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Courtesy of Ariana Page Russell
Due to an allergic condition, Ariana Page Russell's skin provides an unexpected canvas for "skin writing." Russell used a stencil to rub this floral pattern on her stomach. Histamines helped create the colorful, raised design.
Ariana Page Russell's skin sometimes has an unusual reaction when she gets a slight scratch: Within minutes, her skin feels warm and the area that was scratched gets red, puffy, and raised like a hive.
Next, it turns white and then a little pink. Twenty minutes later any swelling, itchiness, or markings are gone, and her skin looks normal.
To Russell, it's just "this weird thing my skin does." It wasn't until she sought out a dermatologist that she realized this odd reaction had a name: dermographic urticaria.
Also called dermographism, meaning "writing on the skin," this exaggerated skin reaction is a type of hive, or "urticaria."
Courtesy of Ariana Page Russell
Ariana Page Russell used blunt knitting needles to form the letters on her legs.
If Russell, a 33-year-old New York City artist, scratches the letters of a word on her forearm, upper thigh, or stomach, you'd be able to read it because it will look like she has been writing on her skin.
"This reaction is due to a histamine release," says dermatologist Dr. Joanna Wallengren, who has studied dermographic urticaria. "This is the same response as in spontaneous hives." (Histamine is also what's released in an allergic reaction.)
These hives occur anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes after skin is scratched. First, the skin becomes red, and then a raised welt forms, followed by white hives along the scratch line.
"Often the central part is whiter than the surrounding redness," explains Wallengren, an associate professor in the department of dermatology at Skane University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. "There is often an itching or burning sensation," she adds.
Wallengren says that pressure on the skin is the most common trigger of dermographic urticaria. This can be from the pressure of tight-fitting clothing or from carrying a heavy bag that rubs against the skin. Some people get it after showering and scrubbing their skin.
This exaggerated skin reaction is usually not inherited, and most people with it do not have allergies or sensitive skin, according to Wallengren. Emotions and stress may worsen symptoms, she says.
Although the exact cause of dermographic urticaria is unclear, Wallengren says that people normally respond to treatment with antihistamines taken on a daily basis. "Sometimes one pill is not enough," to relieve itchiness, "and the dose needs to be doubled or tripled," she points out.
Roughly 5 percent of the population is thought to have dermographism, and it's most common in young adults in their 20s and 30s.
Russell first noticed her skin had this odd reaction when she was in high school. Russell, who says she has a mild form, decided to play around with it and use her skin as a canvas for her artwork. Then she photographed the results.
"This was a unique way for me to make art," she explains. She uses blunt knitting needles to make her designs. Sometimes she draws freehand and other times she creates stencils with intricate patterns that she traces onto her skin.
"It doesn't hurt, but I know other people tell me that dermographic urticaria causes them pain," Russell says.
Asked about the reaction to her skin-related artwork, Russell admits, "Some people think it's weird, strange, or disgusting."
"But then I get hundreds of emails from people with skin issues who are so appreciative that I am putting my skin condition out there," she adds. "They tell me I'm doing something beautiful with a weird condition."
When people with dermographic urticaria see her photographs, it helps them know that they are not a freak, she suggests.
"I'm just trying to show that this is skin, and everybody's skin does different things," Russell says. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."
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- Can you be allergic to exercise?
- New mother wonders, "What IS this hideous rash?"
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Leave a Comment:
I have this condition as well. It started a short few months after I had mono & strep throat at the age of 17. For almost 4 years I hid it since I had no idea what it was and no one seemed to know. It was finally when my gyno said it was a histamine release did I have a clue. I saw a dermatologist who immediately knew what it was and he said every 7 to 10 years the body chemistry changes and chances are the next time my chemistry changes it will probably readjust. Well.... I'm going to be 39 this year and every other day I still take a quarter of Zyrtec to stave off the itchiness, although it does *seem* to be calming a bit in the past few weeks. (The doctor was surprised I could take such a small dosage over a period of 2 days and still be okay, but that's about as far as I could stretch it without having the telltale signs begin). I do have Lupus in the family so I have to wonder if that combined with the dual illness at 17 is what caused it. It would be interesting to know if others who have this condition know of a possible trigger, such as my mono & strep, that occurred right before they began symptoms.
It might. I have Lupus and it does trigger hives and swelling along areas that are scratched or rub against anything rough. I've had both mono and strep, and while I had the symptoms of Lupus as a very young kid, it did make some symptoms worse.
In your case, your immune system might, with your family history of lupus, have been primed to overreact, and the mono + strep ratcheted the response up.
