text: Some teachers draw pictures on the whiteboard to explain new concepts to students. But one chemistry lecturer draws on her own skin, due to an unusual medical condition. Dr Zoe Waller, 31, who teaches pharmacy at the University of East Anglia, suffers from the skin condition dermatographia. This is a type of urticaria, or hives - where a raised, itchy rash appears on the skin at the slightest pressure. It is thought to be caused when the cells under the surface of the skin release histamines as part of an allergic reaction, causing the skin to swell. Dr Zoe Waller, 31, is a university lecturer and uses her own skin to teach her students about new drugs and molecules, as she suffers from the skin condition dermatographia . Whenever Dr Waller draws on the skin, her condition means raised red  weals appear and she can create designs. She uploads them to social media and they are making waves across the university . However instead of hiding away her condition, Dr Waller is using it as a teaching aid. Her students are required to learn 100 drugs for their course and each day, she will draw a new one on her skin. Word of the unusual teaching method has spread across the university as well as social media where Dr Waller uploads her quirky designs. She said: 'I was only diagnosed with this two years ago and it's a pretty cool condition to have. 'Some people look at my arm and think I've been self-harming but it doesn't hurt at all. 'I use a blunt pencil or cocktail stick to create the detail needed for the composition of the drugs.' Dermographism or 'skin writing' is a type of urticaria, or hives - where a raised, itchy rash appears on the skin. Dermatographia is thought to be caused when the cells under the surface of the skin release histamines under the slightest pressure. Histamines are chemicals released in the body as part of an allergic reaction, causing the skin to swell. In this type of urticaria, itchy weals occur after friction such as rubbing or stroking the skin. This itching may be aggravated by heat. Weals and red marks also often appear as lines at the sites of scratching, and generally last for less than one hour.' Antihistamines block the effect of histamine, and reduce itching and the rash in most people, but may not relieve urticaria completely. If urticaria occurs frequently, it is best to take antihistamines regularly every day. The lecturer discovered her unusual skin condition after she started working at the University's school of pharmacy. She noticed her skin was itchy and irritated but the doctor couldn't remember the name of the condition he thought she had and sent her away with anti-histamines. She said: 'I was left confused after visiting the doctor. Then my friend in America sent me a link to Ariana Russell's work and I knew then that was what I had.' Ariana Russell is an artist in the USA who uses her own body and dermatographia to create artwork. Inspired by Ariana, Dr Waller set to work on her own project - creating science molecules and compounds for her students using her skin. Her students and fellow professors often ask her for requests which she happily draws on her skin. Dr Waller said: 'My skin might not be like this forever but it's a fun and unusual way of teaching my students and it grabs their attention a lot more than a text book would.' Dr Tabi Leslie, from the British Association of Dermatologists, explained that dermographism or 'skin writing' is a type of urticaria. She said: 'Raised red weals, which are caused by the release of histamine from cells in the skin called mast cells, appear at sights of friction, such as rubbing or stroking of the skin. 'This itching may also be aggravated by heat. 'Weals and red marks often appear as lines at the sites of scratching, and generally last for less than one hour. 'Antihistamines are used to reduce the itch and the rash, and are effective in most patients. People across the university have began to make requests for designs they want Dr Waller to draw on herself . 'However, antihistamines may not relieve the symptoms completely in all cases. 'In such cases, other treatments may need to be used in addition, or higher dosages of antihistamines may be prescribed than licensed recommendations suggest. 'Sufferers of dermographism may need to take antihistamines on a daily basis, as long as the symptoms persists. Usually, the non-sedating antihistamines are preferred as they have fewer side effects. 'Treatment needs to continue until the condition settles by itself which may take years. 'Your doctor will advise you on the best regime depending on the severity of your symptoms.' For more information of uticara, visit Allergy UK.
target: Zoe Waller, 31, has dermatographia and can draw designs on her own body .
  Condition is a type of urticaria - where an itchy rash appears after pressure .
  She says it 'doesn't hurt' and draws molecules on herself to teach students .
  Has become  famous across her university and people now make requests .