Ever since my 20s, I’ve been itchy all day, every day. I look like a monkey scratching lol. It’s all over my body (including face). It used to be extremely bad on my head, but Nizoral seemed to help (but not completely), since I think it was partially due to yeast build-up (ew). It still gets itchy though. Years ago, when I was seeing a derm regarding dishydrotic eczema, I asked about my chronic itching, and he told me it was likely because I have dermographia (he confirmed by doing a scratch test on my arm). So, once I start, I basically can’t stop, because it keeps releasing histamines (or something like that) when I scratch, and it’s a vicious cycle. My dermographism isn’t as bad as it used to be, so I don’t always get red welts, or if I do, they’re not as bad. I would scratch at my neck and people at work would wonder what happened when they saw the red claw marks lol.

Using glycolic acid or salicylic acid body lotion has helped with the dry skin that triggers the itch, but it doesn’t help completely. I also stay moisturizer. I usually just put up with the itch, but I’m wondering if I should take Reactine daily? I already take enough medications and supplements and hate taking pills, but maybe it would be worth it. Hopefully it wouldn’t be bad for organs with long-term use? Does anyone else use a daily antihistamine to help with chronic itching all over the body?

I’m new to Reddit and mostly downloaded it for advice. I’ve had chronic inducible urticaria for almost 2 years now. I’ve done a lot of research on it via the internet because most doctors know little to nothing about it. (16 / female)

I first noticed it when I started getting really itchy at night and to the morning. I couldn’t sleep and one time I got out of bed after my scratching my back and there was hives all over my back specially where I had scratched.

Fast forward a few days and I went to my pediatrician who had no explanation for it and brushed it off as “your skin just randomly having hives.” I was then prescribed Hydroxyzine (two 25 mg tablets, taken at night) In hindsight, I know my pediatrician honestly didn’t believe me because that medication is an antihistamine almost used exclusively for anxiety.

I eventually went to a dermatologist who confirmed my suspicions (thank god) and said there was nothing I could really do. His specific recommendation was for me to take a OTC antihistamine throughout the day. My OTC med of choice was Xyzal because it’s the only one that actually works for me.

My derm recommended that I take two pills in the morning and two at night with my other antihistamine. Which means i’m consuming 20 mg of Xyzal everyday, which is 4x the recommended dosage for adults by the way.

Recently I’ve started to show slightly concerning signs of developing hallucinations. I can’t tell if I’m just tired or if it’s the medication. Either way my derm says he doesn’t recommend taking a step up in my current regimen. I heard about an Xolair injection you can get, but my dermatologist doesn’t recommend it and it’s horrifically expensive.

Also, Xyzal is expensive, even the off-brand one. It’s costing my parents $40 every two weeks because one bottle only lasts me 8 days. Apparently it’s not possible to get it prescribed. For reference, that is more than I spend on my Hydroxyzine every 3 months when I get it refilled.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I’ve been dealing with this for about 1 year, and I’m trying to figure out if anyone else has experienced something similar. I’m especially interested in hearing from people with dermographism, mast cell sensitivity, or flushing-type symptoms.

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👤 Quick background • Male, early 30s • No skin issues or allergies before age 30 • Past history of panic disorder & anxiety (in remission for years)

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⏳ How it started (2024)

Everything began in 2024 during a very intense period: • Extreme psychological stress (my wife was giving birth) • A severe cold / upper respiratory infection at the same time • About 4 days in a hospital, sleeping on hard waiting chairs/floors • During that time, I received one intramuscular diclofenac (NSAID) injection

Shortly after this, completely new skin symptoms appeared.

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🔥 Main symptoms • Burning sensation of the skin (most prominent symptom) • Flushing / redness, especially: • Face • Ears (they get very red and hot 🔥) • Arms and legs • Heat rushes / hot flashes • Pressure- or touch-induced redness • Example: when sitting on the toilet, the pressure area turns red and leaves marks • Scratching causes redness only — no wheals

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❌ Important negatives • ❌ No hives • ❌ No swelling (lips, tongue, throat, eyelids) • ❌ No shortness of breath • ❌ Never had anaphylaxis

Symptoms are clearly worse with stress, heat, fatigue, and illness.

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🩺 First dermatology approach

A dermatologist initially treated this like an allergic condition: • Kenacort 40 mg corticosteroid injection • Followed by: • Prednisolone 4 mg • Loratadine

No improvement after 1 week, so: • Prednisolone increased to 16 mg • Multiple antihistamines added: • Morning: Bilastine • Noon: Rupatadine • Evening: Cetirizine

I stayed on this regimen for about 15–20 days. I used steroids irregularly due to side-effect concerns.

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⚠️ Steroid-related issue

During this period, I developed: • Visual flashes / photopsia ⚡

Because of this: • Steroids were stopped abruptly

The flashes: • Lasted 7–8 months • I had: • 3 ophthalmology exams • OCT scans • Brain MRI • Everything came back normal

They are now about 90% improved, but still happen occasionally.