Because there is a lot of immune tissue in the skin, it's a common area for immune disorders to show.
Because most antihistamines make me extremely ill, I use a tea called pau d'arco to knock inflammatory reactions down, both topically and internally. I'm not usually one for herbal stuff, but for my household it's been helpful.
Dawn12 -- I hope your doctor is right that this could go away when body chemistry changes. I have pressure-induced urticaria just as described in this article, and it came on at age 26 after I stopped nursing my son. I am now 29. I saw dermatologists and allergists, but it wasn't until just a few months ago that I was diagnosed. I have to take 20mg of claritin in the morning and 25mg of bendryl at night to keep it at bay. At least it offers some relief. Unlike this girl, mine itches like crazy and can have some pretty intolerable affects on my comfort. I never thought about having some fun with it until this article, and it is in some way comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this. I hope for all of us that this is only temporary!
I have this skin condition as well. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago. Prior to my doctor giving a name to it I hadnt heard of it.I am so glad to know that I'm not the only one. My breakouts itch like crazy and I have battled with this since childhood.I have other allergies as well I thought maybe it just came from those allergies. Its hard to explain to others and sometimes people look at me as though I'm contagious. To help them understand better I usually write somthing on my arm to show them just about everyone thinks it weird. Benedryl makes me very sleepy and claritin doesnt help. Ive been trying to find something that will help prevent the hives and I can still functions during the day.
My 11 year old daughter had many painful experiences with this condition. Art on her body would have definitely been possible - I wish we had thought of that. We ended too many days with tears, scratching, bleeding and Benadryl. It wasn't until we removed most of the wall to wall carpet in our home that she stopped experiencing the symptoms almost completely. She has had a few raised scratches here and there but not a single dose of Benadryl in 9 years. The solution was under our feet all that time. Literally.
You have described my condition to a "T". The best I can remember is that it seemed to begin around the time I was going through puberty. Probably just a coincidence. I have suffered with burning biting itching all my life. I am now 70 years old and it is still as active and nasty as it was all those years ago. I have tried many meds over the years, from zyrtec to claritin and benydryl. All with some relief, but never enough to say it was tolerable. A number of years ago my dermatologist put me on ATARAX. I am prescribed 10mg per day, however, there are days when I need to take a "booster" or 2. It's been quite a few years for this med and the only effect I can attest to is being drowsy. Originally, I was prescribed 25mg up to 4 times a day. It controlled the symptoms pretty well, but I was terribly sleepy. Even so much that I would doze off sitting at a traffic light. Obviously, this was not acceptable. Something I have learned is that mostly during the winter when skin dries, I use my wife's skin lotion. Nothing special, just whatever she has. This lotion seems to sooth the skin when it is itching. There are times when, mostly on my arms, I get terrible, biting, itching spells that make me want to tear my skin off. I have learned that if I hold the area under very cold water for a short time that it will soothe and relieve the pain. I have given up on a "cure" and have learned to live with my demon. Coexistence is the best I can hope for.
My 18 year old daughter has this same condition. She has had it since about 6 or 7 years of age. Sometimes it is bothersome but at other times she also draws on her skin. It is amazing what the body does. She has to take about 3 or 4 Zyrtec to alleviate the hives and itch, but sometimes it does not help.
OH HIVES! Mine haven't been figured out yet, although tight clothing and pressure can certainly cause them. Also nuts, all nuts, which proves to be difficult when eating out, or buying any prepared foods. But then, like today, without any discernable reason, I will get one on the eye, swelling it shut, or the side of my face will go numb and my lips will swell up. As put off as I am by the idea of someone voluntarily exposing themselves to the cause of their hives, I appreciate the open forum it creates for us to discuss a condition that can range from midly inconvienient to life altering and threatening.
Mine started out mostly as an annoyance, and has become progressively worse, and finally, life threatening. The meds others have listed, I have seen them all. Add allegra and singulair, and finally prednisone to stiffle my immune system. During a particularly bad stage, my allergist suggested chemotherapy. I have had 95% external coverage, and hives in my throat. Mostly, I manage them now with what unafflicted persons would consider an overdose of claritn in the morning, zyrtec at lunch, and benedryl at night. For emergency flare ups I have prednisone and an epi pen.
For those who don't know, hives feel akin to a cactus inside your body trying to get out. (At least mine do.) I want to tear my skin off, but it doesn't end when the hives "disappear". Hives near joints leave sore joints, hives on the face leave bruising, and then there are the hives in unmentionable places, which are most unpleasant.
