eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Allergy & Immunology

Urticaria, Dermographism: Follow-up

Author: Simone Laube, MD, MRCP, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 26, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Treat symptomatic dermographism until the problem is adequately controlled or resolved.

Prognosis

  • The natural history of symptomatic dermographism is unpredictable. It may last for months or years, or be present intermittently. In many patients, the condition gradually improves and clears after several years. Symptomatic dermographism appears to have the best prognosis of the chronic urticarias in terms of clearance after 5 years (36%) and 10 years (51%) years.12

Patient Education

  • Reassure patients about the benign nature of the disorder, and inform them of the possible prolonged course.
  • Explain the adverse effects of antihistamines.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Allergy Center and Skin, Hair, and Nails Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Hives and Angioedema.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Dermographism can be distressing but is not life threatening. Warn patients undergoing treatment with antihistamines about drowsiness, especially when driving or handling machinery.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Elsbeth Young, MD, FRCP, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Urticaria, Dermographism

Overview: Urticaria, Dermographism
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Urticaria, Dermographism
Treatment & Medication: Urticaria, Dermographism
Follow-up: Urticaria, Dermographism
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

dermatographism, urticaria, urticarial dermographism, factitious urticaria, allergy, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reaction, angioedema, triple response of Lewis, linear wheal, whealing, red dermatographism, red urticaria, skin scratch reactions, hives, itching

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Simone Laube, MD, MRCP, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK
Simone Laube, MD, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: British Association of Dermatologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia, State University of New York at Stonybrook, Penn State University
Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Paul Krusinski, MD, Director of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont
Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
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