Water allergy is a very rare condition. Some people can develop symtoms of allergy just by being in contact with water. Therefore, it is possible to be allergic to water. What are the ways that this condition can be treated?
The scientific name for water allergy is aquagenic pruritis. This occurs when the affected person is exposed to water. It is not dependent of the temperature of the water. What happens when an afflicted person is exposed to water?
Symptoms of water allergy:
– Itching
– Burning
– Prickly sensation
– Red rash
These symptoms usually occur in the back, chest, arm or legs.
Treatment of water allergy
– Capsaicin cream has proved to be effective in treating the condition. It provides soothing and calming balm to the skin and eases the symptoms of the condition.
– In the same way as for other allergies, antihistamines can be used for water allergy in order to limit the severity of the reaction in the skin.
– Ultraviolet B phototherapy is also used for the skin to help with the symptoms.
– Leukotriene-receptor antagonists are used to treat this condition as well as beta-blockers.
Conditions often mistaken for water allergy
– Cold utricaria: This condition produces pain and swelling when the skjin is exposed to cold water.
– Polycythemia vera: This condition leads to itching in the skin when exposed to warm water.
In comparison with these conditions, water allergy is not conditional to the temperature of the water. Therefore, water allergy can occur regardless of whether the temperature of the water is warm or cold.
If you suffer from this rare condition you need to see a doctor in order to choose the right treatment for you. Systemic histamines are the most common treatment to start with. If they do not work, you can try the other treatment options for alleviating the symptoms.