Allergy to mineral water. Allergy to water photo. Causes of an allergic reaction

31.10.2019

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Rachel suffers from a rare disease: trying to take a bath turns into unbearable pain for her, and even her own tears leave burns on her face. How can the human body reject what is one of its basic needs?

Rachel wakes up and drinks real poison, as if swallowing stinging nettles.

She feels how, passing down her throat, the liquid leaves a red and itchy path of blisters on the mucous membrane.

In the afternoon, burning drops begin to fall from the sky. At the local sports club, she watches others splash in the pool filled with the same poison. They, apparently, at least that, but she, having dipped her finger into the water, immediately feels hellish pain.

No, this is not some wild parallel reality, this is the world of Rachel Warwick, who is allergic to water.

In this world, a soothing bath is only a nightmare, and bathing in tropical seas is no more tempting than a bleach bath.

"This is how hell looks in my mind," the woman admits.

At times like these, I feel like I've run a marathon.

Any contact with water - even with her own sweat - causes Rachel painful swelling and a rash that itches badly and does not go away for several hours.

“At such moments, it seems to me that I ran a marathon. I feel very tired, I have to sit down and rest for a long time,” she shares her experiences. “It’s terrible, but if you cry, your face will also swell.”

This disease, known as aquagenic urticaria, causes the sensation of being burned by especially stinging nettles, combined with the symptoms of hay fever - every day.

Of course, this is very unpleasant, but you are probably already wondering how Rachel manages to survive at all.

Almost every day we are reminded that the need for water is basic for any living organism. And so much so that the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in search of life on other planets relies on the principle of "follow the water."

The human body is at least 60% water - in the body of an average adult with a body weight of 70 kilograms, it is about 40 liters.

Let's figure it out. To begin with, we note that the water inside the body, apparently, does not pose any danger to allergy sufferers.

The reaction occurs only when water comes into contact with the skin - regardless of temperature, purity and salinity. Allergies are caused even by carefully purified from chemical impurities, many times distilled water.

“For strangers, my story always causes confusion and the same questions: “How do you eat?”, “How do you drink?”, “How do you wash?” In fact, you just have to endure and move on,” Rachel admits.

Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Likewise, swimming in the pool for Rachel is like taking a dip in strong bleach.

From the very beginning, aquagenic urticaria has caused as much bewilderment among scientists as it has been with us, who have just learned about it.

Formally, this disease is not allergic, since, apparently, it is caused by an immune reaction to something within the body itself, and not an exaggerated reaction to something foreign - for example, pollen or peanuts.

The first theory put forward in an attempt to explain this phenomenon was that the water probably reacts with the topmost layer of the skin, which consists mainly of dead epidermal cells, or with sebum, which is secreted to moisturize the skin.

As a result of contact with water, they can begin to release toxic compounds, which, in turn, cause an immune response.

Other scientists have suggested that the water may simply dissolve the chemicals in the layer of dead cells, allowing them to penetrate deeper into the body where they can trigger an immune response.

This theory is supported by the fact that treating the skin with chemical solutions that allow more water to penetrate into this layer exacerbates the reaction to water. However, when the top layer of the skin is completely removed, the body reacts normally.

Perhaps the most unusual hypothesis is that painful symptoms are caused by a change in pressure when water evaporates from the skin by osmosis , resulting in the immune system erroneously receiving an alarm signal.

Whatever the reason for this phenomenon, according to Markus Maurer, a dermatologist who founded the European Allergy Center Foundation in Germany, this devastating disease can change a person's entire life.

“I have patients who have been suffering from hives for 40 years and still wake up every morning with blisters and swelling,” he says.

The unfortunate may be constantly depressed or anxious, thinking only about when to expect the next attack. "In terms of the degree of deterioration in the quality of life, this is one of the most serious skin diseases," the doctor notes.

In the winter, during the period of heavy rainfall, Rachel cannot leave the house.

Rachel was diagnosed when she was 12 when she first developed a rash after swimming.