Please keep the conversation going, even our doctors' have no real answers, but the more we talk about it, the more we learn.
Good luck to all of you.
I also have this condition and have had it as long as I can remember, at 25 that is certainly longer than my body chemistry would have needed to change. Like the author, mine does not hurt, and worries others more than it does myself. I will typically notice an itch, instinctively scratch it and then not even realize that I have a mark in the location until someone else asks what happened to my arm, leg, etc. Like a few other posts, my allergist recognized it right away and used me as a guinea pig to his intern to show him what it looks like. He broke a tongue depressor in half and with the rough end lightly drew a hash mark on my inner arm. As we discussed other issues, you could gradually see the hash tag appear on my arm, it was visible for a few minutes, and then went right back to normal by the end of the visit. Again, luckily mine is not painful at all, but as a child was a source of entertainment for my friends to watch me welt up and then watch the welt just as quickly disappear. The difference between myself and the case stated in the article is that I do have otherwise extremely sensitive skin. I have been known to be allergic to Dial soap, Neosporin, and most recently, all chap sticks except straight Vaseline (I may be keeping them in business). So sorry for those of you that have pain associated with this, I can't even imagine.
and now... it just posted twice. Sorry!
double post
I have this!!! I had no idea it had a name. Doctors and Dermatologists have just told me " you get hives, a lot" when I carry grocery bags, move heavy stuff, get grabbed by kids ect.. it swells, burns and itches, ( I don't get the white raised markings unless its very severe) . It first manifested itself when I was pregnant with my 4th of 4 children. They told me when I stopped nursing it would go away.. it didn't.. What a postive way to look at dealing with this.. I am always amazed at peoples unique ability to make good from bad. Loved the article and thank you for the name! :)
This practice has only been performed in Africa for like 6,000 years.
@Cozytrash - this is a skin condition that after a while the hives (letters, designs, etc.) will go away. The thing you are speaking about is a form of scarification in which designs are essentially carved into the skin, allowed to heal and repeated until they form a raised scar.
Thank you, WhyNotV2. I logged in specifically to add that this is only temporary and goes away after an hour or so. As usual, the MSNBC writer left this important detail out. IT'S NOT PERMANENT, PEOPLE.
Aviela, read the second paragraph, it says precisely that
What a nitwit.
Art, in the article it says-"Twenty minutes later any swelling, itchiness or markings are gone, and her skin looks normal." ...but yeah nitwits.
The next time I do a chick with a cavernous vagina I'll try this on my ding-a-ling.
Stay klassy!
What? USe a prick to write something on it with? :)
I've had this my entire life. I've always hated it and tried to hide it. I'll think twice about doing that now, I shouldn't have to hide my true self. Thank you Ariana.
I have had this disorder my entire life; I was diagnosed at the age of seven. It occurs not only when I'm scratched, but when I'm bumped, slapped, or have been doing repetitive activities like shoveling. It really is quite miserable, and I always have a hive somewhere. Imagine always being itchy but never being able to scratch it because it will only make it worse. If only I knew before that I could become famous for scratching myself because I sure would have tried it!
My ex has had this his whole life and been very miserable with it. I don't see how anyone thinks this is art. My ex would have been climbing the walls if anyone tried that on him.
I'm right there with you. Any contact and I get a hive. I always have a redness somewhere and am always itchy.
@Susan: While it's understandable that someone with such a condition would be miserable, saying you "don't see how anyone thinks this is art" kind of narrows everyone down. Ariana Russell decided to use her talent to make interesting patterns out of her condition instead of moping about it, so more power to her!
She's a freak. My wife has that. I call her a freak too in a loving way.
I too, have this. I have to take Allegra every day or I have hives. Mine came on sometime around when I was 16 or 17, but continuously has gotten worse with my age (I'm now 35). I've been to dr. after dr, but finally this year an allergist after seeing me only once knew exactly what it was. It is so good to finally have relief from it!
I have this too! i freaked out when i saw this because im like Omg someone else has this too. I went to the doctors about it and she scratched my back with her nail and the reaction happened. all the doctors and nurses were croweding around me like i was i science experiment. It was terrible! I take allergy medication everyday now and now instead of bumbs its just a little red. The doctor says it should go away anytime now or when my body learns to control it, but its really annoying because anything can make it happen and it looks weird. but im glad your imbrassing it and your work is really cool! thx
The text written on her leg is very offensive and unacceptable! I cannot believe that MSN would not catch that.. SHAME!!!!
