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.

Presentation

Symptoms can be felt immediately after contact with water or humid air and can persist for an hour or longer. Other triggers may be sweat or blowing air.

The disease seems to appear equally in both genders regardless of age and among people with varying skin tones. Aquagenic pruritus is sometimes a symptom of primary polycythemia or polycythemia vera.

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."

Etymology

The name is derived from Latin: Aquagenic, meaning water-induced, and Pruritus, meaning itch.

Treatment

Treatments can include applying capsaicin cream on the affected areas, and filtered Ultraviolet-B Phototherapy in a hospital or health clinic, often using a vertical light cubicle in which the patient stands for the exposure duration. Some people utilize tanning beds to accomplish such treatment, but skin cancer can become a concern for frequent tanning due to the broader UV spectrum of the beds.

Liberal applications of baby oil before or after bathing, or lanolin-free Aqueous cream, an emollient, immediately after drying off from a bath or shower can help to reduce the symptoms of the condition.

Since pruritus is sometimes believed to be a result of histamine, H1 and H2 blockers such as Claritin or Cimetidine may be helpful.

The symptoms may recur after each water exposure for years. Some sufferers control the itch by turning the shower water to hot for the last 5 minutes, and/or using heatpads or hairdryers on their skin immediately after showering. However, others find that excessive heat during bathing can actually worsen the pruritus, and limit the water temperature to tepid. The use of cotton clothes and bedding can prevent itch or provide relief to some sufferers.

Use of naltrexone has been described.^[1]

See also

• Water urticaria

References

1. ↑

External links

Personal experiences of sufferers and helpful suggestions may be found here

de:Aquagener Pruritus

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