Water

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Hey everyone,

Since a young child I have had issues with touching water with my hands and feet. I won't go into all the details but for many years I would wear gloves after touching water or would cake my hands in lotion as the feeling I had after touching water was so uncomfortable (not painful though). Since my mid teens I have worn plastic gloves in the shower and try not to let my hands or feet get wet as much as possible. In my late teens I finally sought help from my doctor as it really affects my life and I'm sure I get ill so much because I don't wash my hands as much as I should. It took a while for them to think what it could be, but I was diagnosed with aquagenic pruritus (google it if you want). The doctor was a bit baffled though because it only happens on my hands and feet and no treatments he tried made it any better, so he gave up.

Since then I've realised I have AS, and I'm beginning to think could it be related to that as all my senses are very heightened or could it just be that I do have aquagenic pruritus and I should persevere with trying to find a way that will help. If anyone has symptoms anything like this I would beg you to get in touch. It affects my life so much, and any understanding I can get of it the better.

Thanks, Kerry

Have you tried applying oil or lotion *before* coming into contact with water? And, what about the "waterless" hand cleansers that can be applied and then quickly dry away? I had never before heard of what you have, but I can definitely imagine the trouble it must cause for you.

omgosh you are not alone! i have this too! i didnt know there was a name for it, wow! whenever i go in water, doesnt matter if its a bath, or dangle my hands under the sank or im in the lagoon, or pool, i come out itchy, red, and get this red bumps everywhere, at first we thought it was partially due to my cold utercaria cuz i get that when im in the cold air too, but now wow, i jus showed my mother and she was like omgosh that is you! wow, i also whenever i come in contact with water, i become extremely exhausted whenever i get out, like i jus ran a marathon thats why bathin or taking a shower is soooo hard for me, cuz if im in the longer then 20mins i have problems breathing and i start gasping for hair, i start to pass out, i get all itchy, omgosh is horrible. Should i get this diagnosed too? either way if theres no treatment, then whatever, ive tried lotion before coming in contact with water, tried gloves but since my sensory is so severe it doesnt help, tried everything, use to wear sweats in water cuz i liked the weight and it helped with the water a tiny bit not the best though, so i jus do it whatver and scratch of layers of skin and suffer. Anyways wanted to post YOUR NOT ALONE ahah!! !

Wow, I wonder if that's what's going on with my AS son? Interesting. He hates taking showers or baths, or getting water on him, and says it makes his skin itch. It's been years trying to figure out what's going on, because he's only recently been able to say what the problem is. When he was little, he would just behave really badly in the tub, splashing and carrying on. Then the thought of a bath or shower would trigger a meltdown. We never knew why. Then he started to say that it itches/hurts. He also has issues with the temperature. If it's too cold he can't stand it, but if it's hot enough, then the bathroom gets too steamy, and he can't stand that either.

Thanks for telling us about that condition.

I have a friend who doesn't like touching water, and that's what she uses.
Sorry, I dunno what else to suggest. >3<;
Maybe if you put on something waxy.. like beeswax or something, to block the water a little.
*is unhelpful*

I love water. I love to watch how it drips or runs from the top. I like to watch the water go down the drain. I like turbulence and I like to watch the ripples on a pond and the waves in the ocean. I must be half fish.

ruveyn

Wow, I ddn't think I would get such great responses. It is great to hear I'm not the only one with such symptoms.

I have tried lots of things, including hypnotherapy (when I thought it was psychological), large doses of anti histamines, various creams and lotions. The thing I've found that works best is vaseline, it really helps the itching, but it's so greasy you can't do anything while you're wearing it. I have tried putting it on before coming into contact with the water, it's just a lot easier and more comfortable to wear gloves. I have tried to find a 'waterless' hand cleanser or in particular sanitiser to at least keep my hands clean, but every one I have come across so far are aqua based.

Age1600 what you have sounds similar, but it may not be aquagenic pruritus. I say that because aquagenic pruritus has no visible symptoms, and you say you get red bumps come up. What you have sounds more like aquagenic urticaria, which is similar but does have visible symptoms.

Elderwander your son could quite possibly have aquagenic pruritus. My parents used to think it was very strange, but as I got older I learnt to hide it and deal with it on my own. I was so relieved when I found out it was a medical condition and not just me going crazy.

If you want to get a diagnosis you will probably have to see a specialist dermatologist, I saw a regular dermatologist at the hospital and they were baffled, and referred me to a top dermatologist in my area. I think the condition is quite rare.

Apparently you can have a treatment that works very well - it's phototherapy with Psoralen-UVA or filtered UVB. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm going to enquire about it. I'll let you know how I get on.