A study of white dermographism in atopic dermatitis

Sub-clinical assessment of atopic dermatitis severity using angiographic optical coherence tomography

“…Given that the imaging protocol involves physical contact with the skin surface, one might expect some degree of vasoconstriction through the white dermographism response which is common within AD affected skin [24]. White dermographism within AD is known to have a relatively long onset (23 ± 1.4s) with comparatively short duration (6 ± 1s) [25]. Thus, in order to reduce the influence of this effect on the resulting vascular data, a delay of approximately 30 seconds was added following the fixation of the imaging probe.…”

“…The skin of patients with AD can be characterized by an abnormal erythematous vascular pattern visible from the surface of the skin [40]. Furthermore it is known that such patients exhibit abnormal vasoconstrictive responses to stimuli, including mechanical pressure (white dermographism [25]) and temperature [24]. Previously, differences in the microcirculatory flow of AD patients following treatment with a pimecrolimus cream have been quantified using laser doppler flowmetry [41].…”

Vascular pattern of the palms – a clinical feature of atopic skin diathesis

“…However, some atopic patients lack any sensitization to food or aeroallergens and have serum IgE levels within the normal range (17, 18). Atopic skin is characterized by an altered cutaneous vascular response, as demonstrated by the delayed blanch to cholinergic stimuli and nicotinates (19). The greater prevalence of white dermographism and the paradoxical vascular reaction to thermal stimuli in atopic individuals are attributed to the fact that these individuals are more prone to vasoconstriction (20).…”

“…The vascular mechanisms producing white dermographism and delayed blanching remain controversial. Some authors regard white dermographism as a consequence of superficial edema over dilated cutaneous vessels, while others attribute it to vasoconstriction based on the organism's paradoxical response to acetylcholine‐like drugs (19, 21, 22). Non‐invasive measurement of the vascular dynamics of dermographism by laser Doppler flowmetry and an infrared thermocamera support the hypothesis that white dermographism depends on the degree of local vasoconstriction, possibly in combination with altered blood flow in cutaneous shunt vessels (23).…”

Stigmata of the Atopic Constitution auB. Przybilla

“…This white reaction replaces the initially mechanically provoked red line about 15 -60 s after stroking [3,58]. White dermographism in atopic eczema patients has a longer time to start and a shorter duration than red dermographism in controls [59].…”