this (it took ages!) and have found that I'm allergic to three different things - this might help me, it might not....but it's a good place to start!
Keep in touch with the folks here at the forum though - we can all help each other with this rubbishy disease!