Maybe the technical term for this is swelling
April 22, 2009 11:42 PM Subscribe
My skin bumps out like a huge misquito bite sometimes where I lightly scratch or put pressure on it. This goes away after several minutes. Does anyone else have this condition?
I have pretty skinny arms, and basically it's just bone under the skin. This swelling happens when I scratch against the edge of a table. It's not itchy or anything, and I am just curious what it's called because no one else I asked has heard of this.
I have pretty skinny arms, and basically it's just bone under the skin. This swelling happens when I scratch against the edge of a table. It's not itchy or anything, and I am just curious what it's called because no one else I asked has heard of this.
You're having a histamine reaction. Some people are way more sensitive to this than others. Scratching releases histamine and in some sensitive people, will cause these temporary swellings. My boyfriend is similarly sensitive. He likes when I scratch his arms and after a few seconds, he'll have this happen. But since it's not painful or of concern, I continue.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:52 PM on April 22, 2009
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:52 PM on April 22, 2009
I had it for awhile when I was younger and then it went away, which I'm told sometimes happens. It was diagnosed as dermatographia, but I certainly couldn't get dramatic, detailed effects like the artist above; just localized swelling on impact with anything.
posted by thesmallmachine at 1:11 AM on April 23, 2009
posted by thesmallmachine at 1:11 AM on April 23, 2009
Previous thread.
And I have it too. Nothing to be troubled over. When I get really angry my whole body turns maroon because of it, which scares the crap out of people, so I tend to be the calm person in situations. I figure it's a strength either way from an evolutionary perspective.
My belly is the most sensitive. I hear it's different places for different people. Tops of my arms barely do it.
posted by jwells at 5:13 AM on April 23, 2009
And I have it too. Nothing to be troubled over. When I get really angry my whole body turns maroon because of it, which scares the crap out of people, so I tend to be the calm person in situations. I figure it's a strength either way from an evolutionary perspective.
My belly is the most sensitive. I hear it's different places for different people. Tops of my arms barely do it.
posted by jwells at 5:13 AM on April 23, 2009
Well to answer your question...Linda Blair, Regan, in the Exorcist, but I think she got cured.
posted by Gungho at 6:47 AM on April 23, 2009
posted by Gungho at 6:47 AM on April 23, 2009
Yup, me too. It's worse when I'm having other allergy symptoms (like now, in the spring), when it can be really itchy. Usually, it's just a curiosity.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:54 AM on April 23, 2009
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:54 AM on April 23, 2009
OK, here's a quick demonstration. Using the rounded end of a paperclip, I wrote a little message on my arm, and filmed it. Note that I didn't actually scratch my arm--that'd be evem more dramatic. Nope, just light pressure. It takes a couple of minutes to show up, but I did the film in real-time to show how it works. Enjoy!
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:03 AM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:03 AM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by apricot at 11:48 PM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]