DERMATOGRAPHISM

Course overview

DERMATOGRAPHISM, ALSO KNOWN AS DERMOGRAPHISM URTICARIA, OR URTICARIA FACTITIA, IS AN URTICARIAL ERUPTION UPON PRESSURE OR TRAUMA TO THE SKIN. THE LITERAL MEANING IS "TO WRITE ON THE SKIN." DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE SKIN PRODUCES A LINEAR WHEAL IN THE SHAPE OF THE APPLIED EXTERNAL FORCE. DERMATOGRAPHISM IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF INDUCIBLE/PHYSICAL URTICARIA, OCCURRING IN APPROXIMATELY 2% TO 5% OF THE POPULATION. A SMALL SUBSET OF THOSE WITH DERMATOGRAPHISM BECOMES SYMPTOMATIC WITH PRURITUS ALONG WITH THE ERYTHEMATOUS WHEALS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DERMATOGRAPHISM AND THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN COLLABORATING TO PROVIDE WELL-COORDINATED CARE AND ENHANCE PATIENT OUTCOMES.