Dermographism - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Guide 

The Whole Picture of Dermographism 

Dermographism is very common, with at least 2%-5% of the population experiencing the condition. Nothing to panic about; it usually goes away in 30 to 60 minutes. However, this may indicate that your skin and body need attention. 

Dermographism is when the skin reacts to mechanical stress, wildly stroking. Blemishes form slowly and develop within 5 to 10 minutes. The bulging or oedema can last longer depending on the depth of the physical damage. 

You can understand this similar to an allergic skin condition or hives on the skin after a bee sting. However, in dermographism, any physical stress or pressure causes an allergic reaction even when your friend holds your hand tight with love.

Also, if you see a lot of skin hives or skin writings after you have scratched an itch, which also takes time to go away, then you have dermographism!

Studies explain that dermographism shows up when skin becomes highly sensitive. Researchers are yet to decipher the exact cause of these skin writings, and they say no specific allergen causes them.

Key Symptoms of Dermographism Urticaria 

Here are a few symptoms that may help you understand if you have skin writings. 

• Reddishness: You will see reddish discolouration of the skin along the lines where there was physical friction almost immediately after physical contact. 
• Raised Inflamed Lines - Following the reddishness, the skin under the lines bulges and appears raised. 
• Itching: Usually, there is itching. Which might stimulate more skin writing on the skin 

You may see these reddish bumps with itching on your waist where you just wore a tight skirt or on your wrist after wearing a glove with elastic.

This type of skin urticaria is usually painless and subsides automatically in some time. This dermographia does not spread, unlike contact dermatitis (which is a contagious form of skin allergy and can spread from one person to another)

Now, let us have a look at how Ayurvedic experts understand dermographism.

Dermographism in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, a condition called Udhardha (Sanskrit for "cold urticaria") can relate to dermographism. As per classical texts, the primary dosha (essential combination of five elements of nature) involved in the formation of urticaria are Kapha (elements of earth + water) and  Vata (elements of air + space). 

As per Ayurvedic anatomy, the primary dosha naturally present in the skin is Pitta (elements of fire + water). 

So, when there is an imbalance of kapha and vata in an area where Pitta is naturally dominant, the local metabolism in that skin area is disturbed, and our body has to fight it. This situation leads to urticaria, allergic reactions and skin discolouration.  

This imbalance of kapha and vata occurs due to improper digestive fire (Agni), suppression of natural urges and improper diet. 

Dermographism urticaria is not a permanent condition. If you follow a proper skincare routine and gut health tips, you can effectively manage dermographism.

Now, what can make your skin to be this way? Let us check it out. 

Causes and Triggers of Dermographism 

Though science has not yet identified specific causes, there are a few things that can make your skin prone to these ugly skin writings; here we go: 

• Nutritional Deficiencies: Studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to many allergic diseases. Vitamin D is vital for skin health. Nowadays, exposure to sunlight is scarce, and many work indoors. This situation is what makes the synthesis of vitamin D difficult. 
• Lack of Moisture in The Skin: An adequate amount of water consumption is necessary for skin health. Hydration is also essential for good immunity and gut health. Due to a lack of proper moisture, the skin might become increasingly sensitive to friction, which you may see as dermatographia. 
• Hormonal Imbalances: A recent study reveals that hormonal imbalances like thyroid and insulin affect the skin, making it more sensitive. Also, these hormone imbalances can delay wound healing. It can lead to dermatographia. 
• Mental Stress: Clinical studies reveal that anxiety and stress can aggravate dermatographism—both ancient science and modern science link mental health to skin radiance and well-being. A happy mind releases endorphins essential for skin health and the body. 
• Autoimmunity: Dermatographia appears to be an autoimmune condition. This theory comes out because the actual trigger still needs to be identified. Some patients even produce antihistamines (defensive immune chemicals) in clinically significant amounts, suggesting an autoimmune condition.
• Genetic Predisposition: Dermatographic urticaria appears to have familial inheritance. Genetics may cause occurrence if you have noticed it in four or more generations.
• Climatic Conditions: Extreme heat and cold can make skin prone to dermatographia. Especially severe coldness can make the skin extremely dry and disturb the protein bonds on the skin's surface. It can lead to skin writing when exposed to physical stimuli. 