"The doctor listened to me and immediately said:" It seems to me that you have such a disease. "I was very lucky that he knew about it," says the woman.

She was not sent for examination. The usual diagnostic method in this case is to wet the upper body, leave it wet for half an hour and see what happens.

“The doctor explained to me that this ordeal would be worse than the disease itself,” she recalls.

And although it is not difficult to survive with this disease, living with it is a special test. For example, in winter, during a period of heavy rainfall, Rachel simply cannot leave the house.

For daily tasks, such as washing, Rachel needs the help of her husband, who takes care of her completely. To maintain the cleanliness of the body, it is limited to a shower once a week.

In order to sweat less, she wears light clothing and avoids strenuous activities. Like her comrades in misfortune, suffering from aquagenic urticaria, Rachel drinks a lot of milk - the reaction to it is not as strong as to water (again, it is not clear why).

Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption For people suffering from this type of allergy, exposure to rain or snow is unbearable.

The search for a cure for this mysterious disease was just as amazing. Now the typical treatment is to take strong antihistamines.

To understand why this is dictated, you first need to understand what happens when a reaction occurs. It all starts when immune cells in the skin called mast cells release histamines.

In a normal immune response, histamines are very useful - thanks to them, the patency of blood vessels increases, which allow enough white blood cells to pass through to protect against foreign microbes. When reacting to water, only side effects appear: the liquid seeps through the walls of blood vessels, causing swelling on the skin.

At the same time, histamine activates itch receptor neurons, whose sole job is to make a person itch. As a result, blisters appear on the skin - swelling that itches a lot.

Theoretically, antihistamines should help in all cases. In practice, the results of their application vary greatly.

In 2014, as part of the filming of a documentary, Rachel went to Berlin to the European Allergy Center Foundation, and the doctors suggested that she try to take a large dose.

For years, antihistamines were the only option. But in 2008, Maurer and his colleagues at the European Allergy Center Foundation came up with an idea.

“We didn’t evolve mast cells in order to suffer from hives. Why do they start to function differently than they should?” - the scientist was perplexed.

In people living with this condition, histamine-secreting cells look completely normal, no more than the rest of us. So something else is causing this reaction.

Based on laboratory studies, scientists have concluded that IgE, an antibody responsible for real allergies, for example, to pollen or cat hair, may be the culprit for this problem.

"Instead of reacting to any manifestation of the outside world, they produce IgE in response to something inside the body," explains Maurer.

A drug was needed that simply blocked the action of IgE. Luckily, there was already a drug on the market that did just that.

Omalizumab was originally developed to treat asthma. "When we said, 'We would like to use this anti-allergic agent in our patients,' the pharmaceutical company was surprised: 'But why? It's not an allergy, how can it help?" Maurer recalls.

Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption A glass of water burns Rachel's mouth

After convincing the skeptics, in August 2009 the scientists tested their idea. The experiment involved a 48-year-old woman who suffered from another rare form of pressure urticaria.

For three years, at the slightest touch, the unfortunate woman had an itchy rash - even such simple things as combing her hair and dressing caused suffering.

Just a week after the start of the drug, the symptoms became noticeably less pronounced. By the end of the month they were completely gone.

Since then, scientists have found that omalizumab effectively fights even the most poorly understood forms of hives, from a reaction to sunlight to an allergy to temperature changes and friction.

"It's amazing that this drug completely changes the picture," says Maurer.

One of Maurer's first patients was a young professor who was allergic to his own sweat.

Having run to catch the bus, he was covered with a painful rash and, worst of all, could not lecture to students: the slightest sweat on his forehead disfigured his whole face.

"He was about ready to quit teaching," says Maurer. After a week of treatment with omalizumab, he became a completely different person.

The drug is safe and effective - even with aquagenic urticaria. Here this story could have a happy ending, but not everything is so simple.

This asthma drug is now being used "off the label" - that is, its effectiveness in treating urticaria has not yet been demonstrated in large clinical trials.

