How to Get Rid of Aquagenic Pruritus

Tips on Treating the Water Induced Itch

Jun 2, 2009
Hanish Babu

Aquagenic Pruritus or Bathing Itch - anitapatterson, Morguefiles

Aquagenic pruritus or water induced itch is a typical pricking itch which appears after contact with water at any temperature, without any visible changes in the skin.

The itching in aquagenic pruritus or bathing itch can be so intense and prickly that some of the sufferers develop aversion to bathing. Aquagenic pruritus is very chronic and resistant to treatment in most patients. To compound the matter, it does not respond to conventional anti-itch medications, like antihistamines and getting rid of aquagenic pruritus is really a challenge.

The itching usually starts immediately or within minutes of contact with water. In some persons, itching is induced by sudden drop in temperature, as entering a cold room or freezer compartments, in humid weather conditions. Contact with rain water induces more itching than normal tap water in most affected individuals. Itching may continue for hours after bathing.

Because of the chronic nature, treatment resistance and lack of skin rashes, patients with the aquagenic pruritus are most often labeled as psychoneurotic and prescribed antidepressant or anxiolytic medications.

Causes of Aquagenic Pruritus

The exact cause is not known why some people develop allergy to the water. Various chemical mediators have been found in the affected skin, like histamine and acetyl choline. Though mast cells degranulate and secrete histamine as a response to contact with water, it is evident, from the ineffectiveness of antihistamines, that histamine is not the primary mediator in aquagenic pruritus (as opposed to aquagenic urticaria, where the histamine induced wheals appear along with itching on exposure to water).

Diseases Associated with Aquagenic Pruritus

In addition to the unknown (idiopathic) origin of aquagenic pruritus, more seriously, there are some diseases in which the bathing itch may be the presenting symptom.

Polycythemia vera, itching on exposure to water and sudden changes in temperatures may be the premonitory symptom in polycythemia vera.
Metastatic carcinoma of cervix in women
Hypereosinophilic syndrome
Juvenile xanthogranuloma
Myelodysplastic syndrome.

How to Get Rid of Aquagenic Pruritus

The most effective treatment of the aquagenic pruritus involves the desensitization of the skin through phototherapy. The following are a few tips on treating the bathing itch:

Though most antihistamines are ineffective in aquagenic pruritus, a combination of long acting antihistamines like Cetrizine 10 mg and short acting antihistamines like Cyproheptadine 4 mg is useful in reducing the intensity of the itching in the water induced pruritus.
Before bath, apply an oil based emollient lotion to your body, face, and limbs. This will reduce water coming in direct contact with the skin and will reduce the intensity of itching.
If itching occurs, in addition to the antihistamine combination above, apply Capsaicin cream to the skin, immediately after the bath.
Avoid forcible showers, hot water or prolonged stay in the pool. Use the pool and bath water when it is at body temperature. Those who have cold urticaria or itching following cold exposure will feel better with warm water bath and increased itching following contact with cold water.
Use only cotton dresses, cotton sheets and cotton quilts on your bed. Any contact with synthetic dresses, woolen blankets etc will increase the tendency to itch.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, hot, spicy, fried fast foods. Drink lots of fresh fruit juices (except mango) and eat more vegetables.
If the itching is intense and intractable, phototherapy with Psoralen-UVA or filtered UVB will provide excellent results in most patients. These are available in most dermatologists’ offices.

Thus, though very resistant to conventional treatments, patients with aquagenic pruritus can enjoy the occasional plunge with proper precautions and medications. It has also to be borne in mind that all itching after contact with water is not aquagenic pruritus, it could be contact dermatitis to the soap, solvents in the water, brush etc. If wheals are present, it is called aquagenic urticaria.

Reference

Pruritus, in Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2004

Disclaimer

The information given in this article is for educational purpose only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, the author or suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purpose only.

Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...

Hot Showers and Rain Water Can Also Induce Itching - alexfrance, Morguefile

Comments

Jun 5, 2009 12:53 PM

Guest :

I have Aquagenic pruritis. The best thing for me has been heat. I avoid cool pools and showers. I now take them as hot as I can stand it and no longer itch afterwards. Showering at night also helps. I get dressed and under covers as soon as I can. I do agree with that capsaicin and avoid synthetic clothes help. Eating a clean diet, such as an anti-candida diet helps my symptoms tremendously.