Now that you can connect why these skin writings are happening in the first place, the next step is to confirm if it is dermatographia or any other skin diseases, as symptoms may be similar. 

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Dermatographism 

The key symptom of dermatographia is that the wheal (A raised, itchy area of skin that is sometimes an overt sign of allergy) that occurs disappears in some time; this does not leave a permanent mark on the skin. Most other skin conditions tend to stick on until we treat them thoroughly. 

Primary symptoms of dermatographia include 

1. Redness 
2. Swelling 
3. Welts or Hives
4. Red lines  

Secondary symptoms of dermatographia include 

1. Itching 
2. Increased sensitivity of the skin 

Get a Scratch Test!

A ''scratch test'' can identify if it is skin writing or some other skin disease. In this test, your care provider may place drops of allergens in marked spots of your skin and scratch along the lines to check which one is causing the allergic reaction. This test will reveal dermatographia. 

Other conditions similar to dermatographia include allergic dermatitis, skin hives, eczema and a few more specific to each person's body type. 

Now comes the hard nut to crack - how do we treat this once it sets in? Let us see what treatment options are available for dermatographia. 

Treatment and Management of Dermatographism 

The main line of conventional treatment for dermatographia is anti-allergic treatment. Your healthcare provider will put you on antihistamine pills and give you soothing topicals to calm the skin. They may also suggest a good skincare routine and proper diet to prevent further complications. 

Some treatment approaches include: 

Avoiding the Triggers 

If you suspect you have dermatographia, it is wise to avoid consciously applying physical stimuli to your skin.

Taking Antihistamines 

As said earlier, your healthcare provider may suggest antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine. It is only advisable to consume these with proper medical advice. 

Applying Topical Ointments or Lotions 

Your healthcare expert may suggest topical anti-allergens and mild moisturisers to protect the skin and reduce allergic reactions.  

Making Lifestyle Changes 

Lifestyle modifications like meditation, taking breaks from your regular life, physical yoga and exercise during the early morning can help improve endorphins in the body, which can caress both the brain and the skin. 

Adding Customised Ayurvedic Diet 

Ayurveda recommends regular mental and physical detox for excellent skin health. Ayurveda speaks a lot about the correct food order to improve skin health. Getting your personal body constitution analysis with us is suitable for discovering your diet. 

Let us quickly look at a few Ayurvedic herbs and yoga practices that can help your skin stay protected. 

How Ayurveda Can Help in Dermatographism?

Many ayurvedic herbs can act as elixir for the skin. A few of them that Nirva Ayurveda experts recommend are: 

Neem 

Scientifically called Azadirachta indica, it has a time-tested effect on skin health.  It removes the unwanted allergens and improves skin immunity. You could use a body wash or soap that contains neem. 

Aloe Vera 

This easy-to-consume variety of cactus has all the nutrients needed for the skin. It is an excellent source of Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Calcium.  

Turmeric 

This wonderful herb is adored in almost every Indian kitchen and is a part of almost all daily meals. This turmeric can help in hormonal imbalances, especially insulin, and prevent skin damage. 

Sandalwood 

Sandalwood can calm down the skin. It imparts a pleasing aroma on the skin to counter pheromones in the sweat. It can reduce reddishness and inflammation on the skin. 

Pomegranate

 This is an excellent source of resveratrol. Resveratrol is essential for skin health and to keep protein bonds in the skin intact. 

To Conclude

Dermatographism can occur if you compromise your skin health from an erratic lifestyle and poor nutrition. However, this is not alarming, and you can handle it with an effective Ayurvedic diet and proper treatment. 

Consider taking a complete body constitution analysis to understand your skin type and susceptibility. It can help you craft a good skin care regimen for yourself.