Hi there -
You suffer from a special sort of allergy -- to yourself. It is an autoimmune problem that is often aggravated by stress, and the welts you describe and the "drawings" on the skin are called dermagraphism -- the ability to literally "write" on your skin my scratching it. Scratching the
itch really does make the problem worse in a quantum fashion. If you're unable to avoid scratching when the
itching begins (and I certainly don't fault you if you can't do this) then the only solution is to continue taking the antihistimines. While Benadryl is also an antihistimine it has unique properties and since it also makes people sleepy, it's ideal for this sort of problem at night, as it will not only help prevent
itching, but will make you sleep and reduce the chance that you'll unconsciously scratch your itches in your sleep -- which can be really bad.
The good news about this problem is that it usually resolves after a while on its own in most cases. Also, you won't become addicted to the antihistimines, and will need them for an indeterminate period. It is also safe to stop taking them every so often, to see if the problem has improved or resolved on its own, and if not, you can resume them right away. But for now, it's best to just take them as directed, don't be concerned about an addiction problem (that won't happen), and try to be aware of the impulse to scratch an
itch, so that you can try to not do it, as in your case this will only make the
itch much more severe.
It is a strange condition, for sure, but with any luck it won't last forever -- possibly a period of some years. A few people retain at least the tendency to this for a long time, but it usually improves, and the antihistimines may actually help it to go away. If they begin to fail to work, this is also sometimes treated with steroids, but of course that's not something you want to have to take long term, so it should be reserved for only extreme situations.
I hope this is helpful. Please follow up with us as needed. Best of luck to you.