And most medical institutions - from insurance companies to the UK National Health System - simply will not pay for these drugs if there is no formal indication for their use.

Rachel faced this problem in 2014, when a specialist in Berlin recommended omalizumab to her. At that time, a course of treatment would have cost a woman about a thousand euros per month.

But finding enough patients to participate in clinical trials can be tricky.

Aquagenic urticaria occurs in approximately one in 230 million cases. If this is true, there are only 32 people on the entire planet suffering from this disease.

Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Patients with aquagenic urticaria are unlikely to be happy to know that the main obstacle to healing is not scientific, but economic.

“We have a large team here, we see two thousand new patients with urticaria every year. But only three have been diagnosed with aquagenic urticaria,” explains Maurer.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the patent for the drug is about to expire. This means that the manufacturer has very little time to profit from it, and there are very few potential buyers suffering from hives. Therefore, convincing the company to invest in clinical trials would be very difficult. "I'm not sure that such tests will take place," Maurer laments.

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which manufactures the product under the Xolair brand for asthma and other conditions, confirms that it has no plans to expand the drug's use in the treatment of aquatic urticaria.

"We believe that prescribing drugs outside the licensed scope should be limited to cases where there are no licensed drugs for the treatment of any disease or when it is permissible under the state's regulatory framework aimed at protecting the health of patients," the press added. company secretary.

For decades, scientists have struggled to solve this riddle - but, as it turned out, the main obstacle to the goal is not scientific, but economic.

I wonder, by the way, what would Rachel do if she managed to find an effective remedy for her illness, which would help to completely get rid of aquagenic urticaria?

The answer is very simple. "I would like to go for a swim in the pool at the local sports club. And dance in the rain," she admits.

Aquagenic urticaria (allergic reaction, water intolerance) is a rather rare phenomenon. Its signs on the skin can appear both during hygiene procedures and when quenching thirst. The main provocateur is tap water. In the article we will try to analyze the question: can there be an allergy to water?

Why there is a problem

It is known that in untreated water there are not only its main components - oxygen and hydrogen - but also a lot of various impurities. The main ones are:

Chlorine. The main allergen is present in abundance in tap water in those regions of residence where the chlorination procedure has not yet been abandoned.
Nitrates. These compounds affect people who use water from wells.
Dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride- an increased concentration of these substances is observed in tap water in many large industrial cities.
Fluorine and other chemical elements, which are present in abundance in the fillers of cleaning cartridges of modern water filter systems.

Often, it is these additives that cause a hypertrophied protective reaction of the body - that is, an allergy.

In some cases, it is not water itself that causes a characteristic reaction on the skin, but soap, shower gels, facial cleansers and other cosmetics used during hygiene procedures.

Doctors identify three main causes of aquagenic urticaria:

immune failure (for example, after prolonged use of antibacterial drugs);
chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys (the main "filters" of the human body);
lack of immunoglobulin class "E".

The main feature of an allergic reaction to water is its tendency to constantly develop. So, over time, the situation only gets worse and can give rise to other more serious health problems.

Symptoms

Aquagenic urticaria manifests itself as follows:

hives;
intense itching, small red rash;
hyperemia of the epidermis, mucous membranes;
rash lesions localized on the face, in the area of the knee bends, arms, neck;
headaches;
excessive dryness of the skin, peeling;
irritation;
cough (the reason is the ingress of chlorine particles into the upper respiratory tract);
shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
problems from the gastrointestinal tract (abdominal pain, bouts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

In medical practice, there have not yet been registered clinical cases in which aquagenic urticaria would turn into anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema for the victim.

Diagnostic measures

Since the symptoms of aquagenic urticaria are easily confused with food allergies and a whole range of other dermatological diseases, the doctor should conduct a comprehensive examination for a patient with a suspected diagnosis.

So, the dermatologist will take an anamnesis, collect information about existing acute and chronic diseases, send the patient for a general analysis of urine, blood and allergy tests.