Jul 20, 2009 11:44 PM

Guest :

I, too, have aquagenic pruritus and have found that ending my shower with the hottest water possible averts the post-shower itch. Aiming a hair dryer at itchy places or putting a heating pad on them is likely to bring me relief, as does electrical stimulation from a TENS unit when the itch is mostly at my ankles or elbows. Using capsaicin, I believe, is effective because of the heat generated. However, some of us develop a respiratory sensitivity to the capsaicin and can no longer use it.

Many of us with aquagenic pruritus can have the itch triggered by humidity, sweat, or simply blowing air. Keeping the entire body (except face and hands) covered with 100% cotton, from long sleeves to cotton socks, makes the itch less likely in these situations.

I agree with the previous person's comment that showering at night is much better than showering in the morning, which makes me wonder whether a temperature difference between my skin and my deeper body tissues is a factor in triggering the itch. I have not heard of anyone researching this possibility.

Thank you for posting this information. Please keep updating this page as more is learned.

Jul 21, 2009 4:48 AM

Guest :

I have had Aquagenic pruritis since 1989 and cool water is the worst method of avoiding the itch. Hot pool water (Hot Tub or sauna) and a final very hot rinse in the shower is much better than cool water. For some people, a strenuous exercise program or a long run before a shower lessens the itch and the duration.

Jul 21, 2009 4:57 AM

topper72 :

Showering at night and finishing with a very hot rinse is much better than using cool water. Swimming in a heated pool or using a hot tub or sauna also lessens the itch. Some people find that a strenuous exercise program or a long run before a shower lessens the itch and shortens the duration. Consider a change in diet if you get too much sugar or starches. There are many degrees of AP and you need to experiment with different methods, because what works for one person may not work for you. There are hundreds of us that have this condition and you are not alone.

Jul 22, 2009 2:51 AM

Guest :

I have Aquagenic Pruritis as well. I have a hard time keeping it under control. Even now, it's 3 in the morning and I can't sleep because my husband changed the sheets, and they are unfortunately synthetic.
I, like everyone else who has commented have found that hot water is best when showering. I have also found that if I swim in cold water, as long as I stay in long enough to get pruny that it doesn't bother me as much.
I am just now discovering that I had this skin disease, and for the longest time I was constantly frustrated. I felt alone, and no one believed me when I said that water really bothers my skin. It's great to know that there are other people out there who have the same issues as I do, and know how to treat it.

Jul 22, 2009 4:13 AM

Guest :

I agree, I went through hell for years because I was incorrectly informed cold water was best for me. I appreciate that it may work for some people but in general the very hottest water you can stand works best.

Jul 22, 2009 5:45 AM

Guest :

Agree with the majority here ... showers have to be finished with an extremely hot spray, all over, to minimise any itch afterwards.

Personally, sweating after playing sport doesn't cause a problem in that I can shower with the water not being too hot. However, sweating after a long walk can bring a severe itch on which even a really hot shower doesn't remove.

It makes me think that perhaps body temperature plays a part in my particular version of the condition.

Aug 7, 2009 8:27 PM

Guest :

I have being struggling with this condition for as long as I can remember.I am 33 yrs old. I only recently put a name to this unbearable itching that everyone just chalked up to being "in my head".I have tried every thing,every soup but nothing would help. I would itch so bad after a bath or shower so I don't go to the pool or take baths.Any contact with water is always very short.A course hair brush would be waiting for me when I get out of the shower...some days are worst than others but it is still frustrating. Growing up in Jamaica, it was typical to take a shower outside in the rain. I would cry for hours after that event. Now I try to study it and do the things that reduces the itching. The house is always cool,cotton sheets and underware. Mild soaps and lotions and a good course brush.I wish this "thing" would just go away.

