One of the most common questions about dermatographia is related to treatment options. That is because the symptoms of dermatographia can be painful, frustrating, and at times downright depressing. There are a wide range of remedies that are recommended by everyone from Doctors to health and wellness professionals. The main issue with the majority of online treatments comes from experience.

There is a major difference between reading about dermatographia and living with itchy skin every day. I can tell you that a lot of what you read online will be written by someone who has never actually had dermatographia or any painful skin condition before. If you are interested in reading more please pickup a copy of my book today.

I have dermatographia. And I have had it for more than 20 years. During that time I have tried almost everything that can be Google searched, YouTube’d, and found on trusted medical websites. I found nothing but dead ends and doctors talking to me about steroid treatments and other harsh medicines. That is why I think looking for a natural cure is so important.

My goals might be different from your goals. So, it is worth pointing out that I am on a journey for a long-term solution. Yes, I have been in the place where you would give anything for some relief! I know how it feels to itch and itch again until your back is so raw it feels like it is on fire.

Natural Home Based Treatments

My journey to discovering natural treatments began after online searches and several visits to the doctor yielded no help. I was prescribed steroids, topical cremes, anti-itch medication, and a whole host of other things. And no matter what I tried I never got long-term relief from my symptoms.

I started experimented with other things like vitamins, diet, medical grade ice packs, and even soothing lotions. It is always best to have a few ice packs handy when the burning sensations become too much pain to bear.

No matter what I did, I could always count on feeling bad after a bad nights sleep, poor diet choices, and high stress. Unfortunately, the medical community was no help in searching for treatments online.

Just look at the Google result above and then read the following quote:

However, if the condition is severe or bothersome, your doctor may recommend antihistamine medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). Mayo Clinic Website



I have tried Benadryl, and Allegra, and Zyrtec. Those are allergy medications. They simply mask the external manifestations of an internal problem. The moment I stopped taking the pills and applying the steroid cremes, my itching just came back again.

Ultimately, I want to find relief not just for a moment or a day, but for my life. So these types of treatments I have personally found to work for me. All I can offer is my opinion based on personal experience. This is the reason why I created this website to share my story and help others.

How to Stop Itching and Hives

Most people look for both short-term treatment options and long-term treatment options. I say short-term because there are moments where you will simply be desperate for any type of relief from needing to itch and claw at your swollen skin. And long-term because after a few years of battling with redness and itching, you will feel a bit hopeless inside. I know I did.

First, understand the itching and hives are treatable. Many people around the world have struggling with how to stop their painful itching and swelling around their body. I have found in my experience that there are three basic ways you can treat dermatographia urticaria. This is based on my personal experience of over 20 years of doctors visitors, trial and error, and various healthy diets.

Treatment for dermatographia urticaria involves three primary areas: prevention, reducing inflammation, and healing the body. We will cover these and more in this guide and by doing so also speak to hives, itching, and the symptoms that accompany dermagraphism.

Diet and Immune System

In my opinion, preventing dermatographia flare ups is the best treatment option. Mainly because I have found that dermatographia on the outside of the body is a reflection of the conditions of the immune system and hormones inside the body.

First, you have to know your body and how it responds to various diets. Many of the people I have spoken with talk about having other auto-immune disorders that they battle like Hashimoto’s. If that is you, then you certainly know and understand the impact your diet can have on your body. Check out my diet page for more information.

Try introducing more fresh juice into your diet. A cost-effective juicer is a great way to do this. Try a Breville Juicer or Hamilton Blender which generally go for less than $200 online. My favorite recipe involves simply juicing 3 green apples, 2 cucumbers, and a celery stalk. You get a delicious “green juice” that always helped my body fight swelling and inflammation.

Second, you need to make sure you are putting yourself in the best possible mental state each day. This starts with understanding that being stressed out will generally harm your body, no matter what it is you are dealing with. And in the case of skin problems and dermatographism, I found it will exponentially make your problems worse.

Finally, you need to make sure your dermatographia is not the symptoms of a deeper issue in your body. This website is no about avoiding seeing a qualified dermatologist or a doctor, please go see one if you have not already! It is a good idea to have blood work done, including having someone look at your skin who is a professional.

Soothing Itchy Burning Skin

Inflammation is probably the hardest part of having dermatographia for me personally. It’s the swelling that happens after the itching that is so incredibly painful and frustrating. And, in the early days before I realized I had an issue with my skin, the inflammation would happen for hours on end.

If you are facing inflammation and need immediate treatment, use calming lotions with aloe vera and natural skin care products. There are certainly alternatives that I keep handy like prescription topical cremes for intense flair ups, but thankfully I do not need to use those much anymore.

In fact, I have found that by treating my symptoms properly I have not needed any of the strong steroid cremes anymore.

Instead I have found that if I am proactive about using lotion and cleaning up my diet, I greatly reduce my chance of requiring serious medical treatment. I have tried hundreds of lotions but my favorite by far is Andalou Naturals with Aloe. Even when my skin is on fire, Andalou immediately calms me down, soothes the itch, and provides hours of relief. I love it so much I order it in bulk and generally have 2-3 bottles in my house.

Also, ensure your clothes fit you properly. It took me almost two years of wondering why certain clothes would itch more than others, or why when I wore something to tight I would end up in pain after a few hours. Now, I could care less how I look or how people think of me. I wear the most comfortable loose fitting clothes that I can find.

For example, I no longer buy ankle cut socks because they tend to cut off circulation and cause inflammation. I would also recommend you focus on eliminating itchy fabrics or any fabric that will irritate your skin. This is also going to be largely a process of trial and error. Be quick to give things away or if they are old just throw them away. It is not worth it if your favorite piece of clothing causes you to be in pain.

Reducing Swelling and Welts

If you do encounter heat and find yourself swelling, be sure to have an ice pack nearby that you can use to calm your skin. The burning and itching will only get worse if you continue scratching. One of the most important things you can do is to stop your dermatographia from getting worse and move to immediately treat it at the source. Having Solarcaine burn spray handy is a great way to do this and get instant relief.

Avoid prolonged exposure to heat such as showers or saunas. As much I used to love sitting in hot tubs and taking hot showers, I have learned that a small itch can turn into a painful welt after 10 minutes in a hot tub. The reality is that any inflammation you have will only be made worse with exposure to heat. That is why you have to be mindful of when and for how long you get too hot.

Long-term Cures for Hives

The most effective treatment program I have found is one that does not focus on a single thing or medicine. By focusing on being a healthier person, with a better diet, and less stress, my itchy skin from dermatographia and hives has gradually gotten better over time.

Focus on long-term results and not short term quick fixes. As tempting as it is to load up on harmful prescriptions and medicines, my personal experience has been to avoid them. That is because you need to work on avoiding medicines and steroids that mask your symptoms. Because your symptoms are your clues to what is causing your dermatographia!

How I Treat My Dermatographia

You have to find a treatment option that works for you. And the reality is that is going to take, patience, and being observant. Don’t be discouraged, with time and discipline my dermatographia got better, and I believe that yours can too.