How to deal with allergies

Since an allergic reaction to tap water is quite rare, and its nature is poorly understood, there is also no universal method for treating aquatic urticaria as such. In general, the structure of the therapeutic complex is similar to any other anti-allergic program.

Tavegil.
Astemizol.
Terfenadine.
Peritol.
Fenkarol.
Suprastin.
Dimedrol.

In order to strengthen the immune system, patients with aquatic urticaria should enrich their daily menu with fresh fruits and vegetables, give up bad habits, spend as much time as possible in the fresh air, and also practice regular moderate exercise.

In addition, adjustments made to the structure of the diet will help prevent the course of allergies:

reduction in the number (or complete rejection) of sweets, flour products;
it is better to avoid salty, fatty, overly spicy foods;
meals - frequent, fractional, regular, not too plentiful.

Proven folk recipes will help to cope with the skin symptoms of aquagenic urticaria, among other things:

One tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers must be poured with a glass of boiling water, left to infuse for 30-40 minutes, then cool, strain. The resulting slurry is wrapped in a piece of bandage, the finished compress is applied to the skin areas covered with a rash for half an hour.
The foci affected by urticaria can be lubricated with honey (in the absence of an allergic reaction to it). The procedure is carried out before going to bed, in the morning the remains of the beekeeping product are removed from the skin with a damp cloth.
A decoction of bay leaves (20 g of dry plant mixture / 200 ml of boiling water) is added to boiled water for washing and bathing.

So, aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of allergy that requires timely treatment and preventive measures. Only a dermatologist can correctly diagnose and select the appropriate therapy.

Allergies are common. A large number of components leads to the development of their intolerance: wool, chemicals, sunlight, plant pollen. Water, a liquid that is vital for people, did not stand aside. How to get rid of the signs of an allergic reaction to water?

What is water allergy

Reaction manifestations occur immediately after contact with water

Aquagenic urticaria - this is the name of water intolerance, accompanied by an allergic reaction. For the first time, they started talking about a strange phenomenon in the second half of the 20th century. Scientists have noticed a connection between water intake and specific manifestations in some people. An allergic reaction occurred not only during hygiene procedures, but even when drinking water to quench thirst.

There are several types of aquatic urticaria. In each case, there is a persistent reaction to a certain component, so there are allergies to sea, tap, chlorinated and other types of water.

A feature of water allergy is a tendency to develop rapidly. Pathology is incurable, and the reaction manifests itself more strongly as it develops. The task of medicine and the patient is to provide favorable conditions for reducing discomfort and reducing the intensity of symptoms.

Causes

At present, the exact causes of water allergy have not been established. However, the following pathologies can lead to the occurrence of a reaction:

Skin rashes and itching are the most common signs of allergies.

In most cases, the skin of the patient is covered with small bubbles. The culprit for the appearance of this symptom is histamine - a substance that rises in the dermis. After some time, the bubbles may increase as a result of the merging of nearby blisters. The formations have a pinkish tint, and along the edges - reddish.

Often patients complain of burning and itching, which leads to scratching.

Manifestations occur instantly, just a few minutes after contact. Symptoms often appear in the following places:

in the chest area;
in the armpit;
on the elbows;
on the neck and collar area;
in the popliteal region;

Thus, common signs of water allergy are:

rashes in the form of bubbles;
skin redness;
severe itching;
irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye;
cough (associated with the ingress of water vapor into the respiratory tract);
burning.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures are aimed at accurately determining the allergen. To do this, exclude other factors that can cause a reaction - chemicals, sunlight, food components, dust and animal hair.

When interviewing a patient, the following points are clarified:

medicines taken recently;
the presence of allergies in relatives;
the patient's lifestyle;
nutritional features.

An allergic reaction can occur when using inappropriate hygiene products, so the occurrence of symptoms of aquatic urticaria also applies to an allergy to soap or shampoo.

For diagnosis, laboratory methods are used - urine and blood tests are required to exclude other diseases that are manifested by redness, itching and burning. For the same purpose use:

fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
ultrasound procedure.

