A REVIEW ARTICLE ON DERMOGRAPHISM: ETIOLOGY, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND TREATMENT

A common benign condition of the skin in which people show welts or hives on their skin after rubbing or scratching is called dermatographism, also known as physical urticaria or skin writing. And it is the most common form of physical urticaria seen in about 2 - 5 % of the population. Generally, people who are with dermographism are healthy. Physical urticaria has neither age limitations nor bias towards a particular race or even gender differences. It can appear at any age inclusive of children however, this condition is mostly seen in adolescents. The causes of dermographia are idiopathic. Its pathogenesis entails the release of histamines from mast cells in the blood. Various symptoms shown by the patients suffering from dermographism are inflammation of the skin, blisters, and pruritus due to exposure to pressure like belts, waistbands, and tight clothing. After the irritation of the skin, symptomsappear within 5 - 7 minutes with no lasting marks and symptoms which disappear in 30 minutes. It can be as erythematous wheals in the dermis with innumerable causes. Despite fact that dermographism is typically observed in the skin, it can also affect mucous membranes such as the vulva and oral mucosa (lips). The diagnosis was done based on the history of the patient whereas a dermographometeris used to confirm the disease condition. Urticaria is classified as symptomatic and asymptomatic dermographism in which symptomatic requires treatment until the symptoms are subsided while asymptomatic does not require any management. As dermographia is not mortal, it can be managed by avoiding stimuli and by decreasing anxiety and stress. Avoiding exposure of skin to shear forces completely is likely impossible. So, Antihistamines are used as a first-line treatment including steroids, phototherapy, or immunosuppressive agents.