New Dermatographia: What is helping you?

Posted by jackographia @jackographia, Nov 28, 2021

If you don't know what dermatographia is, please feel free to read and participate, but this discussion is aimed at people who currently suffer from this illness. I have questions that I don't think anyone without the condition can answer. The onset of my symptoms began about a week after receiving the Moderna covid booster shot. (My 3rd covid shot) Which may or may not be a factor. My symptoms began with full body itching, where any scratching would lead to very easy skin reddening. I went into an urgent care soon after and was prescribed steroids (prednisone) and antihistamines. While these work to lessen the itch GREATLY, my skin still reacts to even slight scratches or pressure with easy redness. My condition is largely self-diagnosed, but my primary care physician agrees with it.

There is so little relative information about dealing with this illness that I feel like I need to reach out here to ask. If you have/had this condition:

1. Did you (like I am) develop a tightness in your esophagus? or any bowel issues?
2. Does your face get flushed, fully red and feel warm?
3. Do you know of any support groups that I can reach out to for information and solidarity?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

Same thing I am dealing with!!!! I need to find someone to discuss this with.

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@mallorymiller

Same thing I am dealing with!!!! I need to find someone to discuss this with.

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Hi @mallorymiller, I’m so sorry you’re having the same issues as @jenniferhunter, @stevematrix @solco14 and others. Was this also after a Covid vaccination? Have you reported your reaction to VAERs?

What are your symptoms?

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@suchshutterfly

Hi @jackographia! I found your post because I searched to find out what the heck this thing my skin has been doing since my Moderna booster is. After some googling, here I am. No esophageal tightness, no bowel issues, and I can not help you with support groups either, but I do want to share my experience here in the event it helps others. So! I got my booster on Nov 5 2021 at a Walgreens. For the first time, I had side effects that I had not experienced before - a lot of joint pain and fatigue. Mind, I had barely any reaction to my first two doses of Moderna in January and February 2021. After the joint pain cleared up, the dermatographism began. I traveled to Tucson AZ one week later where I had the worst case of nasal allergies caused by pollen that I've had since I was a teenager. Two days after I returned to my home state, I got my hair dyed - same product, same technique, same stylist. This time, my scalp and the surrounding skin was moderately inflamed which had never happened before. All of these things have cleared up but the dermographism continues 24 days after receiving my booster.

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Are you still dealing with the dermatographia?

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@loribmt

Hi @mallorymiller, I’m so sorry you’re having the same issues as @jenniferhunter, @stevematrix @solco14 and others. Was this also after a Covid vaccination? Have you reported your reaction to VAERs?

What are your symptoms?

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Yes 2 weeks after booster. No I have not, I have been trying to figure out why it’s happening for the last 7-10 days. Just today I have finally cracked the case.

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@loribmt

Hi @mallorymiller, I’m so sorry you’re having the same issues as @jenniferhunter, @stevematrix @solco14 and others. Was this also after a Covid vaccination? Have you reported your reaction to VAERs?

What are your symptoms?

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Full body itching. Dermatographia. Itching literally everywhere. ( Moderna booster btw) I’ll attach photos…

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@loribmt

Hi @mallorymiller, I’m so sorry you’re having the same issues as @jenniferhunter, @stevematrix @solco14 and others. Was this also after a Covid vaccination? Have you reported your reaction to VAERs?

What are your symptoms?

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Photos

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In reply to @mallorymiller "Photos" + (show)
@mallorymiller

Oh my goodness, that’s just awful to have such a reaction. Hopefully some of the members I tagged in my previous post will be able to chime in with some ideas for you until you can get some medical help.

@jackographia has had some relief from steroids and antihistamines after seeking care at urgent care. Have you tried and over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl or Claritin?

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@loribmt

Oh my goodness, that’s just awful to have such a reaction. Hopefully some of the members I tagged in my previous post will be able to chime in with some ideas for you until you can get some medical help.

@jackographia has had some relief from steroids and antihistamines after seeking care at urgent care. Have you tried and over the counter antihistamine such as Benadryl or Claritin?

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Yes when I took this I had let the allergy meds wear off.. I took more after. I just kinda let it wear off to see if it’s still happening :/ I thought it was so many things until I put 2 and 2 together- that it was definitely the vaccine.. I just wish I could know what to expect as far as how long this will last.. 🙁

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I also have exactly what you are having… OMG I thought I was going crazy to be honest.
I was also prescribed the same meds and literally have had no improvement. My reaction started with full body itching on the 5th night after the Pfizer booster and Then came the dermatographia. If i just touch my skin I get red and sometimes welt.
The itching comes and goes, the bowel issues are driving me crazy. I am living on laxatives which barely get the job done, my esophagus feels tight and like there is pressure building up… I have found no groups to understand what all this is.
In Kuwait they just told me it MCAS after the booster and this is a baseline allergic reaction. My first 2 shots were Pfizer and I had no issues at all but this booster has changed my life to the worst.
Well whatever it is.. its embarrassing, painful and I dont want to live on cortisone and antihistamines forever…

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