Similar diagnostic methods are often used to examine adult patients. With their help, tumors and paraneoplastic itching that occurs with malignant tumors are excluded.

An additional test helps to exclude other pathologies. A water compress is applied to the surface of the skin and held for half an hour. The presence of a reaction indicates the development of an allergy to water.

An allergic reaction to water has been little studied, so there are no effective means to eliminate the pathology. The task of therapy is only to alleviate the condition of the patient, providing him with comfortable conditions for life. It is completely impossible to get rid of the disease.

Refusal of bad water. Fluid taken from artesian wells and clean sources should be used. You should not drink tap water.
Installing filters. Filtration will not avoid the appearance of a problem, but a smaller amount of harmful impurities will favorably affect the patient's condition.
water regime. All hygiene procedures take place at a certain time and last no more than 3-5 minutes a day.
Boiling water. Boiled water contains less chlorine and pathogenic bacteria, so irritation occurs less frequently.
Suitable hygiene products. Changing shampoo and shower gel reduces irritation. Preference is given to hypoallergenic products (baby soap).
Wet wipes. They will allow less contact with water and keep the skin clean. Use wipes without alcohol and aromatic additives.

If a reaction occurs, medication should be taken. Antihistamines are used for treatment. Before the appointment, they visit a doctor and receive recommendations. The following medicines are used:

Pipolfen;
Astemizol;
Peritol;
Terfenadine.

Deterioration of immunity is a common cause of an allergic reaction to water. It is recommended to protect your body from harmful effects and strengthen the immune system:

do sport;
to refuse from bad habits;
eat a balanced diet, include vegetables and fruits in the diet;
to walk outside;
eliminate diseases in a timely manner.

Nutrition correction is an important aspect of treatment. In order not to have to suffer from an allergy to water, you should:

exclude fatty and salty foods from the menu;
eat flour products and sweets in small quantities;
do not overeat;
eat food in small portions;
chew food thoroughly.

Household chemicals are highly irritating to the skin, so allergies to other components may occur, which is associated with a vulnerable condition of the skin. You can avoid this result, it is enough to use protective equipment.

Water quality depends on where you live. If the environmental situation worsens, it is recommended to change the place of residence.

Antihistamines in the photo

Diphenhydramine blocks the production of histamines, which prevents the development of allergy symptoms.
Phencarol relieves allergy symptoms
Suprastin is an effective drug that prevents the development of allergy symptoms
Tavegil successfully copes with the signs of aquagenic urticaria

Allergy in children

The main cause of allergies in a child is a weak immune system. The immune system has not yet fully formed, and the presence of impurities in water is a favorable condition for the development of the reaction.

Allergies in infants occur when exposed to the following components contained in water:

fluorine;
calcium;
chlorine;
magnesium;
iron oxidation products;
of hydrochloric acid;
alkali.

Before bathing a child, especially a baby, you need to pay attention to the following points:

The water smells like paint. The presence of such an odor indicates the presence of phenol in the water. Contact of phenol with the skin leads to redness and burns.
Salty taste of water. The sign indicates the presence of chloride ions. After such bathing the skin is shelled.
Whitish color of water. This color indicates an increased content of calcium and its salts. Water dries out the skin, which makes the child vulnerable to all sorts of irritations.
The smell of chlorine. The use of disinfection is necessary, as tap water is not always up to standard. However, there is also a side effect - irritation from chlorine. Bathing children in such water is not recommended, otherwise burns or coughing will occur. The main danger is that allergies contribute to the development of asthma.

Allergies and water type: what you need to know?

There are several types of water allergies:

chlorinated;
maritime;
mineral;
plumbing;
cold;
hot;
salty.

Tap water contains many impurities that cause the body to react. The situation is aggravated by the poor quality of the pipes, which contributes to the appearance of microorganisms and the ingress of impurities into the water.

Sometimes allergies occur due to the substances contained, introduced intentionally. We are talking about fluorine and chlorine. After contact with chlorinated water, the patient develops spots resembling burns, the mucous membrane of the eye suffers. There is irritation of the respiratory tract. After fluoridated water, small rashes cover the body, small dark spots form on the teeth.

