Am I Allergic to Water?

[mabs89]

Im 25 years old and I believe i'm allergic to water! When I take showers, go swimming in pools or beaches, and sweat I get itchy red spots on my chest, back and mostly on my stomach. When I drink water I feel nauseous and want to puke! When I cry my eyes get itchy and burn? I just want to know what to do to help control it or get rid of it!

[evewisewoman]

Hello there,

I don't think you are allergic to water.  I think you may be allergic to an ingredient in the water. My guess is chlorine. You say when you go swimming in pools you get itchy red spots on your chest, back and stomach. That could possibly be the chlorine which is in all swimming pools. You say your eyes get itchy and burn.  That is the chlorine in the swimming pool most likely.  How do I know this ?  I used to take swimming lessons and the chlorine made my eyes itchy and they felt like they were burning.  At the end of each swimming lesson, I used to put a special eye ointment in my eyes to get rid of the stinging sensation.  After swimming in the swimming pool and after you have changed back into your street clothes, take your bathing suit and rinse it really well under a tap. This will remove some of the chlorine. I suspect it is the chlorine that is causing the itchy red spots on your body.  Buy at least 2 bathing suits so you don't wear the same one all the time and hand wash your bathing suits. I hope my suggestions have been helpful.  The next time you go to your family doctor, tell your doctor you think you may be allergic to chlorine , that your eyes get itchy and what she or he suggests .  I wish you well.  Eve

[skydnsr]

Look up the Wikipedia article on urticaria, and scroll down to "Cause," and see if solar-induced, water-induced, or exercise-induced urticaria ring any bells for you.  I don't know what to tell you to do for treatment, but having a name for your condition may help you in talking to doctors about it.  Good luck.