Water Allergy: 10 Interesting Facts About Aquagenic Urticaria

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Enjoy this aquagenic urticaria animation video! Learn about water allergy treatments, symptoms, and lifestyles.

1) Water in all forms causes irritation
Water in all forms irritates the skin. This, of course, includes tap water, river water, sea water, swimming pool water, rain, and humidity. Unfortunately, sweat, tears, and saliva also cause reactions, and are more difficult to avoid.

2) Lifestyle changing
Having a water allergy is lifestyle changing. Obviously. Everyday tasks like showering, cleaning, exercise, or even just drinking water have to be modified. People with water allergy may have to limit showering to a measly 5 minutes twice a week, cut their hair to avoid sweating, change diets, or even move to a less humid or water-prone area.

3) Rash occurs within 15 minutes of contact.
A rash occurs only 15 minutes after contact with water. When the water has been removed, the rash generally fades within 60 minutes. Occasionally hives appear, but even when they don’t, the reaction can be painful and itchy, and may even start to blister.

4) No specific treatment
Because water allergy is so rare, there is currently no condition-specific treatment. There are, however, several general remedies that may help mitigate reactions. H1 antihistamines are most commonly used, but light treatments, steroids, and sodium bicarbonate baths have also been reported to be successful. If an extreme reaction occurs, an epi-pen may be required as well.

5) Diagnosis process
The process of diagnosing water allergy includes a “water challenge test,” where the patient has cold water applied to his or her body for 30 minutes. Generally the water is applied to the upper body because other areas of the body are often inconsistent. If the test declares a negative, a full body shower or bath test may be needed. However, full body tests should never be done on patients who have displayed serious symptoms.

6) More common in women
Water allergy is more commonly diagnosed in women than it is in men. It generally starts to manifest itself during puberty.

7) No known cause
There is no known cause of water allergy. There are, however, several theories. Some scientists think that the allergy is not to the water itself, but to a dissolved substance within the water. Others believe that something on the patient’s skin reacts upon exposure to water. Whatever the exact cause, it is generally accepted that water allergy is not simply an allergy to pure water.

8) Often misdiagnosed
Water allergy is often misdiagnosed. Due to the rarity of the condition, doctors often diagnose it as an allergy to substances commonly found in water like chlorine, salt, or other pollutants.

9) Can result in anaphylactic shock.
Severe cases of water allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. Although symptoms are relatively mild for most patients, severe reactions can occur. Someone experiencing anaphylactic shock should have an epi-pen applied as soon as possible, and bystanders should call 911.

10) Lifelong
Unfortunately, water allergy is a lifelong struggle. However, studies have shown that as patients age, the severity of symptoms decrease.
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Thank you VM. I'm a physian Dermatologist. You accent is clear .facts about Aquagenic URTICARIA are still obscure.

ibrahimelguindy
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I am one out of thousands of people, if not hundreds, with Aquagenic Urtecaria since birth. I have lived for 27 years though I had my most fatal attack when I was 11 and the doctor told me I could have died if i was not rescued within 5 minutes after I became unconscious. Good thing information regarding this condition has been shared and hopefully there will be better ways to prevent more serious effect of having this condition.

a.claire
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I've suffered from this since I was 13. Sometimes I'm terrified to take a bath or get water on my skin. I've found the affirmation "There's nothing to fear." When repeated over and over greatly reduces the itching. Also, if I have dry clothes (long pants and sleeves) ready IN the bathroom to put on as soon as I get out, it barely happens. I can't be outside in humidity and even my own sweat causes itching. It's a very painful experience that causes anxiety at the same time. No one understands it and one time I went a month without bathing because the itch was so bad. It is a sad condition for sure. However, sometimes water doesn't affect me at all. I can't figure out why it happens sometimes and not others.

