Aquagenic urticaria
Encyclopedia
Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water urticaria and aquagenous urticaria, is a rarely diagnosed form of physical urticaria
. It is sometimes described as an allergy
, although it is not a true histamine
releasing allergic reaction like other forms of urticaria. The defining symptom is a painful skin reaction resulting from contact with water
.This may also be a cause of different temperatures of water, such as cold or hot and can flare with chemicals such as chlorine
can cause a reaction, so most affected people try to stay cool in summer to avoid sweating as much as possible. Tears
on one's face from crying can also cause pain. Most people with aquagenic urticaria try to stay out of the rain and carry umbrellas as a precautionary measure. Cleansing the body often induces such an intense reaction that affected people may take very short showers to lessen the severity of the pain.
Physical urticaria
Physical urticarias represent a distinct subgroup of the urticarias that are induced by an exogenous physical stimulus rather than occurring spontaneously.The most common form of physical urticaria is dermatographism....
. It is sometimes described as an allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
, although it is not a true histamine
Histamine
Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. Histamine triggers the inflammatory response. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by...
releasing allergic reaction like other forms of urticaria. The defining symptom is a painful skin reaction resulting from contact with water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
.This may also be a cause of different temperatures of water, such as cold or hot and can flare with chemicals such as chlorine
Symptoms
Aquagenic urticaria usually causes the skin to itch and burn after being exposed to water of any kind. The skin may develop hives. Showers may result in severely dry eyes and soreness. Higher water temperatures tend to expedite the formation of hives. Shortness of breath or swelling in the throat can occur when drinking water. The pain usually persists for between 10–120 minutes.Causes
Contact with any form of water can cause symptoms to appear. One's own or someone else’s sweatSWEAT
SWEAT is an OLN/TSN show hosted by Julie Zwillich that aired in 2003-2004.Each of the 13 half-hour episodes of SWEAT features a different outdoor sport: kayaking, mountain biking, ice hockey, beach volleyball, soccer, windsurfing, rowing, Ultimate, triathlon, wakeboarding, snowboarding, telemark...
can cause a reaction, so most affected people try to stay cool in summer to avoid sweating as much as possible. Tears
Tears
Tears are secretions that clean and lubricate the eyes. Lacrimation or lachrymation is the production or shedding of tears....
on one's face from crying can also cause pain. Most people with aquagenic urticaria try to stay out of the rain and carry umbrellas as a precautionary measure. Cleansing the body often induces such an intense reaction that affected people may take very short showers to lessen the severity of the pain.
Treatment
There is no known treatment for aquagenic urticaria. Dermatologists recommend avoiding contact with water as much as possible by taking short showers, staying cool, and avoiding rain to ease symptoms. Antihistamines, Zostrix, and other types of medications may be prescribed to help reduce the intensity of the reaction.See also
- Aquagenic pruritusAquagenic pruritusAquagenic pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, intense, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water.-Presentation:...
- AquadyniaAquadyniaAquadynia is a variant of aquagenic pruritus, and characterized by a widespread burning pain that lasts 15 to 45 minutes after water exposure....
- Cholinergic urticariaCholinergic urticariaCholinergic urticaria is a subcategory of physical urticaria that is a skin rash brought on by a hypersensitive reaction to body heat...
- List of cutaneous conditions
External links
- About.com Dermatology Article
- Dailymail Teenage girl who is allergic to water - The Daily Mail News
- Dailymail