22/01/2024

Aquagenic Urticaria: Itchy Skin

Drinking tap water could be causing your health problems - signs to look out for

Drinking water is encouraged when feeling sick but what if the tap is behind the illness? Experts shared the signs in your body that could signal health problems caused by tap water, and how to fix the problem. Low water quality and hard water are usually noticeable when tap water has a mineral taste. If your home has this problem, a water softener or descaler could help.

Bathroom expert at SteamShowerStore Andy Ellis said: “Most start to notice signs of hard water after picking up on a slight mineral taste when drinking out of the tap. “At first it can seem harmless, but prolonged exposure to hard water can result in digestive issues and itchy scalps which can make the problem uncomfortable to live with. “It’s always worth installing water softeners and calling plumbers in to remove limescale from the pipes to prevent the issue from getting worse.” 

So, what health problems could be caused by tap water? An upset stomach could be a sign of problems with the tap. Experts said: "General consumption of hard water is safe to drink, but excessive usage can cause the minerals to upset your stomach. "Make sure to contact your water supplier if you notice your stomach hurting after consuming tap water." How the skin feels is another sign and homeowners should look out for itchy and uncomfortable skin. "If your skin gets itchy shortly after bathing it’s likely due to the water system pushing out high-mineral content," the experts added. "The minerals strip the natural oils from the body making the skin dry and resulting in uncomfortable itching." A dry scalp is another problem Britons could face as a result of low water quality. Experts continued: "Hard water from the showerhead can strip natural oils from hair leaving it dry. "It can also cause an itchy scalp as hard water can leave residue." As well as the lesser-known health issues, problems with a tap can be detected by low water pressure, high energy bills or even mould.


Aquagenic urticaria

Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water allergy and water urticaria, is a rare form of physical urticaria in which hives develop on the skin after contact with water, regardless of its temperature. The condition typically results from contact with water of any type, temperature or additive.

The main symptom of aquagenic urticaria is the development of physical hives, which may or may not itch. Itching after contact with water, without the development of physical hives, is known as aquagenic pruritus. Aquadynia is a condition in which pain occurs after contact with water. In severe cases, drinking water can result in swelling of the oral cavity, swelling of the throat and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis.

The hives associated with aquagenic urticaria are typically small (approximately 1–3 mm), red- or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with clearly defined edges. It most commonly develops on the neck, upper trunk and arms, although it can occur anywhere on the body. Once the water source is removed, the rash generally fades within 30 to 60 minutes. Water in all forms, such as tap or sea water, swimming pool water, sweat, tears, and saliva can induce the lesions.

The cause of aquagenic urticaria is not fully understood; however, several mechanisms have been proposed. Interaction between water and a component in or on the skin or sebum has been suggested. This theory suggests that a substance is formed by this interaction, the absorption of which causes perifollicular mast cell degranulation with release of histamine. Another proposed theory is of a water-soluble allergen in the epithelial tissues. Water dissolves the allergen, causing it to diffuse into the tissues, causing histamine release from sensitized mast cells. There is currently no treatment that will permanently cure the condition. Avoidance of water is recommended as a first line of defense, and most treatments are palliative in nature rather than curative:

3 skin problems that could be caused by your tap water

Have you or members of your family been struggling with uncomfortable skin issues? Whether you struggle with acne on your face or shoulders, dry skin on your hands and joints, or even recurring hives, no doubt you’re trying everything you can think of to address the problem. While no one has perfect skin, we all have a few moles and dry or oily patches, serious skin problems almost always have a source.