MissMamaLoula
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I’m going to go to a dermatologist soon because whenever I take a shower or go swimming I get rashes on my chest, arms, back, and now my stomach. It doesn’t burn or anything so I don’t think I have aquagenic urticaria. I don’t know if I’m getting early symptoms or what but hopefully it isn’t aquagenic urticaria.

emilykerley
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I've been living with Aquagenic Urticaria for 21 years (started when i was 13 y, and now I'm 34 y), and it just seems to get worse over time.. Started with a few hives after 15 minutes showering, and now i get a bunch of hives all over my chest, my back, my stomach, my neck and lately also on my jaw and chin, and the attacks begins right away after just 5 minutes of showering..

ronjadgodtfredsen
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I am diagnosed with this condition and it really isn't a joy when it is not controlled. Fortunately allergy medications (Costco brand Zyrtec) mellow down the reaction and at times prevent it all together. Friction is a catalyst for the reaction to begin. I swam in college and scratched my stomach while crossing over a lane line and it was game over from that point. Hives all over my body. Running is the same story when wearing compressed shirts. Roller skating while sweating my ass off unfortunately triggers it too! Where ever moisture is applied to my skin for an extended time with out any meds to suppress the allergy, triggers rashes and then hives. I fear to push the boundaries of my own knowledge with this, because it can get severe and very uncomfortable, but fortunately I do not have it too bad when seeing the full spectrum! Watched this video to learn more on it and I am pretty intrigued, thanks!

paulvega
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My brother haz this and it is the water. He tries washing with sterilized distilled water, which is 100% pure water with other contaminants in it. He broke out just like every other time, so he is truly allergic to the water molecule itself.

What works best for him is to take a couple of Benadryl before he gets the shower and then immediately put on Benadryl cream and or spray ovaries entire body. He practically buys that stuff in bulk.

jeffreyb.
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When I cry my eyelids burn to hell and so do my cheeks. When I wash my hands they burn, itch and sting in horrific pain, was on the floor for 30 mins. When I was my hands the reaction happens right away and lasts for 1 hour 30mins+. It mainly is my eyes and hands - only my legs turn red and blobby in the bath and shower but not as severe as my hands.

kamodo
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thanks for the facts i am one of the hundreds of people with aquagenic urticaria unfortunately.

fortnitegamerbro
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I am writing a research paper for medical school about this condition because I find rare conditions fascinating. I learned a large chunk of information in a neat, condensed format. Thank you for this! :)

anglicaclarkbarrett
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I have this condition too, I suffer everyday since I have to take a shower everyday, but during the winter time it's not as bad as in the summer.

droid
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Every time when I get out of the shower there’s rashes all over my legs and my neck, but then it fades in about an hr. Does this sound like water allergy.

meadowbell_
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Everyone and in every article it says that cool water shower can reduces the symptoms .. in my case when I get cold shower I have itching all over my body for 15 to 20 min. Very irritating. What I found if I take hot baths no matter for how long I never get any itch. So I started taking warm baths even in summer and I never get the itch. One more thing is that itching get sever in humid temperature during August and September when outside temperature is relatively cool as well and I take cold bath. So taking warm bath is my cure.

donniedarko
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every time when I get in touch with water or after taking a bath my skin start itching badly

LifeWithCandic
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I always thought I was allergic to basically every type of soap.. its always my lower legs, shoulders and chest. Im literally itchy right now and I always have scratches all over my back

ratzwilson
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Painful to see there is no cure to this horriffic pain.

sayantanmukherjee
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I have had this since about 10 or 11 I itch so bad after I shower I cry 😢 and usually last 15-30 minutes after.

Tiffany-hjcf
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Yes, thats me. From my experience, i only get the rashes(red average sized dots) after a *warm/hot* shower, and sweating(usually intensely), so im wondering is it related? Is it because of my self feeling hot thats why i get those rashes? Plus, the feeling of it is usually itchy on the body, and a burning sensation+ heat (face) on the spots with rashes. It doesnt itch on my face if i dont scratch it. Also, at first when i found out i had this problem, I wouldn’t feel anything on my face, no burning sensation, no itching on the body, but then slowly after that one experience, the bad sensations happen. I dont *break out* but its just painful i guess? It’s not a big deal for me tbh, it just feels bad 😅 and looks annoying+disgusting 😢

Yongboks_ramen_
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I was diagnosed with it, or urticaria due to heat, but it only happens with shower water and sometimes when I sweat, tears don’t do anything as far as I know.

diefakeonceler
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Very interesting. Thank you for sharing!

aaroncreagh