This Woman Is Allergic To Water, Says She Can't Take A Shower Or Even Sweat
Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water allergy is a rare but real medical condition. This can ruin one's life, beyond the imagination of people who haven't gone through it.
Water is an essential part of our lives, and we need it for everything from drinking to taking a shower, doing the laundry, and more.
But what happens if you become allergic to water? As far-fetched as it sounds, Aquagenic urticaria, also known as water allergy is a rare but real medical condition.
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Woman allergic to water
This can ruin one's life, beyond the imagination of people who haven't gone through it.
Loren Montefusco, a 22-year-old woman from South Carolina in the US has been living this nightmare for the past ten years of her life.
Montefusco started experiencing allergic reactions from contact with water when she was 12 and was diagnosed with Aquagenic urticaria when she was 19.
No cure for her condition
When Montefusco showers or otherwise comes into contact with water, she experiences intense itching, which can last for up to an hour.
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What makes Montefusco's predicament even worse is that it has no cure and her symptoms have only worsened over the years.
Claws herself to distract
According to Daily Mail, Montefusco who is currently a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, 'claws' at her skin to cause herself pain to distract from the unbearable itchiness she experiences.
Montefusco said that she is forced to avoid showering for as long as possible and when she has to, she does so as quickly as she can to avoid prolonged exposure to water.
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What is Aquagenic urticaria
According to scientists only less than 250 cases of Aquagenic urticaria have been reported globally and most of them are women.
Scientists have yet to identify the cause of Aquagenic urticaria. The symptoms of Aquagenic urticaria include itching, red hives, or swelling on the skin after exposure to water.
Symptoms normally start within 30 minutes of exposure to water and can last between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Symptoms usually go away on their own.
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