Aquagenic pruritus
Encyclopedia
Aquagenic pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, intense, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesion
s and that is evoked by contact with water
.
Aquagenic pruritus seems to appear equally in both genders regardless of age and among people with varying skin tones. It is sometimes a symptom of primary polycythemia
or polycythemia vera
. Strictly speaking, Aquagenic pruritus is not a discrete disease but a cluster of symptoms. In some families, a tendency toward Aquagenic Pruritus appears to be hereditary.
.
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. Some people find relief from a using a TENS unit.
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, Doxepin
or Cimetidine
may be helpful. Claritin has been found helpful for mild cases where as Doxepin has been found helpful in more severe cases.
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.
Some have said that applying ice or ice cold water on the legs immediately soothes the itching, however, it can return.
Using a shower cream or shower oil like Dove Body Wash (the red label) or Eucerin Calming Body Wash can also relieve symptoms. In some cases taking a bath instead a quick shower may help. Avoid red wine.
Use of naltrexone
and Hydrocortisone has been described.
A small French study in 2011 found that propranolol was effective in treating idiopathic aquagenic pruritus, with complete remission of symptoms in 5 of 6 patients.
Some people find relief in putting on tight leggings and tight long sleeved t-shirt after showering. The fabric does not need to be pure cotton to relieve the symptoms. Rather it seems to be the elimination of air against the skin which helps.
Lesion
A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
s and that is evoked by contact with water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
.
Presentation
Symptoms may be felt immediately after contact with water or humid air and can persist for an hour or longer. Other triggers may be sweat, blowing air, temperature differences, changing clothes, contact with synthetic fibers, and lying down to try to sleep. This condition may persist for years.Aquagenic pruritus seems to appear equally in both genders regardless of age and among people with varying skin tones. It is sometimes a symptom of primary polycythemia
Polycythemia
Polycythemia is a disease state in which the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells increases...
or polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera is a blood disorder in which the bone marrow makes too many red blood cells. It may also result in the overproduction of white blood cells and platelets. Most of the health concerns associated with polycythemia vera are caused by the blood being thicker as a result of the...
. Strictly speaking, Aquagenic pruritus is not a discrete disease but a cluster of symptoms. In some families, a tendency toward Aquagenic Pruritus appears to be hereditary.
Etymology
The name is derived from Latin: Aquagenic, meaning water-induced, and Pruritus, meaning itchItch
Itch is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to classify it as any one type of sensory experience. Modern science has shown that itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response...
.
Treatment
Treatments can include applying capsaicinCapsaicin
Capsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...
cream on the affected areas, and filtered Ultraviolet-B
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
Phototherapy in a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
or health clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
, often using a vertical light cubicle
Cubicle
Тhe cubicle, cubicle desk, office cubicle or cubicle workstation is a partially enclosed workspace, separated from neighboring workspaces by partitions that are usually tall...
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
Spectrum
A spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by...
of the beds. Some people find relief from a using a TENS unit.
Liberal applications of baby oil before or after bathing, or lanolin
Lanolin
Lanolin , also called Adeps Lanae, wool wax or wool grease, is a yellow waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Most lanolin used by humans comes from domestic sheep...
-free Aqueous cream
Aqueous cream
Aqueous Cream BP is a light, paraffin-based emulsion which is officially registered in the British Pharmacopoeia and categorised by the British National Formulary as a non-proprietary emollient preparation...
, 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
Histamine
Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. Histamine triggers the inflammatory response. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by...
, H1 and H2 blockers such as Claritin, Doxepin
Doxepin
Doxepin is a psychotropic agent with tricyclic antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, known under many brand-names such as Aponal, the original preparation by Boehringer-Mannheim, now part of the Roche group; Adapine, Doxal , Deptran, Sinquan and Sinequan...
or Cimetidine
Cimetidine
Cimetidine INN is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that inhibits the production of acid in the stomach. It is largely used in the treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcers. It is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Tagamet...
may be helpful. Claritin has been found helpful for mild cases where as Doxepin has been found helpful in more severe cases.
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.
Some have said that applying ice or ice cold water on the legs immediately soothes the itching, however, it can return.
Using a shower cream or shower oil like Dove Body Wash (the red label) or Eucerin Calming Body Wash can also relieve symptoms. In some cases taking a bath instead a quick shower may help. Avoid red wine.
Use of naltrexone
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used primarily in the management of alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. It is marketed in generic form as its hydrochloride salt, naltrexone hydrochloride, and marketed under the trade names Revia and Depade...
and Hydrocortisone has been described.
A small French study in 2011 found that propranolol was effective in treating idiopathic aquagenic pruritus, with complete remission of symptoms in 5 of 6 patients.
See also
- AquadyniaAquadyniaAquadynia is a variant of aquagenic pruritus, and characterized by a widespread burning pain that lasts 15 to 45 minutes after water exposure....
- Aquagenic urticariaAquagenic urticariaAquagenic urticaria, also known as water urticaria and aquagenous urticaria, is a rarely diagnosed form of physical urticaria. It is sometimes described as an allergy, although it is not a true histamine releasing allergic reaction like other forms of urticaria...
- Pruritus
- List of cutaneous conditions
- List of allergies
Some people find relief in putting on tight leggings and tight long sleeved t-shirt after showering. The fabric does not need to be pure cotton to relieve the symptoms. Rather it seems to be the elimination of air against the skin which helps.