Dermatographia is best understood in a photo. It is hard to explain but easy to see. Once you see it, you will begin to notice it other places. Mostly, you will see pictures of people’s skin. You can find it on the arms, back, neck, or even the shoulders. Ultimately, dermatographia can be seen anywhere but here are the most common areas for skin writing:

Head and neck (especially under the chin)

Back and shoulders

Forearms and wrists

Stomach

Legs and calves

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Living with Itchy Skin

If you are looking for pictures because you are struggling with Dermatographia right now, help is only a few clicks away. Do you have Dermatographia? Our website is full of information on treatment options and even healthy diets that have improved my symptoms.

Here are some of the more common pictures of Dermatographia that we see. They are organized by the part of the body and include a brief description. Hopefully these give you a glimpse into how painful skin writing can actually be in real life.

Welts on Back and Shoulders

The back is one of the most common areas where dermatographia symptoms are seen. That is because it is a place many people itch and scratch without realizing it. The back is also such a large surface area that many people have a ton of surface area to try and cover.

Because the back and shoulders are often covered, it can mean dermatographia can go unnoticed for awhile. You can even sleep the entire night itching your back, only to show symptoms in the morning when you wake up. Shirts also create itching and scratches because the back commonly creates friction while seated or running.

In general patterns on the back mirror the repetitive itching done by an individual reaching behind and over their shoulders to scratch over and over again. Unfortunately, you cannot see the red marks until it’s painful enough for you to look in the mirror.

At times the amount of red marks on the back can be nearly unbelievable until you see it. Many times another person will be the only person who will notice when you take your shirt off at home, at the pool, or in the locker room.

Chest and Stomach Swelling

The chest and stomach are another part of the body where dermatographia is easy to photograph. Clothing is often the cause of initial redness, including shirts that are too tight or rub your skin until it turns red.

Stomach dermatographia can be some of the most painful, due to the relative sensitivity of the skin. It can be extremely tempting to itch and scratch because it is so accessible on the body. The itching then turns into scratch marks as your nails contact your chest and stomach.

Scratches on Arms and Forearm

Most dermatographia images you will see online will be of the arms, wrists, and forearms. That is because this is the part of the body that is the most visible to others. And in the case of skin writing, it also allows for an accessible place to use pressure to write words and messages.

Some people use their arms as a way to write messages to themselves or others. For many with dermatographia, skin writing can also present a form of therapy. That is why you will commonly see phrases like “dermatographia” or “go away” or even “help” written on the forearm by applying pressure.

There are times when the red lines will have a pattern and other times where the scratch marks will be completely random. It simply depends on the severity of your dermagraphism and the amount of pressure that was applied.

Head and Neck Welts

The head is not a common place where dermatographia pictures are seen due to the rarity of scratching the forehead. However, when pressure is applied to the head and neck area, redness and swelling is common.

With the neck in particular, nervous habits can lead to lines and inflammation fairly easily. It is also not uncommon to see redness or swelling after only a few minutes on the neck for many people. Some times the scratches are small and other times the entire chest area can become red and inflamed.

Similar to the back, the chest is a difficult area to avoid repetitive scratching. You will often scratch underneath clothing without realizing it until it is too late.

Using Hives as Patterns

Not everyone looks at their urticaria symptoms as a bad thing. There are many creative uses and patterns you may see by people online with dermatographia. These creative skin writing examples can take minutes for a simple pattern, or hours for a more complex one.

These patters can be created on any part of the body. Some of the more common ones are hearts and flowers, but some are completely unique to the artist who drew them.

Creative Skin Writing

One trend we see is people with dermatographia taking pictures of words and phrases on their skin. This is called skin writing and it is a great way to take a positive approach to urticaria in all of it’s forms.

Individuals who practice skin writing us their situation as a positive. They consider themselves blessed or at least special and avoid using negative language or speaking down to their bodies. Overall, skin writing is a good way to make the best out of what can be a challenging situation for many people.

You generally see most forms of skin writing photography on the forearm since that is the easiest place to draw. Generally people start with a simple shape like a heart, star, or even tic-tac-toe game.

There are several Instagram and YouTube channels devoted to Dermatographia and Skin Writing. If you are looking to connect with others like yourself, that is a good place to start.

More Photos of Dermagraphism

Here are a few additional pictures on various parts of the body. As you can see, Urticaria can and will occur nearly anywhere pressure, heat, or cold can be applied. That is why it is so important to understand treatment options available before your skin becomes so painful it is nearly unbearable.

Hives and swelling is common on the neck and chest area for both men and women. It first appears as red bumps and marks that can last from 30 minutes to several hours.

The legs are an easy place to to practice skin drawing since they are in full view and easy to reach. The lower part of the body is also easily neglected because they are often covered by pants or jeans.

Often times red lines will take several hours to go away on their own. Deep scratches can turn into unsightly welts that can be embarrassing to many people who are unsure if their dermatographia is contagious.

Sometimes red patchy areas can occur both on and around the affected area. These patches will usually start small but then grow over time as you continue to itch and touch that part of your body.

If you are not careful you can easily scratch up an entire leg without realizing it. Dermatographia symptoms can be a habit that is hard to shake without a deep understanding of your treatment options.

Some people choose to use their skin writing as a form of therapy and write messages. While this is helpful to some, the vast majority of people simply want the red bumps and hives to go away on their own.

Sometimes red lines are simply and occur quickly due to a scratch or pressure. They can happen so easily that you do not even realize it until it’s too late.

The worst part for many is the itchy swelling that occurs near the affected skin. This swelling can be incredibly painful and feel like your skin is burning.

Hopefully these pictures of real dermatographia have helped you better understand urticaria and hives. Do you have an image or story to share with us? We would love to hear from you. Share your story on our website or follow our new Facebook page.