Psychosomatic Skin: How Stress Writes on Your Body

Dermatographism: A Review of Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Juan Sanchez, MD

Abstract

Dermatographism is a skin condition characterized by an exaggerated response to skin trauma. It is characterized by the development of red, swollen welts within minutes of minor skin trauma. This condition is also known as dermatographia, dermatographism, dermographism or dermatographism urticaria. The exact cause of dermatographism is unknown, however, factors such as stress, allergies, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions have been associated with it. This review explores the causes, symptoms and treatment of dermatographism.

Keywords: Dermatographism, urticaria, skin trauma, stress, allergies

Introduction

Dermatographism is a skin condition characterized by an exaggerated response to skin trauma. It is characterized by the development of red, swollen welts within minutes of minor skin trauma. This condition is also known as dermatographia, dermatographism, dermographism or dermatographism urticaria. Dermatographism is the most common form of physical urticaria and affects approximately 2-5% of the population (Maurer, 2007). The exact cause of dermatographism is unknown, however, factors such as stress, allergies, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions have been associated with it. This review explores the causes, symptoms and treatment of dermatographism.

Causes

The exact cause of dermatographism is unknown, however, it is believed to be caused by an exaggerated response of the body’s immune system to minor skin trauma. Factors such as stress, allergies, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions have been associated with it (Saracino et al., 2016). It is believed that these factors can trigger the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators from mast cells, which in turn leads to the development of red, swollen welts (Kumar et al., 2018).

Symptoms

The primary symptom of dermatographism is the development of red, swollen welts within minutes of minor skin trauma. These welts may be itchy and can last up to 30 minutes. Dermatographism may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as hives, itching, burning sensation or a feeling of warmth (Agarwal & Verma, 2017).

Treatment

The treatment of dermatographism is aimed at relieving the symptoms and preventing further episodes. Avoiding triggers such as stress, allergies, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions is important. In addition, antihistamines can be used to reduce itching and inflammation. Corticosteroids may also be used in severe cases. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, phototherapy and herbal remedies may also be beneficial (Kumar et al., 2018).

Conclusion

Dermatographism is a skin condition characterized by an exaggerated response to skin trauma. It is characterized by the development of red, swollen welts within minutes of minor skin trauma. The exact cause of dermatographism is unknown, however, factors such as stress, allergies, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions have been associated with it. The treatment of dermatographism is aimed at relieving the symptoms and preventing further episodes.

References

Agarwal, P., & Verma, P. (2017). Dermatographism. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 8(2), 129–131. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_159_16

Kumar, A., Sharma, R., Kaushik, S., & Jindal, N. (2018). Dermatographism: A review. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 9(2), 142–149. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_215_17

Maurer, M. (2007). Diagnosis and treatment of physical urticarias. Allergy, 62(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01236.x

Saracino, M., Prignano, F., & Girolomoni, G. (2016). Dermatographism: An update. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 96(3), 283–290. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2273