What is this? Chronic skin condition. Pic included

[RolyPolyLilBatFaceGirl]

Terrible pic but you get the gist. And the pic is just my arm. I have this all over my body - scalp, legs, torso etc. Literally what you see in the photo is what I currently have all over

Looks like I've massively scratched it doesn't it? I haven't. My t shirt caused this bout just by being on my skin

I've had it for years and for the past year it's been really bad. Two attacks a day. I take a daily anti histamine which dampens it down a bit. It's hot and itchy and then, after half an hour or so it goes away for another day.

Is it hives? I'm not allergic to anything - food doesn't cause it for example or my washing powder etc. It can flare up at any time and it's always every single damn day

I saw a doctor a few years back but they weren't concerned

Will it ever go?!

Yes there's probably an element of dermagraphia going on

I'll find another pic from last week

If it's not red scratches, it's these weird weals. Again, flare up for no reason and it's itchy. All gone within the hour

Looks like urticaria pigmentosa to me.

I grew out of it eventually.

I've just googled that Calzone and I definitely don't match any of the images. I wouldn't call the scratches and lumps lesions either - my skin returns to normal within an hour easily.

And bizarrely I don't have sensitive skin type at all!

The own brand antihistamine is as cheap as chips in the supermarket. It's just as good as the branded stuff. We prefer loratidine because cetirisine makes one of mine grumpy.

The leaky gut thing could be impacting it. Do you take probiotics? I'm just starting to, and I'm seeing some benefits very quickly.

Pickle / no I don't. I have in the past but not for ages. I'll get some today and give it a go

Does leaky gut actually exist though? I'm sceptical

It's definitely dermographia.

Yeah I think so Bloom.

Wish I knew how to get rid of it! The anti histamines just dampen it down.. it lurks away, waiting to spring up again for another half hour of itchy fun

I've had it all my life and I don't think there's a way to get rid of it. It's always worse at this time of year when I have hayfever.

I have an 8 month old who's constantly grabbing at me so my arms and face look like that permanently!

Get back to your gp. None of the OTC antihistamines work for me and I've found great relief from prescribed ones (fexofenadine).

Topically chamomile tea bags can help. Brew a few in a hug, cool, add ice, put in the fridge. You can use the actual teabags as a compress and the liquid you can put on cotton wool and dab onto the affected areas. Likewise with lavender (pure) oil but always do a skin test first.

That looks bloody sore.

Thanks straight!

No not sore thankfully. Just unsightly and itchy if I don't take a tablet in time

I think I'll get some more effective anti histamines on prescription. - good idea

Hi, OP, I know this thread is a couple of months old but I’ve started struggling with the same thing in the last few months. I was wondering if you got the stronger antihistamines and how you’re getting on?