Aquagenic Pruritus (itching after contact with water)

[Mark T]

Aquagenic pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, intense, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water.

Symptoms may be felt immediately after contact with water or humid air and can persist for an hour or longer. Other triggers may be sweat, blowing air, temperature differences, changing clothes, contact with synthetic fibers, and lying down to try to sleep. This condition may persist for years.Aquagenic pruritus seems to appear equally in both genders regardless of age and among people with varying skin tones. It is sometimes a symptom of primary polycythemia or polycythemia vera. Strictly speaking, Aquagenic pruritus is not a discrete disease but a cluster of symptoms. In some families, a tendency toward Aquagenic Pruritus appears to be hereditary. Very little research has been done on this condition, and there is much to be learned.

This disease is not to be taken lightly since the intensity of the itch impedes normal activities, limits bathing, and very commonly leads to severe depression. People have been known to suffer alone with this condition for years because family members and doctors did not believe there was a physical cause to the invisible symptoms. Upon receiving a diagnosis of aquagenic pruritus, many people express relief that the condition has been validated, and they are not "going crazy

The information above was taken from wikipedia and while the majority of it applies to me I should point out a few things about how my symptoms come about.

After showering (and only showering, baths are fine) I get a really bad itching sensation on my legs chest and arms. It only happens in the morning and during the day, I've never had a problem with it in the evening. I have recently started going to the gym in the morning and I choose not to shower at the gym as it is too humid when I leave the shower.

When showering in the morning I have to leave the bathroom door open so that there is some cold air passing over my body. If I were to get out into any kind of warm air the itching is intense. I have managed to keep it under control by keeping cool. Some people prefer to get out into warm air and it seems to vary from case to case.

When I mention the problem to people I normally get the same response which is "have you tried a different shower gel?" or "Try a different detergent". Believe me, nothing works.

Luckily my symptoms are mild compared to others but they can be extremely painful if I don't do things in a set routine (shown below)

1) Shower water must be warm, if it gets too hot it will set the itching off while in the shower

2) I cannot "scrub" my skin. I have to pat or use my hand to spread the shower gel

3) There must be a circulation of colder air than the bathroom coming in. This helps to keep the itching to a minimum.

4) When drying I cannot rub my skin, I have to pat myself down. Once dry I have to leave the bathroom as the warm air seems to irritate the dry skin.

5) I cannot dress straight away. I have to sit around for 10-15 mins partially nude so that I don't get too hot. I cannot apply any moisturiser to my body torso but my face is normally ok.

Don't forget that this only happens in the mornings and during the day, evenings are fine. I have read that in the morning your body will try to release toxins through the skin which could be a reason for the morning problem. I should also add that going to the gym prior to showering actually helps as I start sweating before I get into contact with water. The itching also occurs when I first start sweating at the gym but this is by no means as bad as a normal shower.

Just thought I would post this on here for any other members that may experience similar problems. It seem to be quite rare and hereditary as my older brother has the same problem.

 

[Famine]

You live in a notoriously hard-water area. How do you react in softer-water areas or places with artificially softened water?

My better half used to have to take anti-histamines for reaction to water when she/we lived in East Angular but up North she's fine (and our house has a combi-boiler, so has a hardness-remover on the main inbound pipe).

 

[Mark T]

You live in a notoriously hard-water area. How do you react in softer-water areas or places with artificially softened water?

My better half used to have to take anti-histamines for reaction to water when she/we lived in East Angular but up North she's fine (and our house has a combi-boiler, so has a hardness-remover on the main inbound pipe).

To be honest I cannot really say I've tested it out. I've stayed in various hotels all over the country and from memory I can't remember being very itchy. Although saying that when I do stay in hotels I have primarily had baths (to avoid the itching unpleasantness and to make sure I get my monies worth of water )

However I have read on some forums that a hard water filter may help. Anti-histamines are also an option although I really detest taking any kind of prescription drugs. If Mrs Famine could confirm that she was having similar symptoms to me then it give me some hope.

I have just been looking into the filters and the Vitamin C shower head filters look promising. Our hot water comes from cylinder so a filter for that may be a bit too expensive.

 

[Omnis]

anti histamines are OTC.

Also, that is awful. I hope it's just a hard water thing as Famine suggested.

 

[Mark T]

anti histamines are OTC.

Also, that is awful. I hope it's just a hard water thing as Famine suggested.

I still don't like the idea of having to take medication to cure something which I do everyday. Luckily my itching isn't really bad but I know that it's going to get worse as spring/summer approaches. A shower filter is going to be my next purchase.

 

[Omnis]

Well there are plenty of gels and lotions and stuff that might help.

If I didn't have that for insect bites I'd suffer.