You may have tried changing your soap brand, laundry detergent, or using lotion more often. But when nothing works, it’s time to look in unexpected places. Many people don’t realize that unstoppably recurring skin issues might not be your soap, but the water you’re washing with instead! Tap water with “harmless” additives like iron, magnesium, and chlorine can wreak havoc on sensitive or already vulnerable skin causing problems to keep coming back because you can’t escape the source.
Let’s take a look at three of the most predominate skin issues that impure tap water can cause for you, your children, and other members of your household:
  • Acne Breakouts - There’s nothing more demoralizing than an angry zit or an aggressive breakout, especially when you’re past the age of 18 and should be beyond your worst acne days. If you, or even your teen, are suffering from regular acne breakouts despite changing soaps or specially products, the cause could be lurking in your tap water. Hard water containing large amounts of magnesium, calcium, and iron interfere with your soap lather and the mineral flecks can actually clog up your pores. This creates an opportunity for acne to form every time you wash your face, back, and shoulders.
  • Dry, Flaky Skin - The more common response to hard water, however is uncomfortably dry skin that may begin to flake in a worrying and unattractive way. You are probably familiar with that dry ‘squeaky’ feeling that comes from bathing and washing your hands in hard water and this is what could be causing a chronic dry skin problem. Because the minerals in hard water are drying agents, your skin is unable to maintain a healthy moisture level even if you constantly use lotion. The minerals may even be blocking your ability to absorb moisturizer, ensuring that your skin will continue to get more dry and unhealthy.
  • Red Itchy Skin and Hives - But the worst thing to experience in you water is excessive chlorine. Many communities add chlorine to tap water during the processing stage in an effort to kill microbes, but they don’t filter the chlorine back out again. Just like swimming in the pool, too much exposure to chlorinated water can cause red itchy skin and even hives for people who are sensitive. This isn’t actually an allergic reaction. If your skin turns red after washing your hands or face, this is actually a mild chemical burn from the harsh chlorine content of your water. If you or members of your family are experiencing constant skin problems that no amount of gentle soap or moisturizer can solve, the problem is probably in the tap water itself. Fortunately, there are solutions. A water softening unit for your home can remove the irritating and pore-clogging minerals that have been causing you trouble. And, incidentally, will also improve the quality of your laundry and stop your constant battle against ‘water spots’ and tub residue. A water filtration system can help filter out dangerous chemicals like chlorine used to ‘clean’ your water before it reaches your tap. By installing theses systems into your home, every tap in the house will run clean, safe water and your skin will finally get a chance to recover from the constant onslaught of drying, clogging, and chemical contaminants. For help determining the right home water solutions for your home, contact us today!

If You Suffer From Dermatitis, Your Water Quality Might Be To Blame

If you or someone you know suffers from dermatitis, it can sometimes be difficult to uncover the cause. Although there are many possible things to blame, one possibility that often gets overlooked is your home’s water quality. Today we’re going to talk about how your home’s tap water might cause or worsen dermatitis and what you can do to alleviate your symptoms! What is dermatitis? Dermatitis is a condition that causes your skin to become red, swollen, itchy, flakey and/or sore. It is exclusively caused by an allergic reaction to some external source (possibly your tap water) that your body comes into frequent contact with.

How can your home’s water quality cause or worsen dermatitis?
  • Chlorinated water. Chlorine is a natural irritant that effects some people more than others. If you are someone who is prone to dermatitis, chlorine exposure can be the cause. Because chlorine is added to public tap water as a disinfectant, many people come into frequent contact with the chemical when they shower. Not only does chlorine itself cause dermatitis, but it also dries out your skin, which worsens the symptoms.
  • Chromium in your water. Chromium is a tap water contaminant that is found naturally in rocks, plants and soil. Drinking tap water that’s polluted with high levels of chromium can cause dermatitis after long term exposure.
  • Hard water. Although hard water does not cause dermatitis, it can make symptoms worse because it clogs your pores and dries out your skin.
What can you do to alleviate your symptoms of dermatitis if it’s caused by your tap water?
  • In order to determine whether or not your tap water is causing or worsening your symptoms of dermatitis, contact North Carolina Water Consultants for a free water quality analysis. We can test for the common contaminants listed above and determine whether or not they are found in high levels in your water.
  • Typically, the best solution for removing those contaminants will be to install a whole house water filtration system and/or a water softener in your home that will remove the problematic contaminants. The WaterMax from Hague is a great solution, because it filters and softeners your water using one compact unit.

Itching After a Shower: Why It Happens and How to Treat It

It’s not unusual for palms to itch after you take a shower or bath. This can be caused by dry skin or other skin conditions. For some people, hitting the shower brings with it an uncomfortable side effect: pesky, persistent itching.

