Can dermatographia be cured? This is one of the most common questions I am asked. And while I cannot answer this question for everyone, I can tell you what my personal experience has been. That is because I tried anything and nearly everything to find relief.
From the first time I was taking to the emergency room after having an allergic reaction, to developing chronic urticaria over time, I feel like I have a deep empathy for anything you may be feeling today. And I know that based on trends there are millions around the world currently suffering.
For me, dermatographia is something I have been unable to completely cure. Even though I have gone on strict diets, and radically changed my lifestyle, some form of itching and redness has been with me for more than 20 years. I have seen it all from hives on the back to swelling on my arms and neck.
Living with hives and swelling
At the end of the day I have learned to live with the hives and swelling each and every day. I go about my life as a normal person, which is what you should do too.
But there is hope if you are looking for a cure. Even if it doesn’t stop your dermatographia completely. Here are a few things that have helped my dermatographia get noticeably better over time:
- Sleeping 7-9 hours per night
- Reducing stress
- Meditation and yoga
- Watching what I eat
- Avoiding too many processed foods
- Limiting alcohol to a few times a week
- Avoiding drastic temperature changes
And just like you can do things to get better, there are definitely things I have noticed that make symptoms worse. That is why you need to understand the two-way nature of urticaria and hives.
After 20 years of looking for a cure, I definitely found many wrong answers and what made things worse. Here are a few things that I noticed made my hives and swelling more pronounced:
- Eating processed foods
- Having a diet that was too rich in breads and gluten
- Drinking alcohol too frequently (more than a few times a week)
- Going from hot to cold too quickly
- Taking showers that are too hot
- Sitting in hot tubs where the temperature is above 100 degrees
- Stressful situations or jobs
- Getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night
In my time online, I have seen many different people share about reducing their symptoms and finding treatment options. But I do not really see folks say they have cured their dermatographia.
Affordable treatment options
Here are a few things that have helped people. Start by having some cooling lotion on hand. After trying dozens of different lotions, my favorite is Andalou with Aloe. In fact, I love it so much that I order it in bulk and I usually have 2-3 bottles of it on hand at any time.
I have found that reducing stress is very important in combatting flare ups. Because if I never start the process of itching at all, it is much easier to fight the urge to scratch my skin. That is why practicing prevention as well as acute treatment is so important.
For many people, taking an anti-histamine like Zyrtec can really help. You will want to talk to your doctor first and make sure you don’t have any allergic reactions. Most of the symptoms of dermatographia involve swelling, itching, and hives. Those are all things that an anti-histamine blocks.
Finally, if you fine yourself with the urge to itch, it may be too late for prevention. It is hard to stop symptoms once you end up with welts and hives. So, consider preventing your dermatographia as the best way to avoid dealing with uncomfortable skin irritations altogether.
Is there a cure?
I am asked by many people whether there really is a cure for hives and dermatographia. That depends on your body and the treatment plans you decide to use, as well as how your skin responds to them. There are many products I talk about on this site that may or may not help you.
I can only answer for me personally. I have not found a “cure” that eliminated my symptoms completely. However, with diet and lifestyle changes I have seen a big improvement over time. If you are curious to learn more, check out my diet page for more tips.
What about you, have you found a way to cure your dermatographia completely? Share your answer below in the comments.