Sep 6, 2009 3:14 PM

Guest :

I am 37 years old, I have had this hellish ich after showers since highschool. I just found this condition today!! I have asked one doctor about the ich and they suggested taking Benedril, which didn't help. I thought I was just weird. I am going to have to figure out what works for me, but sweating after rough housing with my son and husband brings it on, humidity (reason why I knew it wasn't dry skin), hotel showers aren't bad (very little ich if any). Sometimes I don't ich bad but sometimes I am reduced to bawling, heat is iffy, there is really no pattern but now that I know what I am suffering from I am going to watch for small signs, maybe what I ate, time of day, activity before shower, ect. I feel vindicated, I know what I have been suffering from and feel excited about the fact I am not crazy! Thank you so much! I have searched and searched before and WebMD doesn't list this, I have never found any information on this before. I am not even sure how I found it today. I have spent over an hour just searching and iching. I am really amazed at how it listed everything that I thought was "causing" the ich, sweat, water, pools, humidity, blowing air, that was why I thought I was so crazy! When I was younger I would change soaps every two weeks, I didn't know the material connection, but I can see now if I would sweat wearing something other than cotton, I would begin to ich. I don't suffer from iching at night but my sheets are cotten or flannel so I am good there, and most of my pj are cotton. I am so relieved!! Now I know what to ask a doctor. 20 years of hating showers is maybe over now. I would procratinate so bad, I would be late for work, church, school. I am some ideas to help me till I can get in to see a doctor. I thought I was alone in this, I don't wish this on anyone but it is nice to hear what others have gone through and what they have done about it! Thank you!

Sep 10, 2009 4:22 PM

Guest :

I have been living with this particular skin disease for 7 years now,I am only 19yrs. I now have depression because of it,before now i felt like i was the only one with this skin condition. thankfully, now I find help.

Sep 14, 2009 8:47 AM

Guest :

I am 44 years old, and have been suffering from agonizingly itchy skin since I was 11 or 12. For years I thought it was from excessively dry skin as I live in a desert climate. However, several years ago, I purchased a water treatment system for my home, and the itching seems to have subsided, although not completely eliminated. I did notice that when I would itch, I'd check the salt container & find it was empty. I spent almost 2 years in Iraq, and I don't remember itching once after showering. Like most of the other sufferers who have commented, I have developed an aversion to showering. They are painful! The itch is like a stinging itch, and about 99% of the time only affects my arms & legs. I am currently spending time on a Caribbean island, and am now itching even when not showering. I've started more "research" on this, and have just discovered - today - there is a name, and that it is also triggered by humidity. For years I have joked with people that I am allergic to water (I don't drink it, either!), but now am realizing that that might not be an inaccurate statement. I will be purchasing some Capsaicin cream when I get home, and hopefully that will help for the times when I am away from soft(er) water or in a very humid climate. I'll also try the very hot water rinse. Thank you to everybody for commenting - it's wonderful to hear this is a relatively common problem, and to read everyone's fairly unanimous remedies.

Sep 15, 2009 1:54 AM

Guest :

Hi, I have aquagenic pruritus and have just undergone nearly three months of UVB therapy, three times a week. It worked for a while but I am now back to having that unbearable itch after having a bath. I do find that adding bicard of soda to the bath decreases the itch. I am also on medication from ny GP whichdoes help reduce the itch..but it still happens and is sometimes worse than others. The strange thing is that I can go swimming in the sea with no after effects. Does anyone else find that sea water doesn't trigger the itch?

Sep 15, 2009 8:32 AM

Guest :

i have been suffering this hellfire since 1990 and i thougth it waas the spoonge i was using, so did my parents, siiblings and friends think.
it was evn morre than hell when i got to high school:itch if i did not bath, and have the worrse if i took the riisk.
i have changed almost every thing in my life ranging from clothing to drugs and soaps and water but to no avail. i have seen the dermatologists i can lay hands on.
as i am writing now i had a very bad episode this morning and only heaven knows what will happen this evenning.
i will try every suggested method but in case anybody geeets the definite or permanent antidote to this calamity, send me a mail and i will be very glad. my mail address:seidu2k@yahoo.com

Sep 19, 2009 6:54 PM

Guest :

