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MedHelp Member's Question

I have Aquagenic Urticaria does any one else?!

by sonygirl256, Mar 21, 2007 12:00AM
I've had aquagenic urticaria for 2 yrs now and where I live the doctor told me I am the only one that has this in the city.

I was told to do my research on this disease online because my doctor did not have much information about it because its occurance is so rare.

All the medication that was prescribed didnt work. Even using boxes of baking soda  in the bathtub doesnt work and thats what my dermatologist told me would get rid of the hives in the first place.

I'm sick of just dealing with the growing amount of itchy hives. My doctor told me with aquagenic the hives stay on the torso and rarely go anywhere else. After 2 yrs they have spread and go anywhere depending on the amount of time I'm showering/working out/ or even just standing in the sun or wearing my winter coat, and lately i just always have them.


I've dealt with this all alone long enough and I was wondering if there was anyone else who has it? Are there any other tricks of the trade to deal with this awful disease!!??

thanks alot!! <3 lauren
Member Comments (20)

by amazingstace, Mar 28, 2007 12:00AM
I am so sorry. I completely understand what you are going through, or atleast in a sense. I have had hives for 4 months now and nothing is making them go away or even get better. its so frustrating because this is the most crucial time in my life as I am a single mom trying to make a life for my 1 year old and I. I am just graduating college and interviewing for all these big jobs and its humiliating waking up with hives. I dont know whats causing them. ofcourse the doctor says stress. I have tried a lot of things but nothing has worked.. has your doctor prescribed anything?

by djermano, Oct 10, 2007 10:40AM
To: Lauren
Have you tried Calendula, or Marigold Flower and Chickweed. You can make a paste from the stems & flower tops. Also you can try Burdock root, and dandelion root made into a tincture. Just boil, cool, and drink.

by Rien634, Feb 20, 2008 05:38AM
To: Lauren
I have aquagenic urticaria too!
I live in the Netherlands and I was told that there are only a few people with aquenic urticaria in the world.
I take anti-histamine (128mg) every day, and it prevents most of it. I would really like to have other medication since this one makes me tired and I have problems concentrating.

When I take a swim in an outdoor swimming pool filled with tapwater I get hives which stay there for about 3 months, its terrible!

I hope this post helps you, since you posted your message already a while ago I hope you read it.

by anjie, Feb 20, 2008 08:06PM
my doctor (kaiser) told me I have urticaris vasculitis and the doctors in OSHU told me it's Granuloma annulare whom should I belive, I got better just few months ago and just left with scares all over my arm,legs,back and now it stated again I can understand what you are going threw. It is really terrible especally when I have to dress up and i love to wear sleeve less but I can't no more.I don't know if this is from cold weather sense I moved from CA to WA state.
If anyone can help me .

by neerou, Apr 13, 2008 01:54AM
Hello
I am 23 years old girl living in Mauritius. I have been suffering from aquagenic urticaria since 8 years now. i have tried many things but noting worked out well. it would be nice if somebody could help..

by qtcloud, Apr 13, 2008 11:10AM
To: hello
for the last bout of urticaria, my allergist (MD) prescribed a course of steroids, followed by the antihistamine Avarax, a new fast acting AH that seemed to do the trick.  

if you've tried everything and nothing works, you can look into Chinese medicine, herbs or even acupuncture, which my neighbor (had full body hives for weeks) tried.  It took one week using herbs and acupunture for hers to completely disappear.  Hang in there, it's not forever.

by Irenax, May 13, 2008 07:02PM
To: all
Well, I have also been suffering from aquagenic urticaria since I was 12/13 yrs old. I am 25 now. I have struggled with it for several years (the unbearable itching and red spots and hives everywhere, every time I take a shower or go to the pool or work out). It started when I lived in Germany, and now I live in Louisville, KY. It has not changed when I moved to KY 10 years ago. I mentioned it to my allergies few years ago, and she prescribed zyrtec (antihistamine). It helps all my allergies, including the water allergy. If I take the zyrtec every day, I do not itch and there are not red spots or hives. Zyrtec does make you quiet a bit tired, but you can take it before you go to bed.

by takari151, May 28, 2008 03:44PM
To: aquagenic urticaria people,
Actually I have the aquagenic urticaria also, And it doesn't just happen in the shower or the bath for me, it happens at lakes and pools, lotin, perfume and even when I sweat, I've had this for at least 2 years. I live in missouri and its usually really humid, And i itch almost all the time frome the little red skin bumps, they usually are from my neck to my lower torso.

by Dr_Aparna, Jun 06, 2008 02:47PM
To: sonygirl256
Hi,
Water urticaria, also known as aquagenic urticaria and aquagenous urticaria, is an extremely rare form of physical urticaria. It is sometimes described as an allergy. In affected persons, water on the skin causes hives to appear within 15 minutes and last for up to two hours.
Water contact can cause aquagenic urticaria, presumably due to chlorine or some other trace chemical in the water, although distilled water has been known to cause this reaction.
The reaction can usually be controlled with epinephrine, antihistamines, or cortisone-like drugs. Itching can be controlled with cold packs or commercial topical agents that contain menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, aloe, antihistamines, or cortisone preparations.
ref:http://www.myonlinewellness.com/topic/physicallergy



by alexa5207, Jun 07, 2008 03:31PM
i think i have the same thing because every time i take a shower/bath i get these red itchy bumps scattered on my body (in no particular place), they itch like crazy but if i dont scratch them they go away within an hr or so...it also happens when it rains. i never knew there was a name for it though. years ago i used to getchronic hives all over and my lips and eyes would swell every single day. when i went to an allergist he said that i wasnt allergic to anything in particular but that i had a condition (dont remember the name) that most young people get for a couple of years and then it just goes away. i had to take benadryl, zyrtec and singulair everyday for about a yr...now that doesnt happen to me everyday, but the thing with the bath/shower does. i dont know if thats related...

by rubez, Jun 11, 2008 12:16AM
To: All
I am 20 years old and have been suffering from Aquagenic Urticaria since around the age of 13. I break out in the rash whenever my chest or back come into contact with water from any source, at any temperature. I can take Fexotabs (an antihistamine) around an hour before contact with water to stop the break out, however only do this when in public or need to go out as soon as i've showered.
I read on another forum that a few people got piercings around the time of them developing the disorder. I got several piercings at that time and am interested to hear if anyone else did?
I wish someone would reseach this further and some day find a cure to this horrible debilitating illness.

by musicman123443, Jun 14, 2008 11:09PM
I am 18 years old and first started showing signs of aquagentic uticaria 7 years ago. I break out in hives mostly around my torso every time I come into contact with any kind of water--In the sea, in the shower, even my own sweat.

I was wondering whether anyone else who has this allergy has fair skin. I do, and I was curious as to whether this was a common precedent. Please let me know if this is the case.

by Sacramento_girl, Jun 18, 2008 03:02AM
To: All the suffering
WOW. i've never heard about this problem . i've heard and seen a person who is allergic  to sunlight. a lilttle girl about 8. so sad.  I hope with the new technology in this world that they will find something to help with your  problems.. i dont think i have any problems like that. i break out  with brown circles when i work out from the sweat but thats all. i dunno what it is but i've had them 4 about 2 years.
What about drinking water ? can you do that? Must fluids are basically water. what do you guys do?>