Water allergy, scientifically known as aquagenic hives, is a rare disease in which the skin develops red and irritated patches shortly after skin contact with water, regardless of temperature or composition. Thus, people with this condition often have an allergy to any type of water, whether sea, pool, sweat, hot, cold or even filtered to drink, for example.
This type of allergy is generally more common in women, but it can also occur in men and early symptoms usually appear in adolescence.
- As the cause of this disease is not yet known.
- There is no cure for it either.
- However.
- Your dermatologist may advise the use of certain techniques.
- Such as exposure to ultraviolet rays or taking antihistamines to relieve discomfort.
The most common symptoms of a water allergy include
These signs usually appear in areas near the head, such as the neck, arms, or chest, but can also spread throughout the body, depending on the area that has been in contact with water. These spots tend to disappear between 30 and 60 minutes after removing contact with water.
In more severe situations, this type of allergy can also cause anaphylactic shock with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, a lump in the throat, or a swollen face, for example. In these cases, you should go to the hospital immediately to start treatment and avoid running out of air. Learn more about anaphylactic shock and what to do.
The diagnosis of water allergy should always be made by a dermatologist as it is necessary to study the entire medical history as well as the type of symptoms.
However, there is a test your doctor can do to determine if the cause of the stains is actually water. In this test, the dermatologist dips a gauze in water at 35 degrees Celsius and places it in the chest area. After 15 minutes, it checks whether spots have appeared in the area and, if so, evaluates the type of stain and the symptoms involved, to arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Although there is no cure for water allergy, there are certain forms of treatment that your dermatologist may indicate to relieve discomfort:
In more severe cases, where symptoms of anaphylactic shock often occur, your doctor may also prescribe an epinephrine pen, which should always be carried in a bag for use in an emergency.
The best way to prevent allergic symptoms is to avoid skin contact with water, however, this is not always possible, especially when bathing or drinking water is necessary.
So, some techniques that may help include
In addition, the application of creams for very dry skin, such as Nivea or Vasenol, as well as sweet almond oil or petroleum jelly can also help relieve symptoms, as they create a barrier between the skin and water, especially during rainy periods or when it is difficult to avoid accidental contact with water.
There is still no specific cause for the onset of a water allergy, however, scientists point to 2 possible theories. The first is that the allergy is actually caused by substances that dissolve in water and eventually enter the body through the pores and cause an exaggerated immune system response.
However, the other theory is that allergy occurs because, in people with the disease, the contact of water molecules with the skin creates a toxic substance that causes spots to appear.
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