Allergy to water | Aquagenic Urticaria | Causes | Symptoms | Treatment

Allergy to water OR Aquagenic Urticaria

Introduction

Aquagenic urticaria is an uncommon condition in which hives develop after contact with water. Aquagenic hives are considered water allergies. The cause of aquagenic urticaria is unclear, but it may involve histamine release from mast cells triggered by copper or chlorine exposure. Symptoms include hives that appear within minutes after contact with water and last several hours before subsiding on their own.

Aquagenic urticaria is an uncommon form of physical urticaria.

Urticaria is a type of physical allergy that causes an itchy, red rash. It’s typically caused by a reaction to something in your environment that causes hives. For example, you might be allergic to pollen or mold — or perhaps even pet dander (the saliva and skin cells from house cats and dogs). In some cases, like aquagenic urticaria, this type of allergy can cause an itchy rash on your skin when you get too much water on it (like sweat).

Hives Urticaria

Aquagenic urticaria is characterized by hives caused by contact with water. Hives can be raised red welts, they may be itchy and painful, or they may not cause any symptoms at all.

Hives can appear on any part of your body but tend to occur most often on the face and neck (or around the eyes). They can also occur anywhere that you come into contact with water: for example if you swim in a pool or ocean.

Causes Aquagenic urticaria

Aquagenic urticaria causes are unclear, but exposure to water may lead to the release of histamine from mast cells.

There are no known allergies to water, but people with aquagenic urticaria may have a physical reaction to the water. This type of allergy is called an "allergic reaction" because it's caused by something outside the body that can cause symptoms such as hives and swelling (urticaria).

The release of histamine following exposure to water may lead to the development of this condition.

Signs and Symptoms 

Aquagenic urticaria signs and symptoms include hives that develop within minutes after exposure to water.

• Itching or burning sensation on the skin immediately after exposure to water.

• Hives that appear within minutes of being exposed to water (usually on your hands, arms, legs, and sometimes face).

• Hives are red, itchy bumps that can be in different places on your body.

• Hives can be small or large and raised or flat.

• Hives may be red or purple, but most hives have both a red color and a purple tip. 

The severity of the itching depends on where you have your hives, as well as how many of them you have at any given time (some people only get one).

Treatment

Aquagenic urticaria treatment includes avoiding sunlight exposure and using antihistamines.

Avoiding sunlight exposure is important because it can trigger an allergy.

Aquagenic urticaria treatment also includes avoiding water exposure, such as drinking or showering with tap water, swimming in lakes or oceans, or even just sitting near a fountain that sprays water onto you (this includes fountains at restaurants). 

Avoid steam rooms as well; they’re too often full of allergens due to their hot temperatures (which trigger your symptoms).

Preventive measures for Aquagenic urticaria

• Most people with aquagenic urticaria can avoid symptoms by not drinking or showering in water that has come into contact with copper or chlorine.

• If you drink tap water, be sure to use a pitcher instead of a glass so that you don't get any copper pieces in your mouth. If you have already been exposed to copper pipes and plumbing materials, there are steps you can take to prevent further exposure:

• Don't use the same faucet for more than one person at a time—if someone else uses the same faucet after you've used it, their hands may touch yours as they pour water into their own cups/plastic bottles/coolers (etc.) and then transfer those items back onto yours when they're finished using them. This could leave traces of metal particles behind on your skin!

Test for Aquagenic urticaria

There is no laboratory test for aquagenic urticaria. The only way to diagnose the condition is by getting a doctor to prick you with water and see if you get hives. You can also have blood tests done to check for histamine levels in your body, but this will not detect aquagenic urticaria as these tests measure overall levels of histamine in the body rather than just one specific type of histamine (a substance that causes itching).

Aquagenic urticaria occurs when the immune system makes an antibody called IgE (immunoglobulin E) against certain substances called allergens. These allergens include proteins found in plants like grass or pollen; chemicals produced by these plants; other substances such as dust particles from carpets or furniture made from materials such as wool which contain minute amounts of dander from animals living outdoors who shed their fur all year round so we breathe them every day too!

It is a rare disease

Water allergy can be a serious condition, but it is not dangerous. It is a rare disease that only affects about 1 in 100 people.

If you want to treat your water allergy, there are two options: desensitizing shots or oral antihistamines (which are usually taken every day). 

The first option involves getting a shot in your arm several times over the course of several weeks; this helps build up a tolerance so that you're less likely to have an allergic reaction when exposed again later on. 

The second option involves taking daily oral antihistamines that help reduce certain symptoms like itching or hives caused by exposure to water-containing allergens such as pollen grains or fish scales particles which may cause an allergic reaction if swallowed by someone with allergies associated with foods consumed regularly throughout their lives including those from fish species such as salmon, trout, carp, mackerel, sea bass, tuna, bluegill, stingray, shrimp, lobster, crab, crawfish, eel, eelpout, jellyfish, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, squid ink.

Conclusion

Aquagenic urticaria is a rare but serious condition that can be life-threatening. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent this disease, including avoiding the sun and showering in water that has not come into contact with copper or chlorine. The most important thing is to keep yourself safe from this condition by using a sunscreen every day!