Dermatographia, testing & shots


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Dermatographia, testing, & shots
March 10, 2004

This past week I had the scratch skin tests at an Allergy Doctor's office. This was the first visit with this doctor. I never have had skin tests before. The nurse began with a histimine test, and did 29 tests in all on my back, with a saline test beside each one. All tests, including the saline, reacted within minutes with itching and a wheal. The doctor said, it was "failed" test, that I have dermophasim, and that I am 1 out of 50. He said that, I could never have allergy testing, nor allergy shots. The nurse put some cream on my back and I was quickly ushered out. Does this make any sense to you? -- D.A., Vermont

Dermatographisim (also called dermatographia) is a condition where scraping the skin with a blunt object, such as a tongue blade, causes a wheal in the area touched. This is sometimes referred to as "skin writing." When a person has this condition, skin testing is usually impossible, because every test will react with a wheal.

We prefer skin testing to RAST testing because skin testing is considered more accurate, provides immediate results, and may be less expensive. However we usually order RAST (blood testing, sometimes referred to as "in vitro" testing) for those who cannot have skin testing due to dermatographia or other reasons.

We do provide allergy injections for those with dermatographia. We base the injections on the RAST results. My experience has been that most dermatographia patients seem to tolerate injections well.

For more about skin testing and RAST testing, see my items on allergy testing below:

Percutaneous testing

Intradermal testing

RAST, patch, challenge, and elimination testing

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References:

When is in vitro testing used? The Allergy Report (page 59) , American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Dermatographism, Dermatology Image Atlas - Johns Hopkins University.

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Dermatographia, testing, & shots March 10, 2004

Dermatographia, testing, & shots
March 10, 2004