 

[Mark T]

I'm tempted to try something like that again but from experience any kind of cream touching my skin after a shower makes me really uncomfortable. Even the thought of it now makes my toes curl.

 

[opelgt1969]

4) When drying I cannot rub my skin, I have to pat myself down. Once dry I have to leave the bathroom as the warm air seems to irritate the dry skin.

Have you tried turning the Hot water off and letting the cold water run to cool the bathroom down?

 

[Mark T]

I haven't tried that, but letting cold water run over me is torture in itself. I should try turning the temperature as low I can withstand for maybe a minute before I finish.

 

[Sprite]

That sound pretty bad buddy, sorry to hear your having such problems.

Im not sure if you have read this but may help.

How to Get Rid of Aquagenic Pruritus

The most effective treatment of the aquagenic pruritus involves the desensitization of the skin through phototherapy. The following are a few tips on treating the bathing itch:

1. Though most antihistamines are ineffective in aquagenic pruritus, a combination of long acting antihistamines like Cetrizine 10 mg and short acting antihistamines like Cyproheptadine 4 mg is useful in reducing the intensity of the itching in the water induced pruritus.
2. Before bath, apply an oil based emollient lotion to your body, face, and limbs. This will reduce water coming in direct contact with the skin and will reduce the intensity of itching.
3. If itching occurs, in addition to the antihistamine combination above, apply Capsaicin cream to the skin, immediately after the bath.
4. Avoid forcible showers, hot water or prolonged stay in the pool. Use the pool and bath water when it is at body temperature. Those who have cold urticaria or itching following cold exposure will feel better with warm water bath and increased itching following contact with cold water.
5. Use only cotton dresses, cotton sheets and cotton quilts on your bed. Any contact with synthetic dresses, woolen blankets etc will increase the tendency to itch.
6. Avoid alcohol, coffee, hot, spicy, fried fast foods. Drink lots of fresh fruit juices (except mango) and eat more vegetables.
7. If the itching is intense and intractable, phototherapy with Psoralen-UVA or filtered UVB will provide excellent results in most patients. These are available in most dermatologists’ offices.

 

[Mrs. Famine]

Your symptoms sound way more severe than mine, Mark.

I was able to shower quite happily, my itching would occur the next day and would primarily affect my jawline, upper arms, back, tummy and thighs - basically my more sensitive skin. I would come out in large raised spots where the itching was. It probablt doesn't help that I have dermographism!

I was referred to a dermatologist who sent me for patch tests, it may be worth your while to ask your GP for a referral. It didn't show anything up for me apart from a random plant and the tape they secured the tests with (I'm PVC allergic). I eventually worked out for myself that it was the limescale in the water down south causing my problem, I'm fine oop north. I still take my anti-histamines before I shower if I'm staying in a hard water area because the itching drives me mental otherwise.

I was prescribed Fexofenadine 180mg eventually - I trialled every single other anti-histamine and that is the only one which controls my symptoms. It's definitely worth you seeing a dermatologist and getting a filter for your shower.

 

[Christian_C]

Hmmm,

I can't say I have anything major like this although every time I get out of the shower for about 10-15 minutes afterwards my thighs itch ridiculously badly.

By the sounds of it your condition is 100x worse than what I experience so I can only imagine how bad it must be for you. Hope you find a solution soon.

 

[PeterJB]

My ankles often itch after leaving the shower and go bright red along with my feet. Whenever I lay my back on any kind of surface the same day I've showered it itches really badly, but I have a habit of getting very dry skin, especially in the winter.

 

[opelgt1969]

I haven't tried that, but letting cold water run over me is torture in itself. I should try turning the temperature as low I can withstand for maybe a minute before I finish.

What I was meaning by letting the cold water run was after you get out let the cold water in the shower run to cool the bathroom not you!💡

 

[Mark T]

What I was meaning by letting the cold water run was after you get out let the cold water in the shower run to cool the bathroom not you!💡

I see, will also try that. 👍

 

[niky]

Try a water softener before anything... I react like that to our water (deep well, hard as rocks...), but other places, I'm perfectly fine.

Strangely, I've found that certain soaps ease it... certain soaps tend to leave a sticky, irritating film if you're using hard water... I'm using some kind of weird herbal papaya soap, which is the only one that cuts it for me... hypoallergenic soap doesn't help.

 

[Omnis]

 

[Paulie]

I've never heard of such a conditions, my condolences to sufferers. (Never knew water could be hard or soft either).
Is there a difference for you between town water and tank water?

 

[blkvzgo]

I have a similar problem. After taking a shower or swimming at the sea I sometimes get itchy and my body is covered with red spots. Strangely this doesn't seem to happen on a regular basis, so I don't feel like doing something about it. Maybe you should see a dermatologist.