Everyone knows that a person consists mainly of water. If there is a loss of moisture by the body at the level of 10-15%, then this leads to death. But, despite everything said, some people have a disease like Aquagenic Urticaria - an allergy to water.
People have long been suffering from various allergic reactions to certain foods, and paradoxically it may sound, but one of them can be ordinary water. An allergy to water can occur both after a habitual shower, and after a person gets wet in the rain or bathes in a pond or sea.
Symptoms of this type of allergy
More recently, very little attention was paid to this problem, since it was believed that allergies to water are a very rare disease. Recently, more and more complaints have been received from people that they have this particular type of allergy.
The first sign of a specified allergic reaction is a localized rash that appears in certain areas of the body, for example, on the arms, stomach or neck, under the knees, on the face. Also, an allergy to water can be accompanied by the appearance of urticaria, which is characterized by itching, and it can be determined by the presence of red spots, while their center is slightly lighter than the entire spot.
If at first the symptoms of allergy appear on separate parts of the body, then gradually they spread to significantly larger areas of the body. Unlike other types, an allergy to water does not cause the appearance of cough and runny nose, as well as edema, cases of anaphylactic shock are not registered.
There are difficult cases when a person has an allergy in any contact with water and even from his own sweat, but these are isolated options. In many people, an allergic reaction to tap water occurs, and there is no allergy to seawater. In some cases, on the contrary, sea and mineral water causes allergies, while the body responds normally to tap water. But in this case, an allergy will be noted not to water, but to some of its components.
Why does this type of allergy occur?
All experts are unanimous in the opinion that this is a consequence of a weakened immunity. It is weakened due to the use of certain drugs, diseases of the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands and other organs that take part in the process of filtering everything entering the human body even through the pores of the skin.
Very often, an allergy does not happen to the water itself, but to the substances that make up its composition or are used with it, for example, soap, shampoo, and detergents. Poor cleaning of tap water is also sometimes carried out and components that cause allergies can get into it. The same applies to allergies to certain water, since there are a large number of various impurities in the water, and the body of each person reacts to them individually.
But there is also a true allergy to water, while allergic reactions occur after contact with any water. People suffering from this type of allergy should be very careful to carry out any water procedures.
Treatment methods
While this type of allergy is poorly understood and there is no medical remedy for such an allergy. But all people who are allergic to water have elevated immunoglobulin E and histamine. Therefore, the treatment of allergic diseases is to reduce these indicators, for which antihistamines are taken in the form of tablets, ointments, gels.
In some people, these allergic reactions go away on their own after contact with water is complete. Usually this happens after 30-60 minutes, but it all depends on the individual qualities and reactions of the person.
Despite all this, water is necessary for human life, and it is impossible to do without it. It is necessary to monitor your health and in no case do self-medication.