Comments on: Skin Condition Dermatographia Made Into Art

By: Snowman

Snowman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:20:45 +0000

is this the chick that was on 20/20 last nite??

By: Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:46:14 +0000

Wow! It looks so good! I have it too but it's not so defined and neat when I write! I like to do tribal patterns on my hands, but mine itches more while it's inflamed so the leg writing would drive me crazy! Amazing though!

By: Clare K

Clare K — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:35:55 +0000

This is great, I too have dermatographia - people always comment on how painful it looks when all I've done is just scratch myself - it doesn't hurt at all! Its just itchy.

... as for the suggestion for using it in exams...LOL... i am a medical student interested in dermatology so it may come in doubly handy!

The art is an interesting idea - i especially like the last picture - it really shows off the textural contrast of the welt without the surrounding redness.

By: Linda T

Linda T — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:15:14 +0000

Parents who have children with this condition must always discipline verbally or risk prosecution for child abuse. lol My son, now 48, has had this condition all his life.

By: JakeDaGreat

JakeDaGreat — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:15:30 +0000

I've had this condition since 7th grade and was always embarrassed about it. Thank you for giving me a new perspective on this.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:11:01 +0000

This condition sucks - I have to take medicine everyday to prevent me from clawing myself to death - mine's so severe that if I forget to take it once a day the itching is unbearable. To those who think it would be neat to write on your own skin, be careful what you wish for. I'm glad she found a creative outlet, but I hope mine goes away. My dr. prescribed a histimine 1 and 2 blocker (Zantac and Zyrtic) and as long as I take it I'm OK. Yes - Zantac is for stomach acid but it's still a histimine blocker and it really does work!

By: CTSR

CTSR — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:05:50 +0000

that's something you really don't see everyday......

By: Teresa

Teresa — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:31:22 +0000

Both my husband and fifteen year old have this condition, other than getting bumps on their skin when they scratch themselves it doesn't really bother them at all.

By: Luis

Luis — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:04:38 +0000

Way cool, i have the same condition. burns a bit, but after 30 mins its gone. I use to write things on my arm and scare my teachers. :p

By: Jimson

Jimson — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:05:16 +0000

The same effect can be achieved by using the Histamine in Stinging nettles, I.E. By applying stinging nettle to your body in pleasing patterns.

By: Heynot

Heynot — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:22:28 +0000

Heywood you need to learn some manners. I bet you didn't even read the article. Inconsiderate snob!

By: Heywood Jablomie

Heywood Jablomie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:27:06 +0000

Wow, she's nasty. Buy some hydrocortisone!

By: tony

tony — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:03:02 +0000

i do taekwondo and it sucks getting punch or kicked in the face, i look like pure face after i fight lol.

By: tony

tony — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:59:39 +0000

thats some cool pictures, but i got some better of my body art. a have the same problem i got it when i turn 16 years old and im now 27, so its last me a while that im yous to it. my girl friend is an artist and likes to draw pictures on my back and actually looks cool, like a personal temp. tattoo.

By: paula

paula — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:53:38 +0000

my 2 year old son has just been diagnosed with this condition has any1 got any supporting tips on helpin him become comfortable with his skin rather than embarrassed as he grows up!( i personaly think this ability can be a beautiful gift! pics above are unique and look fab!) just a little concerned about him gettin a complex! xx

By: hjffkhj

hjffkhj — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:25:29 +0000

I think this is what I must have.
My skin's baffled me for a few years now.
Now I know, but that art thing is a bit odd...

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:08:15 +0000

i acctually have this. since second grade when i got diagnosed with a sicknedd called "slap-cheek" it when you get feverish and your cheeks turn red, ever since i have had people drawing in my skin and slapping me, just to see what showes up, and p.s. it is totally pain-less.

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:55:41 +0000

I've got this skin condition too. Been a few years now..it does suck here and there. You can't go for spas nor receive massages, you just end up scratching yourself. Also called skin writing (google it).