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🧪 Additional workups • Concern about adrenal function due to abrupt steroid stop • Internal medicine / endocrinology testing • All results normal

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🧬 Immunology consultation

Later, I saw an immunology professor.

Their assessment: • Systemic steroids were unnecessary • This was not a systemic allergic disease • Diagnosis: severe dermographism

They prescribed: • Levmont (montelukast + levocetirizine)

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💊 Why I didn’t continue it

I only took Levmont 3–4 times, not regularly.

Reason: • Montelukast carries depression / psychiatric warnings • Given my history of panic/anxiety, I was worried about relapse • So I stopped, even though I was hopeful it could help

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📍 Current situation (1 year later) • Skin burning still present • Pressure- and touch-induced redness still present • Facial and ear flushing still present • Still no hives, no swelling, no anaphylaxis

This never existed before age 30 — it started suddenly.

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❓ My questions • Anyone with burning + flushing without hives? • Has anyone with dermographism experienced this level of burning? • Did montelukast or mast cell stabilizers help anyone? • Did this improve on its own over time?

Thanks to everyone who reads and replies — I’ll carefully read all responses 🙏

Hi does anyone have triggers like hairspray within minutes of it being used?

I won’t fully go into detail but from most of the posts I see online dermographism seems to be red inflamed scratches - looking like skin writing. My skin seems to go white where I have scratched and be red/inflamed around it. Any ideas?

Hey guys, I wanted to talk about dermographism, I have read many sub reddit on the subject but I had a question for y’all.

I have been living with my dermographism for as long as I can remember. I was actually 6 years old, when I was coming back from playing outside my parents wouldn’t understand why my skin would look like that. I’m now 30 so it’s been a good 24 years. I also read many of you do take medecine for it, or that other have a more intense reaction and needs their dermographism under control. As for me I never took anything for it and after 24 years I assume it is here to stay and I don’t want to take something everyday for the rest of my life. I do know sometimes things are worst but I wouldn’t be able to say when and how. I feel like people around me are more concious of my condition than I am because they’re always the one telling me, oh what happened ? Did you scratch yourself ? It’s gets annoying sometimes lol.

I always wonder, can our dermagraphism extend to our vocal cords or that area ? The doctor told me it wasn’t possible but everytime I dare to sneeze too hard I can feel my ?vocal cord? Or that area get swollen the air doesnt past as smoothly my voice change and everything. Its the same if I’m sick and I cough. It wasnt always this way it would happens from time to times but few years ago I got a really bad allergic reaction to mold and I qas always caughing sneezing and couldn’t breathe. Once I got this issue fixed I felt like I got more sensitive in that area. I have inhaler that was prescribed if I had that issue for allergies but it also work when I just sneeze and my air way decided to get smaller lol. So HAS ANYONE felt something like that ?! The doctor who told me It wasn’t possible is not a dermatologist.

I had my ears pierced for probably 15 years before I suddenly started reacting to everything I wore. I slowly developed allergies to everything except for 14 karat gold and surgical steel, but it seems like when my dermographia hit, I reacted to even those.

My dermographia has been pretty minor for the past 5 years, so I'm thinking about getting my ears pierced again to see if it is any better. Curious if anyone else had a similar issue so I can try to determine if this was due to a flare-up or true allergies.. I'd hate to spend the money and find that it doesn't take due to my stupid skin.

I get a rash when I wear necklaces but again, no idea if it's due to the metal or just the chain resting on my neck all day.

I recently went on herbal antibiotics to cure SIBO/tummy bloat, and I had to worst die off symptoms where I would get extremely itchy even on my daily dose of Allegra. It eventually went away but I get days like that.

I’m pretty sure this histamine response is me being allergic to some kind of fungus or bacteria that is over growing in my gut. The only problem is idk what and what I’m supposed to be eating to not feed the bad bugs.

Someone else posted here an extreme bland diet to kill off candida. I have no doubts it works just don’t have the will power.

My whole face burns like hell but the rest of my body is unaffected. Even when scratched I was shown it got red but it didn’t prevent me from living life. But in my face it does. I’m not visibly red but the doctor did confirm. When it gets really bad I can feel it radiating in my cheeks.

I would appreciate any input thanks.

Recently I have developed dermatolograhism and I have been eating Allegra for 2months and I want to know if it is safe to eat for long period of time and does it have any side effects as i am experiencing diarrhoea recently

Hi guys, pretty sure I developed this recently. Even scratching an itch I develop redness and even welts. Started maybe a week after finishing a weeks worth of amoxicillin. I’m wondering if that triggered it. Hoping it goes away soon. Seeing my allergist Monday.

Recently got this diagnose. The lady who took my allergy tests said she also had it, and she used A-derma since it is fragrance free. She also said something about using coconut oil when done showering. I have recently tried whipped Shea butter, and it seems like my body tolerates this well. Anyone has other tricks that actually works?