Painfully Itching after ANY contact with water

[andeflora]

28 yo Female...
For the last 15 years, every time I get out of a shower, bath, pool, ocean... ANY contact with water, I itch. Not like a bug bite itch, painful can't stop scratching itch. The dr i saw told me it was in my head. I have tried benadryl, zyrtec and NOTHING. It's not just water, if I am out side and have shorts on and start sweating, my legs itch so bad I scratch until I bleed. There is no visable rash.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Andrea

[andeflora]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me! I will DEFINITELY try to see a allergy specialist ASAP. But if this is a rare condition will most allergy spec know about this or tell me i'm nuts like the other dermatologists I've seen.

Thank you again! I appreciate it more than you know. I will keep you updated!!!!

Sincerely,
Andrea

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

How are you?

Your symptoms are suggestive of water urticaria.
Water urticaria, or aquagenic urticaria, is a rare condition in which hives develop within 1 to 15 minutes after contact with water. The hives last for 10 to 120 minutes and do not seem to be caused by histamine release like the other physical hives.

Water urticaria is diagnosed by applying tap water and distilled water to the skin and observing the reaction. Contact dermatitis can be diagnosed from your symptoms and physical examination. Blood tests and x-rays are not helpful.

Treatment of water urticaria includes epinephrine, antihistamines, or cortisone-like drugs. To control itching,you can apply cold packs or commercial topical agents that contain menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, aloe, antihistamines, or cortisone preparations.These will help.

I sincerely advise you to consult an allergy specialist and start with the treatment.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts.