Aquagenic Urticaria. A water allergy

21 April 2011

Pure Eau explores the pain of being allergic to water
It is quite common for teenagers to develop a phobia for hopping in the shower, but what if there a genuine reason why they cant?  Ashleigh Morris, 19, from Australia suffers from the very rare skin disorder called ‘Aquagenic Urticaria’ The condition is sometimes described as a form of physical urticaria.  Sometimes it is described as an allergy, although it isn’t histamine releasing allergic reaction like other forms of urticaria, and it causes a painful reaction to the body when in contact with water. Pure Eau takes for granted the luxury of enjoying drinking pure filtered water which we use within our water coolers and water filters.
 When Ashleigh’s body is exposed to water, her skin erupts in sore and itchy red lumps which can take approximately 2 hours to disappear.  Showering is extremely painful and can only be done for a minute at a time. There are shower filters on the market which follow the same principle of reverse osmosis used in some water coolers which remove the chemicals to which some people are allergic and which have poor health effects. These shower filters produce pure water to shower in and are often used by people suffering from Psoriasis. Although Ashleigh finds the disorder difficult at times, she tries to live a normal life as a student. She developed the condition five years ago after taking a heavy dose of penicillin to treat tonsillitis in which it is thought that her histamine levels in her body were altered causing the Aquagenic Urticaria to occur.  Other doctors and specialists also think that it is more to do with the chemicals used to treat water, like chlorine or fluoride especially in tap water. Others react to different water temperatures. Some doctors recommend that sufferers test their allergic reaction to both tap water then sterile distilled water and observe the reaction. Pure Eau understands all about the contaminants including chlorine and fluoride in tap water which is why our water filters and water coolers remove them through a process called reverse osmosis. 
There is currently no cure or treatment for the condition. Sufferers are simply told to avoid water at all costs – including showering, swimming, bathing and avoiding the rain whenever possible. Pure Eau sympathizes with sufferers of this dreadful condition, particularly as water is the elixir of life. Drinking 8 glasses of pure water is essential to achieving optimum health.   

Article Links

water filter http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-filters.cfm
pure water http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/benefits/crystal-clear.cfm
water coolers http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/water-coolers.cfm
reverse osmosis http://www.pure-eau.co.uk/the-process.cfm
 

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