Allergic to Water – A Bizarre Allergy
Allergic to Water – An unfortunate allergy
photo by Tigerlily 09
Did you know there are some people out there who are allergic to water? It’s true! There are two conditions: aquagenic urticaria and aquagenic pruritus – both of which are allergic reactions to water.
How is that possible? How to people stay hydrated? How do they bathe? In aquagenic urticaria contact with water causes hives. In aquagenic pruritus contact with water causes extreme prickliness and itchiness. See, in the first one (let’s call it AU for short), the person is reacting to the ions in non-distilled water. So in that case, you’re probably safe with distilled water. Make sure it’s distilled, though, because the hives pop up and can last for hours.
In AP, unlike AU, the reaction is caused by a histamine. (A histamine is what causes an inflammatory response in a person). This is another one of those diseases that have been met with a lot of speculation. People would feel this crazy itchiness and pain after contact with water, but there are no surface symptoms. So, people wouldn’t believe that people were really feeling all this discomfort because of plain old water.
It’s a real condition, though, and people really suffer with it. Sometimes people with this condition react to just moist air – so humidity is bad, right? Some people find relief in applying heat to their skin directly after bathing, and for others that makes it worse. Sometimes creams or allergy medicines (like Claritin) work, and sometimes it’s just no use – the water makes them itchy.
This is definitely up there in the “allergies we’re glad we don’t have” department, because we love water slides and bubble baths!
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wow……….
wow indeed that must be frustrating since every good food is made out of water im glad im not u
bye
Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my website something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my site?
I’m have this disease and as a teenager I can honestly say it sucks!! I can’t go swimming without my body breaking out in hives, when I get out of the shower my body feels like it’s on fire, but unfortunately there is nothing i can do to make it go away. When some people see it they think I’m weird and contgious but it’s not. I’ve had this since 2nd grade and I’m praying some day it goes away!
Hi there. This is in fact true…I have been a sufferer of a water allergy for 5 years now. It developed after I contracted Dengue Fever. A lot of people develop this allergy after having something like this…one girl got it after having tonsilitis, one after shingles, one after malaria…different things. But there seems to always be a catalyst. Contrary to popular belief though, it is a SKIN allergy, which means we CAN drink water. I get nasty itchy and sore hives after showering, bathing, swimming, sweating, humid air, swimming in the sea and rain though. It is definitely an awful and very unattractive and life-limiting allergy. when i was younger I wanted to be an olymic swimmer. My allergy crushed my dream because it is now too painful for me to be in the water. But I deal with it. BEcause i have to. But it depresses me a hell of a lot.
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Thanks for thus article. It really does happen, as I have been a sufferer of “AU” for just under two years now. It is very frustrating and can last up to an hour. My back, shoulders and chest are both affected really badly. Swimming is out of the question for me, which is annoying as I am a very sporty person, and it means if I do other sorts i sweat, which also cues a reaction.thank god I can drink water, as it is a skin condition. But surprisingly enough, I only developed this after getting the cold. Most people get it after a more serious disease, but not in my case. It is depressing, but life has to go on. Thanks for reading, and I feel for other sufferers out there. Xx
I ave had this all my life, and thought I was allergic to the chemicals in the shampoo or soaps. My mother also has it. It was only by chance that I read about someone else who has it, that i realised what it was. No GP evr told me about this, again they thought it was a reaction to chemicals in the products I was using. I could never understand why it occured when i went to the beach or even sweating. My face becomes very read and blotchy for a long time after having a shower, as does the rest of me.
I think my brother used to experience this. Anytime he would take a shower, go to the beach or whatever, he would complain. We thought nothing of it, and thought it was the chemicals in the pool, or whatever other irritants. But I guess like other intolerance that come and go or whatever it may be, it was just temporary and short lived. Interesting to know that it could have turned into an allergic reaction that was long term.
Hi Candyman
I’m really intrigued by the fact you said you’re brother HAD it and that it was just temporary. May i ask how long he seemed to have it for?
I have just been diagnosed with the condition and have had it for a month now but am really hoping it will disappear asap. I would be very interested in learning more about your brother’s experience
I was just Told today that I have this. Mine isn’t as sever. I only get it from sweating, and showering. I don’t have it all the time, it’s painful sometimes but I typically am fine. I never would have thought I had this. I can’t remember not having it since I was about 9 though it seems my symptoms are getting worse. I’m 15 but they said that it’s possible this could pass. I also havent gone through something that changed how my body is. It just started to appear.
Im 25 and I’ve had this for over 3 years, I have no idea how it started.
I first noticed a couple of itchy hives on my chest if I had a bath or shower and thought it must be my shower gel.
We then went abroad and I was in the Salt Water pool with my son and again they were there.
Same happened in our hot tub.
No they are on my chest, back, down my arms and slowly moving down my legs.
I have a new baby and the arm that I used to hold him when I bath him gets covered.
I can deal with the itching as it only lasts for about 30-40 mins.
Just dreading going on holidays and to swimming pools with my children but I will try taking piriton before I go.
My daughter contracted thermogenic aquagenic urticaria. She’s not allergic tot he water itself, but rather to COLD water. When struck by raindrops she will blister like she was struck with boiling water. Large, water, raised blisters that last for a few hours and then go away. (If left alone.) The blisters look truly horrific.
She started showing symptoms of this after becoming hypothermic while swimming in a cold creek. Her breathing stopped and EMT’s had to perform CPR and rush her to the hospital. Scary stuff!! She was twelve, she is now 25 and there has been NO lessening of the symptoms.
We have sound that a dose of benedryl will prevent/lessen the worst of it. (So she can go swimming. Occasionally.) Hope that helps some of you other sufferers.