Water allergy: symptoms, causes and treatment

Water allergy is a rare condition in which the skin becomes red and irritated shortly after contact with water, regardless of its temperature or composition. People with this condition are generally allergic to any type of water, whether from the sea, the pool, sweat, hot, cold or even filtered drinking water.

This type of allergy, scientifically known as aquagenic urticaria, is more common in women and the first symptoms usually appear in adolescence.

Since the cause of this disease is not yet known, there is no treatment to cure it. However, the dermatologist may advise the use of certain techniques, such as exposure to UV rays or taking antihistamines to alleviate discomfort.

Main symptoms

The most common symptoms in case of water allergy include:

• Red spots on the skin that appear after coming into contact with water;
• Itching or burning sensation on the skin;
• Swollen patches on the skin without redness.

These signs normally appear in places close to the head, such as the neck, arms or chest, but they can also spread throughout the body, depending on the region that has been in contact with the water. These stains tend to disappear approximately 30 to 60 minutes after removing contact with water.

In more serious situations, this type of allergy can also cause an anaphylactic shock with symptoms such as a feeling of shortness of breath, wheezing when breathing, a lump in the throat or a swollen face, for example. In these cases, you should go to the hospital immediately to start treatment and avoid becoming short of breath. Find out more about what anaphylactic shock is and what to do.

Online symptom test

To find out if you have an allergy, please indicate your symptoms below:

This test is only a guidance tool and, therefore, is not intended to provide a diagnosis or replace consultation with an allergist, immunologist or general practitioner.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of water allergy should always be made by a dermatologist as it is necessary to study the entire clinical history, as well as the type of symptoms.

If you think you may have a water allergy, make an appointment with a nearby dermatologist to evaluate your symptoms and confirm or rule out the diagnosis:

However, there is a test that a doctor can do to identify whether the cause of the stains is actually water. In this test, the dermatologist dips gauze in water at 35ºC and places it on an area of ​​the chest. After 15 minutes, assess whether stains have appeared at the site and, if they have, evaluate the type of stain and the symptoms involved, to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Possible causes

There is still no defined cause for the emergence of water allergy, however, scientists indicate that there are two theories to explain this situation. The first is that the allergy is actually caused by substances that are dissolved in water and that end up entering the body through the pores and causing an exaggerated response from the immune system.

On the other hand, the second theory says that the allergy arises because, in affected people, the contact of water molecules with the skin creates a toxic substance that leads to the appearance of spots.

Check out other diseases that can lead to the appearance of red spots on the skin.

What is the treatment like?

Although there is no cure for water allergy, there are some forms of treatment that may be recommended by a dermatologist to alleviate discomfort:

• Antihistaminessuch as Cetirizine or Hydroxyzine: reduce histamine levels in the body, which is the substance responsible for the appearance of allergy symptoms and, therefore, can be used after contact with water to alleviate discomfort;
• Anticholinergicssuch as Scopolamine: also appear to reduce symptoms when used before exposure;
• Barrier creams or oils: more suitable for people who practice physical activities or who need to come into contact with water, to apply before exposure, relieving discomfort.

In more serious cases, in which symptoms of anaphylactic shock usually appear, the doctor may also prescribe an epinephrine pen, which should always be carried in a bag so that it can be used in emergency situations.

Care to avoid allergies

The best way to prevent allergy symptoms from appearing is to avoid skin contact with water, however, this is not always possible, especially when you need to bathe or drink water.

So, some techniques that can help include:

• Don’t swim in the sea or in the pool;
• Take just 1 to 2 baths per weekfor less than 1 minute;
• Avoid intense physical exercise that causes a lot of sweat;
• Drink water using a straw to avoid water contact with your lips.

Additionally, applying creams for extra dry skin, such as Nivea or Vasenol, as well as sweet almond oil or Vaseline can also help alleviate symptoms, as they create a barrier between the skin and water, especially during rainy periods or when It is difficult to avoid accidental contact with water.