Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Assessment of dermographism at different anatomical regions by dermographometer
Vilaval Termklinchan1, Kanokvalai Kulthanan, Sumanas Bunyaratavej
1Department of Family Medicine, the Bangkok Medical Metropolitan College and Vajira Hospital.
Objective:
Classic dermographism refers to the ability of the skin to produce a linear wheal with a scratch pressure of 4,900 gm/cm2. The authors manufactured a dermographometer to have precise and consistent measurement and tested it on different body regions to find the best location.
Material And Method:
Twenty two patients with dermographism were enrolled. The pressure was applied to the volar aspect of the left forearm using the dermographometer and to the right forearm by the pen head. Then the pressure was applied to the upper back, abdomen, and shin using the dermographometer. The time onset and size of wheal, erythema and flare were recorded.
Result:
The positive yield at the left forearm by the dermographometer was 72.7% and the positive yield at the right forearm by the pen head was 68.2%. The positive yield of back, abdomen and shin were 68.2%, 68.2% and 13.6%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The dermographometer gave a comparable positive yield in diagnosing dermographism with the pen head and the dermographometer. The volar forearm, back and abdomen are the sensitive areas to produce dermographism while the shin is the least sensitive area. The site of the body that is most appropriate in testing is the forearm as it is easy to approach.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...
01:11Pulse Assessment Sites
01:12Regional Terms
Primarily, the human body has two major regions, the axial and appendicular regions. The axial region comprises regions from the head to the abdomen and makes up the central body axis. In contrast,...
01:11Papillary Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...
01:14Temperature Measurement Sites
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...