I am 36 years old, and have been suffering with this for the past year or two. It really is very hard to live with. I have been avoiding a shower for 6 weeks. I can't even believe I haven't showered in that long! I am seeing a doctor in two days and hopefully, I can get some help. If anything new comes my way as far as relief, I will post it right away; Looking forward to trying all of these suggestions. It is nice to know I am not alone. Ocean water for whatever reason does not seem to bother as much as pool water. My poor kids dont understand why I do not swim with them anymore. If anyone finds anything else out, please post. Thanks

Sep 20, 2009 1:07 PM

Guest :

I think I am suffering from Aquagenic Pruritis also and before I heard of this condition my doctor said it was nerves and the water hitting my legs would stimulate the nerves and cause itching. The doctor prescribed Xanex and I take .5 mg 15 mins before showering and it has totally helped me! If you are suffering from this skin disorder I recommend asking a doctor to let you try Xanex to pre-medicate before showering and it has made a huge differnce for me! Thanks for all your other suggestions and I am going to see a dermatologist to look into other treatments.

Sep 26, 2009 4:06 PM

Guest :

I also suffer with this condition. I live in Antigua (caribbean) and even if I travel to the US I still itch. It can be very frustrating. I was told to bathe in salt water and it did help me, but the problem is always finding loose salt to bathe with. I don't know if bath salts will do the trick (i had used regular kitchen salt). My hairbrush is my weapon of choice because fingernails just don't cut it. I have had this condition for at least 20 years.

Sep 27, 2009 7:05 AM

Guest :

hi everyone, i have had this condition probably since i was 11 i am now 29 and i have tried so many remedies but it does not work.bathing with extremely hot water that yur body can take helps. I was sick recently for another reason and i was prescribed diclofenac 100mg twice daily and to my surprise i did not feel the itch again but i had to reduce the intake because i did not want to get hooked to it. but it helps.

Oct 18, 2009 12:21 PM

Guest :

Wow I am not alone. I am currently taking prednosone & xyzal. I have found at times when heat will resolve the itch and when cold blowing air from a vent has done the same. I don't know which one will work at times but whatever I have access too is what I will use. Prayer and meditation has been added to my regime. I am hoping for cure and not just relief.

Oct 19, 2009 10:59 AM

Guest :

So I am highly allergic to water, and I thought it was just me, kind of neat to know I am not the only one. And other people have it. However, I am noticing most people only itch and rash out. I also swell up, when I drink water my throat swells shut, if I take a bath I vomit, my eyes and ears drain out this clear liquid as a result of having water in my system, and if I go swimming, it is twice as intense, and my whole face especially my sinus area burns (this happens even when I am not swimming if I drank water that day). I have done scans and mris and stuff and don't have a sinus infection or anything similar. Doctors here are at a loss, anyone have more suggestions?

Oct 20, 2009 10:43 PM

Guest :

OMG!! I also have Aquagenic pruritis and it has been hell! Sometimes i wish i could literally peel my skin off. Ive found that i itch less when i shower @ nights but its still very painful it feels like 100 bee stinging me all over my body at the same time. Ive tried hot water but it worked for awhile until my skin got used to it. Even sweat irritates my skin. My parents usually tell me it was all in my mind and i was beginning to think i was crazy. I need a remedy that will stop this once and for all.lol im glad that im not alone!;(

Oct 21, 2009 11:53 AM

Guest :

All of this info is very helpful. I agree with most all of the symptoms mentioned. However I am curious if anyone else experiences these problems more in the non-summer months? I have had this skin problem for over 15 years and know for sure that it is aggravated by cooler environments. Which really, I think it is because my skin is more sensitive in the non summer months. I know that when I am in the sun in the summer and consistently wearing shorts, my skin becomes desensitized. Hence, the more sun exposure, the less problems, but then of course you have the dangers of skin cancer.
Also, does stress aggravate anyone’s itching? Also, just changing clothes, or removing pants, shirt etc???
I absolutely cannot wear short sleeves or shorts in the fall or winter (on vacations/around the house).
Thanks for all the help. I certainly feel everyone’s pain….. Even the “it’s all in your head”

Oct 21, 2009 7:21 PM

Guest :

I'm with you on that one. I have a really hard time changing clothes, and I also trigger the aggravation after I've sat on a toilet seat. I was just diagnosed with this condition in February and informed that it would only last a year or two. Now that I've been reading these comments I realize that I'll struggle with this indefinitely. I will try this hot water shower trick, like you guys I was trying to take cooler showers and it has been touch and go. I find that if I get stressed out while my skin is itching, the symptoms intensify. Sometimes I feel like I'm having a break down. I am very thankful that this site is here so that I don't feel so alone about it. Thanks for posting all the good ideas.

