Updated continuously
The Dermatographia Index
What 25 people told us about living with skin writing — severity, triggers, sleep, and what treatment actually does for them.
25
Quizzes completed
66/100
Average severity score
68%
Report night-time itch
63%
Antihistamines don't fully work
How severe is dermatographia, really?
Severity bands from the 12-question quiz, based on welt duration, frequency, itch intensity, night disruption and treatment response.
- Mild4%
- Moderate24%
- Significant32%
- Severe40%
What drives dermatographia
Each person's answers produce one dominant driver. This is how often each one comes out on top.
The most common triggers
People can select every trigger that applies, so these add up to more than 100%.
- Scratching or rubbing84%
- Emotional stress56%
- Tight clothing & straps52%
- Heat & sweat36%
- Exercise28%
- Cold air or cold water16%
How long welts last
- 30 to 60 minutes48%
- Most of the day20%
- Under 30 minutes12%
- A few hours12%
- Days4%
How often reactions happen
- Every single day36%
- A few times a week24%
- Most days20%
- Weekly or less16%
Nights lost to itching
- Some nights36%
- Never32%
- Most nights32%
What people are using now
- A daily antihistamine52%
- Topical creams or lotions44%
- Cold showers, ice or cool packs28%
- An antihistamine only when flaring16%
- Nothing yet16%
Add your data to the Index
Twelve questions, about two minutes, no email. You get a personalized score; everyone else gets a slightly clearer picture of this condition.
Get My Dermatographia ScoreMethodology
Every figure here comes from the free 12-question dermatographia quiz on this site. Responses are self-reported, anonymous, and collected without names, emails or IP addresses. The severity score is our own composite index built from welt duration, frequency, itch intensity, night disruption and treatment response — it is not a validated clinical instrument and should not be used for diagnosis. Participants are self-selected, so this sample skews toward people actively looking for help. Figures update continuously as new responses arrive.
Citation: The Dermatographia Index, Dermatographia.com — https://dermatographia.com/index