20/20 Medical Mysteries 3/14/08

Watch Dr. Day talk about this medical skin mystery!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• tv
• medical
• mystery
• skin
• art
• drawing
• sketching
• media
• 20/20
• canvas

[peaceandloveletsblow]

To be fair, art has nothing to do with beauty.

[GeneralAmeli0]

wow, looks like it would hurt though

[Neonex14]

Woah! I have the same condition!! Im just 14 and i found out i had this condition when i was 12 , when i was surfing through the web about people who can write on their skin through the wikipedia.

[HaunaMyKiki]

She's one of the lucky ones. I have the same condition, only my welts are triggered through my fingernails and are incredibly painful. I've had it for a little over a year now and I'd give anything for there to be a cure!

Anti-histamine is a GOD SEND through! Where would I be without it? =)

[EuropeanGuy87]

@pizzaman42o Took me 6 yrs to find out - I found out 2 weeks ago thanks to youtube. I'm glad I'm not the only one..

[goldenacres08]

Her story could be mine. Dermatographia doesn't hurt and is a great party trick :) The only problem with it is that if I innocently scratch an itch I end up with horrible welts.

[textaholic529]

the age of consent is 17

[ilovetocmmt]

@lioxoda O.O just tried that with my nail mine turns white and sticks out a bit but it's not as defined as hers unless i press a tiny bit i shall make art now xD

[lioxoda]

@ilovetocmmt I know what you mean, I have cats and for some reason their scratches cause a very similar reaction, but this disorder means it can be done using something very light (I just tried it now lightly pulling my nail across my arm and it came up like this).

[lioxoda]

@curvaciousMammi Oh and you're right, it is exactly the same as an allergic reaction but apparently it's not- your skin cells release histamines (same as when you have an allergy) but not as an allergic response, only because it was scratched or rubbed. Weird.

[lioxoda]

@curvaciousMammi I am allergic to metal but just found out I have this today and used a plastic biro to lightly draw on my skin and it did exactly the same. I have contact dermatitis too my skin is generally a bit weird lol. There must be something causing it though, you're right. Thing is cos my skin was always so sensitive, I have always been so careful using very basic natural products but still I have this. I do wash a lot though, maybe that has worn my skin out.