What causes itchy skin after showering or bathing? There are several culprits that could be the cause of your post-shower itchy skin. Some are more common than others:
  • Xerosis cutis - “Xerosis cutis” simply means that your skin is too dry. Soaking your skin in hot water for extended periods of time can strip your skin of its natural oils, irritating skin that already lacks moisture. Sometimes that results in itching after a shower. The itching may mostly happen on your feet or legs because those parts of your body have so much contact with the water.
  • Soap sensitivities - It’s possible that the soap you’re using is drying out your skin as it cleans. A harsh soap may not always leave a rash that you can see, but it can leave a lasting itch after your shower is over. Failing to wash all the soap residue off your skin after a shower can also be a source of itching and discomfort.
  • Aquagenic pruritus - With this condition, your nervous system can be activated by water on your skin. As a result, you get itchy after a shower or bath. This condition is rare, and if you have it, you probably already know. Aquagenic pruritis causes immense itching after any contact with water, including washing your hands, and going into the pool.
If your itching is persistent after a shower, you may want to consider using a home remedy as a treatment. Below are some ways you can prevent itching or treat it if it happens:
  • Pat dry instead of toweling off. Rubbing your skin with a towel after a shower can strip your skin of moisture. Don’t try to remove every water droplet from your skin. Instead, pat your skin dry with your towel after washing off.
  • Moisturize your skin while it’s still wet. Applying moisturizer while your skin is just a bit damp will help to lock moisture into your skin barrier. Opt for a fragrance-free hypoallergenic moisturizer. Consider using one that’s “oil-free” if you have acne-prone skin. For an added cooling benefit, store your moisturizer in the fridge before applying it.
  • Switch your soaps. If you’re having recurrent itching without a rash after you shower, maybe it’s time to switch soaps. Look for a soap with mild, hypo-allergenic ingredients. Moisturizing soap has been foundTrusted Source to have a positive effect on reducing the symptoms of dry skin.
  • Change your shower routine. If you take long, steamy showers, you may be leaving your skin parched. Taking shorter showers that aren’t too hot, and that quickly taper off to a lukewarm temperature, may give you skin that’s healthier and less itchy.
  • Try a cooling agent after showering. The American Academy of Dermatologists recommends using menthol or calamine lotion at the site of itching and irritation.
  • Anti-itch creams that contain lactic acid may be used to soothe itching from dry skin and to help bind moisture to the skin. Pramoxine hydrochloride is another promising ingredient that has been shown to decrease itching caused by dry skin. Note that over-the-counter creams designed to soothe itching symptoms caused by inflammation, like topical corticosteroids, don’t usually work to address itching caused by skin that’s just dry.
  • Consider essential oils as part of your shower routine. You can use essential oils to prevent or treat itching. Dilute any essential oil that you choose. The oil should be diluted with a soothing carrier oil, such as sweet almond or jojoba oil, before being applied to skin that’s irritated. Peppermint, chamomile, tea tree, and rose geranium all have potential benefits for soothing skin that’s dry and itchy.
  • Drink more water. Being dehydrated can lead to skin that feels dry. In general, make sure that you’re getting eight cups of water (or more!) each day to hydrate your body properly.


Aquagenic Urticaria

Aquagenic urticaria refers to hives caused by exposure to water. It is also known as water allergy and is an extremely rare condition, with only 37 cases reported in medical research. Aquagenic urticaria is an extremely rare form of urticaria (hives) that causes a rash to appear after you touch water. The hives may appear red or similar to the color of your skin tone. They may be harder to see on darker skin. It’s a form of chronic inducible urticaria with swelling, itching, and burning.

Aquagenic urticaria is considered a water allergy. However, research confirming this is limited. A 2017 reviewTrusted Source of medical literature lists only 37 reports of aquagenic hives since 1964. Most cases begin in or shortly after puberty and are most common in persons assigned female at birth. Additionally, genetics may play a role. Various water sources can trigger hives from this condition, including:
  • rain
  • snow
  • freshwater
  • seawater
  • sweat
  • tears
Water temperature, pH and saltiness, or anxiety do not usually cause this type of hives. Aquagenic urticaria is also different from a cold allergy or cholinergic urticaria, which is an allergic reaction to heat. The reaction caused by aquagenic urticaria occurs directly from exposure to water, regardless of its temperature. What are the symptoms?
Aquagenic hives appear as a scratchy, stinging rash. This rash usually occurs on the chest, neck, and arms. Sometimes hives can appear anywhere on the body except on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Within minutes of being exposed to water, people with this condition can experience:
  • erythema, or reddening of the skin
  • burning or prickling sensations
  • welts
  • inflammation
  • rash

Is Tap Water Ruining Your Skin? A Dermatologist Tells All

You've probably used a filter to mask imperfections in a photo—more than 90 percent of young women do so regularly, according to a 2021 study—but should you actually be using filtered water to improve your skin? In most homes, the water you use to wash your face is the same as what comes out of the kitchen faucet, the water many of us drink every day.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, the U.S. "has one of the safest and most reliable drinking water systems in the world." There have been cases of water supply contamination, most notoriously in Flint, Michigan, but these are rare. So, what does ordinary tap water do to your skin? It's a hot topic on #skincare TikTok. Videos suggesting that hard water is connected to eczema, acne and psoriasis have hundreds of thousands of views. Some of the companies that make filters for faucets and showerheads are going viral too, with more than 1 million searches. Newsweek asked Dr Gloria Lin, a board-certified dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York, how the water we use can affect our skin and whether filters are the answer.