What are ranting about??
I agree with whoknew36: Hottie Mcmomma, what are you ranting about? It is very hard to read the text on her legs as only fragments of sentences are visible and certainly nothing offensive is visible. Perhaps you recognize the text as an "offensive" passage from a text you have read enough times to recognize from seeing just a few random words??
I used to have this, though not as severe. Went away once I got my tummy issues straightened out treating other autoimmune issues. 80% of the body's immune system is in the lining of the gut. After years of processed food with hidden toxins and unfiltered tap water with heaven knows what all, the body overreacts trying to heal itself. Took a few months, but all better now. I cut out all sugar, wheat, and corn whenever possible. Get thee to a naturopath and go organic. It worked for me. No more pharmaceutical drugs for me, thanks~Just good quality vitamins, filtered water, and whole foods.
@hottie....: what are you talking about?
I had this for several years when I was a teenager! I never knew what it was called, or why it happened. It was at its peak from age 14-18 and then slowly went away and was completely gone by the time I was in my early
20s. I’m now 37 and have no sign of ever having it.
It made me pretty miserable in high school – my arms would be covered in welts from where they touched the desks and people were always asking me what was wrong with me. My friends called it “puff paint skin” and
they would write things and draw things on my skin just to watch it puff up. It never hurt, but it would itch like crazy – and of course scratching only made more welts appear so it would get worse.
Our family doctor could never give us a reason why I had it –my grandma made up a name for it and called it “contact dermatitis” and that is what I would tell people I had when they’d ask me why I was covered in welts.
I’m happy to know there is a name for it – and glad to share that mine did go away on its own.
Wow, people calling other people freaks! Don't you just love it when posters abuse anonymity?
Congrats to an imaginative Ariana!! Her photos just educated many folks.
And I don't think that is what they have been doing in Africa for thousands of years...but you knew that, trash.
I have that. It doesn't happen all the time when I am exposed to the triggers. But I will say it itches like crazy and I have to take an antihistimine and ice the welts so it goes away. Heat can cause it as well as exercise or tight clothing, like a belt.
I have had this condition for as long as I can remember -- and I just recently turned 60 years old. At one time, I worked for a dermatologist who gave me a name to put with it. It was worse when I was in my 20's and 30's but is still there -- sometimes worse, sometimes much worse, and at times hardly a problem at all. Any time I scratch my skin, it will raise red "wheals." I've never tried medication because I have never considered it a problem but simply an oddity. Sometimes even the water from the shower makes me red blotchy!
Of course, many people would feel that what she does is lunacy or more so, disfiguring one self for a selfish reason or mental issues but, I respect her and respect what she chooses. We need to ' Live and let live". Others live in a conventional life and others to be conformist. No matter what WE choose, respect others as they respect your own decisions of how to cope and live. Try to be kind..Try to be open minded.... Just try :}
But...she's not mad or "selfish". She's using her creativity to stay positive about her condition. Also, the redness & swelling disappear after awhile, so she isn't "disfiguring" herself, either. If people can get permanent tattoos for one reason or the other, why can't someone with her condition use it to draw temporary patterns on her own body?
seems like this is more common than i thought. while there's nothing gross about having the disorder, the so-called body art is. i get the same thing from time to time, but i don't go around scratching my self to make cool patterns appear.
Very cool, as long as there's no long-term damage or scarring. Must be itchy though.
My younger brother and older sister used to have this condition and we used to emboss their skin with a penny. But as they get older, the allergy reaction became milder. They still get red patches, but it's not as bad as this girl here in the picture.
I had this when about 11 years old. Cold brought it on. We hung out clothes on the clothes line then, and when the wind whipped the clothes against me it would raise welts in the shape of the corners of the clothes. My sisters and brother use to press spoons on my arms and in a few minutes, a spoon shape would appear. They also wrote things on my arms. I was allergic to cold, cats, chocolate, tomatos, and more. My hands sometimes itched so much, and scratching didn't help because it was to deep, so I ran hot water over my hands a lot.
I have a friend who has dermographism too but he doesn't like when it happens to him, he will swell up within seconds of being scratched. LOL I remember this one time I accidentally scratched him on the bottom of his foot and for like 20 minutes he had this hude ass lump on his foot and I could only imagine how awkward it was to walk on it
This is a beautiful story, someone who appreciates what most would be ashamed of, live life my friends!
I have this too! And I'd like to doodle on myself. Should've posted it first on fb or yt, sigh. Also, is there a support group for this devastating (and by that i mean very annoying) condition?