jazzie123

Hello, was recently diagnosed with dermatographism. I find it hard to
believe that there is no cause. I have been on allegra (terrible
headaches) and benedryl and now zyrtec, which is working fine. I wait
until I begin itching and then take the medication, about every day and a
l/2. However, I am worried about the side effects of being on this med for
a long period of time.

Anyway, I am trying to determine what caused this. I found somewhere on
the internet that it can be caused by an allergic reaction to a
cephalosporin, which I coincedentally took appx 6 weeks before I developed
the rash. My allergist said this cannot be the cause as it was too long a
period between the ceph. and the rash. However, on the internet it says
that the ceph. is usually not suspected as the cause because of that very
reason.

Did anyone else take a cephalosporin (antibiotic) or any form of a
cephalosporin (cephzil)and then develop the rash? I took it for an ear
infection. Not sure what else it is prescribed for.

Another suspect is metal cleaners and degreasers. Anyone been exposed to
them?

Any answers or info is much appreciated.

catchyphrase

Hi. I also took antibiotics but different kinds and I've had a hidious
rash problem ever since too. I've got this theary that antibiotics
ofcourse kill all your natural bacteria, leaving the bad bugs to have a
field day. And cause havoc and allergic reactions. ...rashes.
Many many many lurking bugs/germs need different things to kill them.
What kind of rash do you have?

ryan27

I have suffered from dermatographism for 15 years. I developed this
disease around the age of 10 and have had symptoms ever since. I also
suffered from cronic earaches as a child and was on some powerful
antibiotics. I never cosidered this as a cause but it makes some sense.
I have never been able to identify the cause of my outbreaks. I also have
an outbreak of hives every two days or so. My sensitivity to scratching
has lessoned some over the years and the hives now seem to be more stress
related. Also, I only get the outbreaks on my arms and mostly my legs. I
almost never get them on my back, chest, or face. Has anyone else noticed
a trend like this? Caladryl clear is my treatment of choice. It
aleiviates the burning and itching in about 5-10 minutes.

ryan27

I have suffered from dermatographism for 15 years. I developed this
disease around the age of 10 and have had symptoms ever since. I also
suffered from cronic earaches as a child and was on some powerful
antibiotics. I never cosidered this as a cause but it makes some sense.
I have never been able to identify the cause of my outbreaks. I also have
an outbreak of hives every two days or so. My sensitivity to scratching
has lessoned some over the years and the hives now seem to be more stress
related. Also, I only get the outbreaks on my arms and mostly my legs. I
almost never get them on my back, chest, or face. Has anyone else noticed
a trend like this? Caladryl clear is my treatment of choice. It
aleiviates the burning and itching in about 5-10 minutes.

laurenkeebs

I have been diagnosed with this also...I itch all the time though. I
actually get hives from pressure or temperature change is applied to my
skin. A dematologist once told me not to jump into a cold pool on a hot
day because that could kill me..he said I would turn into one big hive
which is my body's "shock"....the thing is I itch ALL the time. I am
currently taking 180 mg of allegra in the morning and 60 at night...if I
don't take it I literally would be out of my mind. When I take the rxs I
break out less in hives and the itch goes away faster, but even when I
take them...I still feel an inside of my skin itch...I notice it mostly on
my scalp, chest, and wrists...like thinner skin areas..it's just weird to
me...I want to know how to cure it..not just how to stop the itch..all the
dr's seem to want me to do is stay on meds the rest of my life. This all
came out of nowhere like 7 years ago and I've been an allegra junkie ever
since...

littlewedding

HI Laura
My namen is Karen I have suffered from weird itching for 20 years.
I don't get rashes like with hives I just itch all the time, but it's worse on
my upper arms.
I have never been able to get a diagnosis..... couldn't get a doc to take it
seriously.
Can you tell me about allegra, and how you got your diagnosos I am currently
compiling case notes to present to a consultant dermatologist.
There are lots of us out there .......... all suffering and having our lives
ruled by the freak itch!!!!!
Please keep in touch and let me know what area and country you live in.
Karen
West Mids
UK

catchyphrase

Dear Laura, You are not alone. I tried to write you at home but it
returned to me. Because you saidof head itch and under skin tickle.
Finally someone else that has this. (I think I have it all)
I have upper arm itch that started it all many many years ago. I'm
basically a "mess" at times, due to this hive thing.
You can write me at home anytime. I'm just sitting here scratching!!!!!!

Ina Manny

laurenkeebs

During the winter of my junior year of high school..I noticed this
incredible itch on my arms (elbow and up) during my classes..usually in
this certain room that was a colder class room...the more I rubbed and
scratched the more it itched..I thought I was allergic to my detergent or
something...but I switched and it never went away. Finally I went to my
doctor because by this point I could not concentrate in school...I would
itch soooo bad. She had me see a dermatologist who lightly scratched my
arm like a tic tac toe game..I immediately broke out into hives in that
shape...they put me on Zrtec (something like that) but that made me very
very drowzy so they put me on allegra...it's suppose to help with all
kinds of allergies I guess...Scratch your skin once does it rise at all?
or itch more in that area?

laurenkeebs

My email should be working now sorry..I'm not sure why it would be returned
to you. I'm so glad you all replied to my message..it really made my week
knowing I'm not alone...it's kind of scary in a way because I think that
there must be a bigger problem with me and what if I'm making it worse by
not doing something to cure it now...it has nothing to do with what I eat
or drink or touch...how rdumb it that? Have you guys heard of something
called Homeopathy? I found it on the internet it's about natural healing
like we want..but I think it's probably a scam..I also looked that info
up...I just wanted to know if you all had come across it.

laurenkeebs

This is how I would describe my symptoms and treaments:

Symptons: constant itching (for me mostly on my neck/chest, scalp, face
and arms), constant tickling under the skin, skin breaking out in hives
from contact or temperature change, hives are not as big, and go away
faster, and don't itch as much if on some type of allergy meds. Little
things bother my skin like a small piece of my hair hanging on to my face
or shoulder.

Treatments: Zyertc , Benydiril (both too drowzy), Claritin (didn't work)
and others...currently Allegra 180mg am and 60mg pm..and counting..I seem
to need more and more as time goes on..original dose of Allegra was 180mg
in am.