What's in Our Water? Normal tap water contains metals such as zinc, copper, iron, calcium and magnesium—all substances we need in certain amounts to keep the body healthy from the inside out. Hard water has higher concentrations of minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. The South-west has some of the hardest water in the U.S. Extremely high levels of calcium and magnesium are found in New Mexico, Utah and the Western part of Texas, as well as in Wisconsin, Indiana and Florida. Softer water states include Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, New York and Alabama. Lin told Newsweek that hard water "can disrupt the skin barrier and cause dryness by depleting the skin of its natural oils." The minerals "can also bind to surfactants found in soaps and cleansers that make it harder to remove from the skin, leaving a residue behind and resulting in clogged pores."


Could Tap Water be Causing Your Dryness, Sensitivity, or Clogged Pores?

If you’ve ever wondered whether or not tap water is bad for your skin, you’re not alone. The answer isn’t as simple as “yes” or “no,” but depending on where you live, it can potentially lead to dryness, irritation, and even clogged pores. I’ve seen firsthand how the quality of tap water can affect people’s skin. I had a client who reached out to me after moving to LA, telling me her rosacea was worse than ever and that she was suddenly experiencing an influx of clogged pores. She also mentioned feeling like there was a film or residue on her skin, saying it seemed like serums she’d once loved suddenly weren’t as effective. After asking some questions to see if anything else significant in her routine or lifestyle had changed, I determined it was probably the change in the tap water causing her skin issues. Sure enough, she told me that every time she went back home to Michigan, her skin would improve. It became softer and less irritated almost immediately, and the film on her skin seemed to disappear. In this post, I’ll explain what could’ve led to this, how and why tap water can affect your skin, and what you can do about it. Let’s dive in! 

If you’ve ever wondered whether or not tap water is bad for your skin, you’re not alone. The answer isn’t as simple as “yes” or “no,” but depending on where you live, it can potentially lead to dryness, irritation, and even clogged pores. I’ve seen firsthand how the quality of tap water can affect people’s skin. I had a client who reached out to me after moving to LA, telling me her rosacea was worse than ever and that she was suddenly experiencing an influx of clogged pores. She also mentioned feeling like there was a film or residue on her skin, saying it seemed like serums she’d once loved suddenly weren’t as effective. After asking some questions to see if anything else significant in her routine or lifestyle had changed, I determined it was probably the change in the tap water causing her skin issues. Sure enough, she told me that every time she went back home to Michigan, her skin would improve. It became softer and less irritated almost immediately, and the film on her skin seemed to disappear. In this post, I’ll explain what could’ve led to this, how and why tap water can affect your skin, and what you can do about it. Let’s dive in!

How Does Buildup from Minerals Affect Skin?  The residue deposited on your skin can ultimately create a film that upsets the balance of skin in more ways than one, leading to the following skin issues:
  • Disrupted moisture barrier
  • Dryness and dehydration
  • Irritation and sensitivity
  • Rough-feeling skin
  • Clogged pores
Having a film on the skin disrupts its barrier function because it prevents dry, expired skin cells from being shed so that healthy new skin cells can take their place. It also prevents moisturizers and other products from being properly absorbed. All of this can lead to increased dryness, irritation, and rough-feeling skin. If enough residue builds up, it can even settle inside your pores and create a blockage. 


Aquagenic Pruritus

Aquagenic pruritus is intense skin itching that occurs when water touches your skin. It can occur on its own, as a side effect of medications or as a symptom of other conditions. Providers use a variety of treatments to relieve symptoms, but not all of them work for everyone. Your provider can help you find one that works for you:
  • What is aquagenic pruritus? Aquagenic pruritus is a skin condition that causes your skin to itch when water touches it. It does not cause visible symptoms such as hives or rashes. People with this condition experience symptoms within minutes of exposure to water. The itching and burning sensations can last for an hour or longer. Any temperature or type of water can cause this condition. People usually experience symptoms when bathing or showering. The psychological effect can cause them to stop bathing.
  • How does aquagenic pruritus occur? Healthcare providers are not sure how this condition develops. It seems that it may be linked to abnormal cellular processes in the skin, nervous system or immune system. Sometimes, more than one person in a family has this condition. But researchers haven’t identified a specific gene linked to the condition that can be passed from parents to their children.
  • Where does aquagenic pruritus occur? It can occur almost anywhere on your body. The most common location is your legs, followed by your arms, chest and back. It usually doesn’t affect the palms of your hands, soles of your feet or mucus membranes like the insides of your mouth, nose and ears. This means people can drink water without symptoms.

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