I have Aquagenic Urticaria does any one else?!

[sonygirl256]

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

[KARLOS21]

I am 44 years old and suffered from this on and off over the years, some times it's really bad other times nothing. One thing I have noticed is water temp' - if luke warm or cooler it makes the itching worse. If I go out of Birmingham (UK) -usually Somerset, I get minimal or no symptoms here or elsewhere, there must be something in the water - I know there's Fluoride in the Birmingham water along with Chlorine so maybe this is factor. I also surf regularly and sea water has minimal effect. Swimming at the the local baths can make me itch but far less than home showering, so maybe the fact that excercise can calm it - by the way, I only itch after I have dried myself - usually about 5-10 min's after doing so when ever or where ever affected. Antihistamine can help an hour BEFORE showering or massaging the area rather than scratching - I get it all over my body. Try tricking your itching by getting in and out of the shower for different periods and / or different temperatures. May be there's a food link depending on what's been eaten before showering, or state of mind /stress, who knows, so may variables??? Good luck to you all!

[Guest75]

I have aquagenic urticaria but it's almost completely controlled by a daily antihistamine tablet.  I have had it for around 23 years, since I was 10 or 11, and I think it's fairly mild, although if I don't take an antihistamine for a day or two I know all about it!  Even with the daily antihistamine I still get itchy after a shower but other than that it doesn't bother me at all.  

I have generally changed antihistamine every 4 or 5 years as they become less effective as your body gets used to it; also new and more effective drugs are brought out every so often.  I currently take Misolastine (or Mizollen) once a day.  I'm not sure if makes me drowsy as I take it before I go to bed.  I have also found Clarityn (Loratidine) and Zirtek (Cetrizine) work quite well.  It's important to take the antihistamine daily as it needs to build up in your system in order to get (relatively) continual 'protection'.  

[supercoolperson]

From supercoolperson 3 mins later....

Another thing I want to mention which is weird ( and adds to my doubt that I have this condition at all) is that there are three patches where the hives/rash used to appear frequently which are now perminently light brown. Almost like these areas of the rash have died and don't flare up anymore. They've been there for a few years and I can't remember what i did, if anything, to make them go this way. These patches, strangely, seem to always have tiny flakes of dead skin on them, like this skin is growing and dying faster than the skin around it. I don't mind them, as long as they don't all go like this or else I'll be covered in light brown patches... anyone else had this?

[studiostriver]

I having the same problem and brown/yllow pigment is getting bigger.And I only have water allergy to this part of body.I must say I getting pretty scared.I`ve been to doctor,and some creme,but even thou they know anybody who have allergy to water,just to give life to dry skin.
I will go in near future to specialists to try to remove that brown pigment if it is possible.

[14_t_e_c]

I am 14 years old and have Aquagenic urticaria, I get small hives, they go away after an hour or so, and stay on my belly and chest, but I get them after going in any kind of water, I have the worst reaction after I shower, salt water is almost as bad, but not quite, lakes and rivers I only get a rash and is not quite as bad as the other reactions. I&#39;m scared its going to get worse, have your reactions gotten worse as you have gotten older? none of my friends think I'm telling the truth because they think it isn't possible, I sent them a picture once, but they thought it was makeup because I am always doing stuff like that on myself, any advice to get them to believe me?

[PinyanB1]

No, however I recently did get some awful and itchy rash briefly. It itches so bad I thought I'd loose my mind. I found Gold Bond anti itch/rash cream with cortisone, so it kinda numbs the area itching and u don't feel it! Brilliant idea and it worked wonders so I keep 2 bottles at all times on my shelf. When I was out early on and neede, I used orajel (it numbs the same way right). Yes it was wonderful and worked a charm! Try it!

[Edskins5]

Hey i also have this. For 1st year or to i was given creams to rub on skin but couple yeara later only found out it internal so creams dont help. A chemical in your body is released when u come in contact with water or either if its too cold or too warm in temp. Im on 3 different types of antu histamines which sort of help. Sometimes my skin itches for hours its that bad. Had it from i was 17 and im now 28. It has eased abit over the years so im hoping a few more down the line il acc be able to enjoy taking a shower lol havent been in a swimming pool or the sea in years and it *****.
Eddie