Those who have serious conditions, Anti-histamine pills can help temporarily but they ain't a long term solution as you must just become very reliant on it. I"ve got tanned skinned though =)

By: andre buxey

andre buxey — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:57:04 +0000

my sister has this disorder and it freaks me out.....

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:05:43 +0000

Wait...mine don't itch at all though. That's odd.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:02:16 +0000

Hey! I have it too! I don't think it's all that bad. But once you tell people about it they're always scratching you. I bumped my face against a book corner today... big welt. :p

By: judith

judith — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:56:11 +0000

omg i also have the same condition .. i though it was an alergy but it never went away and now i know what it is thank you

By: Tink

Tink — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:39:31 +0000

I have had this condition for about 30 years. I don't like it, but it's a part of me. As I'm a teacher and also a student, I'm used to hearing, "Oh, my God, what happened to your neck?!?" I usually just say that I have really sensitive skin and let it go at that. But it is HIGHLY embarrassing. I also notice that when I'm nervous, excited, or just stressed that it is ten times worse. I was so glad to find this site and am teaching my class about this subject tomorrow at my public speaking class. No stress there But I figure I better just talk about it up front. Should be interesting!

By: also a skin writer

also a skin writer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:51:16 +0000

I have had this for years, to be turned from doctors with no advise...today I was finally relieved to know what it was, and as I type this am watching as the name rise's on my arms..hehehee, I am waiting on results of a allergy test as i have just got a puppy, I am not sure if she is irratating my skin as well, as i seem to be so much more sensitive since getting her, anyone else find an animal increased symptoms? I hope not as i love my new dog and do not want to get rid of her.

By: katie b

katie b — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:26:34 +0000

im 15 and ive had dermatographia for almost 4 years. i could only painlessly draw patterns on my skin for the first few months i had it, because after that the welts because so much more painful. im often self conscious about it but those photographs make me feel a little better about it (:

By: dani

dani — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:10:00 +0000

i completely agree with you sean, i really wish i didnt have this, i mean there are a few ups with it making me more sensitive about touching my skin which i guess helps out with acne, but like thats it. its not really anything terrific. when i get scratched my skin looks just like what her picture is and it is so annoying. i've had it for a few years now and its not harmful at all, just a pain. its always funny though, when you get scratched and someone else see's it and is like oh my gosh! what happened! then you have to be like i'm part of 4% of the nation who has a disease. then you explain it in depth. always funny. yeah no fun though.. at all.

By: sean

sean — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:06:36 +0000

i dont no how people can say thay wish thay had the condition. i am 16 years of age and i have had this condition for the past fours years i only found out i had it a couple of weeks ago and i would do anythink to get rid of it i feel like it is talking over life

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:43:58 +0000

I'm 27 years old and I started to develop this a few days ago. I thought I had some new allergic reaction to something and tried searching the internet on what could be causing it. When I saw a picture on wikipedia of someone scratching numbers on their arm, I thought I'd give it a try my running my finger one time on my arm and it turned into some kind of rash in the form of the letter I scratched. I hope this does away because the itching is really bothering me.

By: mel

mel — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:41:07 +0000

I'm 31, have had this for 10 years. My doctor says this is a mild version of an autoimmune disorder called mast cell disease. There are too many mast cells in my body but they are weak. Mast cells are concentrated mostly in the skin, lungs and GI tract. I get my blood/urine tested every 6 months to make sure it doesn't progress. If you have "skin writing" disease and asthma and sensitive stomach/ulcers you should get a hold of a GOOD doctor and try to understand why your body is making so much histamine. Zyrtec and claritin don't do too much except make me feel more tired. Blood tests show I'm not allergic to anything but the histamine attacks make me feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. Let me know if anyone else with dermatographia has these other symptoms.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:01:25 +0000

I've had this condition for about the last 3 years, mine burns like hell when i first scratch but its still my party trick!!