Sea water is another source of problems. Trips to the sea are good for the body, but the presence of marine plants, waste products of microorganisms, salts and minerals has a negative effect. The risk of allergies increases with a large amount of salt. Another feature of sea water allergy is that the reaction is enhanced by ultraviolet radiation.

Hypersensitivity to cold water often appears in people in the following cases:

in the presence of oncological diseases;
during the development of rheumatoid arthritis;
with the development of an infectious or viral disease.

This form of allergy is characterized by the following features:

dizziness;
painful sensations in the abdomen;
swelling of the hands and feet;
nausea;
redness and rashes.

Allergy to hot water is the result of the development of another disease - often it is dermatitis. In most cases, the reaction manifests itself on the hands:

small bubbles form
redness occurs on the skin.

Allergy to salt and mineral water is formed due to the presence of certain components that cause irritation. Mineral waters are recommended to be purchased only in pharmacy chains. If you are allergic to salt water, then you should stop using it and refuse to travel to the sea.

Scientists first discovered aquagenic urticaria in 1964. A lot of time has passed since then, but interest in the problem has not faded - does this form of allergy often appear?

There are several interesting points:

Aquagenic urticaria is indeed considered a rare pathology: there is 1 case per 20 million people.
At the moment, 5 cases of the development of a true allergy to water have been registered.
The body also reacts to its own sweat.

Video of a girl suffering from aquagenic urticaria

An allergy to water is a disaster for a person. Life without water is impossible, like all processes on our planet. But fate brings unpleasant surprises, so you need to prepare for them. It is important for sick people to follow the doctor's instructions, then the manifestations of the reaction will be minimal.

Allergy is an insidious disease, every year it affects an increasing number of people, and the list of substances that cause it is expanding more and more. We are already accustomed to the fact that an allergy can occur to any food product, cosmetics, plant pollen, medicines, and even seemingly harmless baby soap. And not so long ago (in 1964) an allergy to water was recorded!

How is this possible? After all, we all remember the school curriculum in biology, where it was said that the human body is 80% water. Water is vital for people. It turns out that a person suffering from an allergy to water should not drink, wash, or get caught in the rain?

As such, an allergic reaction to water in its pure form (that is, to the combination of hydrogen with oxygen) is extremely rare - less than a thousand such cases are known in the history of medicine. Experts believe that an allergic reaction is caused by certain substances contained in the water.

Allergy to chemical additives in water

In modern conditions, an allergy to tap water is becoming more and more common. Why? Most allergists are inclined to believe that chlorine and its compounds cause an immune reaction. It is no secret that tap water is disinfected with chlorine and, although its content rarely exceeds the established norms, for some people these values are critical. Such people cannot afford to take a bath, wash themselves, drink water from the tap, cannot even wash their hands without provoking an immune response. We are not talking about the pool at all.

Another aggressive component of tap water, according to experts, is fluorine and its various compounds. With all the undeniable benefits of fluorine for the body, its excess can lead to disruption of metabolic processes, malfunctions of the immune system, liver, and kidneys. In people suffering from fluoride intolerance, a characteristic symptom appears - dark spots on tooth enamel.

An allergy to tap water can be triggered by any component that has entered the water after purification, both for the purpose of disinfection and as a result of its transportation through the water supply system, the state of which is deplorable in the vast majority of regions. On the way to our apartments, a huge amount of impurities (salts, metals) get into the water, any of which can cause an allergic reaction. Few people know that tap water even contains substances used in chemical bleaches, and one can only guess what effect they can have on the body.

Allergy to "living" water

One might think that the salvation for people suffering from allergies to tap water
water, water from natural reservoirs (rivers, lakes, seas) can become. This is not entirely true. In places with unfavorable ecology, water in natural sources can also contain a large amount of impurities, metals, salts, to which the immune system will react negatively. Even such sea water, which is useful for strengthening body systems, is unsafe, a large amount of salts are dissolved in it, which can provoke an allergic reaction.

