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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Other than raised red lines on your skin, dermatographia often causes no problems. In some people, however, scratching or rubbing the skin may cause uncomfortable irritation.
Signs and symptoms of dermatographia may include:
- Raised red lines
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Hive-like welts
- Itching
Simple things can trigger symptoms of dermatographia. For example, rubbing from your clothes or bedsheets may irritate your skin. Cold, heat, pressure, sunlight and emotion also can trigger dermatographia.
You may notice symptoms of dermatographia within a few minutes of your skin being rubbed or scratched. The symptoms may last 30 minutes to a couple of hours, but typically begin to diminish within 15 minutes after the irritation to your skin ends. Rarely, dermatographia develops slowly and lasts several hours to several days and causes burning and pain.
The condition itself can last for months or years.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have signs of dermatographia, such as skin redness and swelling, that recur frequently or don't go away on their own. If your symptoms are severe and very uncomfortable, you may need treatment.
- Dice JP, et al. Physical urticarias. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2010.
- Urticaria — Hives. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/Urticaria-Hives.htm. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Bhute D, et al. Dermatographism. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Vereology and Leprology. 2008;74:177.
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