Drinking mineral water can also cause allergies, again due to the presence of various mineral salts in it.

Symptoms of the disease

Allergy to water appears immediately after contact with water and disappears within 15-60 minutes after the skin dries. The main symptoms are:

redness, dryness, skin irritation;
severe itching of the affected areas;
, rash, blisters;
headache;
dry cough;
rhinitis, lacrimation;
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

A feature of this type of allergy is that the symptoms may increase with an increase in the number and duration of contact with water. However, the reaction does not develop to the stage or Quincke's edema, at least not a single such case has been recorded to date.

Causes of the disease

Allergy to water can be acquired, that is, it can occur for the first time at any age. Provoking factors can be:

Long-term use of antibiotics.
Diseases of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract.
Metabolic disorders.
Impaired production of immunoglobulin E.
The presence of other allergic reactions.
Tumor diseases.
Poor environmental conditions in the region of residence.

Failures in the work of the filtering and digestive organs, excretory organs, can lead to the accumulation of harmful substances in the body, and as a result, the normal functioning of the immune system is disrupted.

Methods of treatment

Often, skin manifestations of allergies disappear on their own within 15-60 minutes from the moment of cessation of contact with water. This process can be accelerated by applying external agents (ointments, creams, gels, emulsions, etc.) with antihistamine action.

In cases where the allergy symptoms have not gone away within a few hours after the skin has dried, you can take antihistamine medications that are available: Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadin, Erius, Zirtek.

With any suspicion of an allergy, it is necessary to visit an allergist to identify the specific substance to which the immune system reacted. After conducting a survey, skin tests, a series of tests, the specialist will indicate the range of drugs that are acceptable for use, and give recommendations on how to prevent an allergic reaction in the future.

Preventive measures

If with any other type of allergy the essence of treatment and prevention is to exclude contact with the allergen, then water allergy is a special case. It is impossible to completely eliminate contact with water, but you can try to minimize it:

reduce the time for taking hygiene procedures to 2-3 minutes;
washing with water is replaced by rubbing the face with special make-up removers;
do housework with gloves;
to disinfect hands, use special antiseptic wipes, gels, lotions;
drink only boiled water;
if contact with water is unavoidable, use boiled water;
install good water filters in the house.

If the cause of water allergy is chlorine, fluorine and other components of tap water, well water or water from springs can be used in everyday life.

If the root cause is poor ecology, you may have to change your place of residence to a more prosperous region in this regard.

If you suspect an allergy in a child, you should first exclude a reaction to soap, washing powder, decoctions of herbs used in bathing. Only boiled cooled water should be used for water procedures of the child.

In any case, it must be remembered that an allergy to water, having arisen once, will remain for life, it is impossible to cure it. Therefore, it is necessary to visit a specialist in order not to start the course of the disease and deal with its manifestations as effectively as possible.

Choosing a competent specialist

What could be better than a cold lake with crystal water on a hot day? Water is a gift of nature. There are thousands of legends about the amazing properties of water, but there is not a single one about an allergy to water.

An allergy is a pronounced effect of the immune system on a specific allergen. The reason may be in animal hair, food and a specific component.

There are congenital and acquired allergies. If everything is clear from the first, it is transmitted from parents to children, thanks to an individual set of chromosomes. That with the second kind is more difficult. Improper diet, frequent stress, fast paced lifestyle contributes to allergies.

Causes of Allergy to Tap Water

Water goes through several stages of purification before reaching the faucet. The negligent attitude of the authorities results in huge health problems among the population. As a result, the number of patients grows along with the causal relationship.

Much depends on food, quality and content of carcinogens, antibiotics and trans fats. Lack of an active lifestyle increases the body's susceptibility to allergens.

The main causes of water allergy:

Dysbacteriosis.
Weak immunity.
Deficiency of immunoglobulin class "E".

Allergens in the water

The composition of tap water is far from school H2O, in reality, in addition to oxygen and hydrogen, it contains: chlorine, calcium, manganese, copper, iron, fluorine, zinc, aluminum and heavy metals. There is a frightening amount of complex chemicals that are formed by the interaction of simpler components.

Chlorine, one of the most common allergens, appears in the water during its disinfection. This is the cheapest way, and therefore is used everywhere. Chlorine reacts in water to form sodium hypochlorite and hypochloric acid. In addition to allergies, it can provoke bronchial asthma, inflammation of the esophagus, oral mucosa. Young children are most at risk, as their immune system has not settled down, as well as the older generation, who have weakened over time.

Permissible mercury concentration limit 0.0005 mg/l, but it accumulates in the body, and can provoke serious changes.

Another heavy metal that is capable of accumulation is lead, enters the water from the pipeline. It causes disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous breakdown, and these are far from all the symptoms.

Big presence calcium easy to visually notice by the white color of the water. After a shower, dry skin occurs, which is easily eliminated with a body cream.

Symptoms of water allergy in children and adults

Water allergy is a rare disease, and not every doctor will be able to notice the signs immediately. The child's body is less resistant, the immune system is at the beginning of formation. The main manifestation on children's skin is a rash, peeling and redness. The child will be uncomfortable, and the mother will spend more than one thousand nerve cells trying to help the child. With age, when the susceptibility of the organism grows stronger, in general, the problems disappear.

Also, allergies manifest themselves at an older age, causing great trouble. It happens more often in women, men's skin is less sensitive and receptive to water components. Allergy symptoms: tight skin after a shower, dense acne, itching, peeling, severe redness after contact with water, burning sensation.

In every city in Russia, water is of different quality and, therefore, after moving, it is possible to get complications.

What to do if you are allergic to water?

It all depends on the degree of allergy, if you are only concerned about tightness and slight peeling, it is quite possible to get by with a greasy cream immediately after a shower.

If the discomfort is much stronger, and includes: a rash, incessant itching, redness, then you should immediately consult a doctor. At the appointment, he will prescribe the appropriate tests in order to find out the cause. Then he will prescribe a treatment that will help solve the problem.

People who are faced with poor-quality water recommend installing a filtration system that will get rid of excessive water hardness and improve the composition.

If symptoms occur, then you need to make an appointment with an allergist, dermatologist and get further recommendations.

How to treat an adult?

Immediately after a shower, doctors advise using bipanthene- relieve symptoms and improve skin regeneration. Antihistamines are always on hand, which can be used after a doctor's prescription. Medicines such as suprastin, tavigil, peritol, astemizole, diphenhydramine will help to cope with the symptoms.

How to treat a child?

With a small child, things are somewhat more complicated, the choice of drugs is limited. More contraindications and the approach should be conscious. The main rule is do no harm. It is worth changing the water when bathing - try boiled water, if it does not help, then bottled water.

For the treatment of children, preparations are mainly used in the form of a gel, syrups, suppositories. Medicines such as fenistil, zyrtec or peritol- can be used for babies from 6 months. Antihistamines are not recommended for children under one year old, used in case of emergency. Admission is possible from three years tavegila, claritin, kestina. Children who have reached the age of 10 years can take almost all medicines in accordance with the dosage.

Folk remedies

Taking baths with various decoctions of herbs will help with allergies. Chamomile flowers- soothe delicate skin sage- have bactericidal properties, and calendula- remove redness. Plantain leaves will relieve inflammation and will be a good antiseptic.

Tea from linden, cranberries and cranberries will increase immunity, strengthen the general condition of the body. Plantain seeds will improve the functioning of the intestines and save you from dysbacteriosis.

If you let the allergy take its course, you can get serious complications, such as bronchial asthma, watery blisters.

Prevention or how to help the body without pills

For many years, proper nutrition and sports have not lost their relevance. Respect for the body will definitely give a positive result. Fresh fruits, vegetables, daily walks in the fresh air will have a beneficial effect on overall health.