Nov 1, 2009 4:53 AM

Guest :

OMG i,m not alone i thought i had dry skin and have tried every cream for dry skin known to man, But i noticed it always happens after i take a shower - even using cream, lotions, oils or nothing (in the shower) did not help the intense itching after.
thank you for all the ideas and suggestions which i will begin tried today.:)

Jan 10, 2010 9:12 AM

Guest :

Hi, I'm 15 years old and i THINK that i have this "disease". Most of the time but not all of the time after i go for a swim my legs get unbelievably itchy, i cant stop scratching, if I'm starving and i got a big bucket of KFC in front of me, i wont eat it, ill be too busy scratching my legs. This condition is really starting to annoy me and my parents don't believe that my legs get really really itchy

Jan 22, 2010 4:11 AM

Guest :

Hi, I am 31 years old and live in Sweden. I have had these same problems for a couple of years now, altough not exactly as some of you explains yor problems. I never get itchy just by beeing wet. It comes after the shower, when the skin is drying up. Like in the warm and more humid climate of the summer, or when i go on vacation in Greece for example, i never get this itch. Probably because in that humid conditions the skin never really gets dry. And also i have itch related to contact with the skin. Like if i sit on a toilet it starts to itch on the back of my thigh, or if someone grabs my arm hard it can itch for like 30 minutes.

Then i red that some doctor have had positiv effect on some patients with a small daily dose of aspirin. I have now taken half a aspirin a day, or a swedish medicine called Treo, and it has really helped me. After a shower the itch is still there, but not close to the crazyness of the previous itch. I dont know if i will ever be completely free from this problem, but aspirin has really made this problem much, much easier to handle.

Jan 25, 2010 2:45 PM

Guest :

Hi everyone! I live in South Africa and the weather is very moderate in the region where I live. Not to hot, cold or humid. I also have AP and associate with everything said in almost all of the letters. I found that to bath in warm water helps a lot or to finish off with a hot shower if I do take a shower instead. Scrubbing or any stimulation of the skin in or out of water is a big no-no. Patting yourself dry instead of rubbing with a towel also helps. Applying a thin lotion rather than a cream afterwards, also helps a lot. I use Johnson and Johnson 40 UVA waterbabies lotion which dubbles as a protect to the sun, but I even use it at night. It is very light and non-greasy and does not clogg the pores. As soon as the pores are clogged by applying too much stuff, I can itch even worse. I also use Uecirin bath and shower therapy with 20% Omego oils in it instead of soap. I find that I mostly itch on my shins and arms and mostly my upper arms. Sometimes if I am very busy during the day and start to itch for no reason, I can just take a handshower and shower down the parts that is itching like my shins or upper arms instead of taking my complete shower. To shower at night instead of mornings, definately helps. Having contact with warm to hot water really reduces the itching. I find that even just a few cold drops of water on my skin, like when I water the garden or are caught in the rain, can induce the itching. I can swim in a hot or cold pool, but coming out is absolute hell and I need to run for a hot shower to stop the itch. I also find that sometimes when I wear clothing like a 3/4 pants, the hem touching my skin while I walk, will make me itch. Things like my car's aircon blowing onto my arms, will make me itch. So yes, my "all in the mind" disease are not so excentric as I thought. The itching also gets worse when I have been in the sun too much or too long and going unto a sunbed for tanning also worsens itching for me. Please keep us all posted when someone discovers something that works longterm. Funny that we have all worked out what works best for us on our own! Even my dermatologist gave up on me. At some stage I did take Zysel, but it made my itch worse. I hate cortisone for the bad things in it, but sometimes I will "treat" myself if I know I am going on holiday with a short course of Celestimine just to help me through a "non or less itchy holiday". Someone should pay us for our research!

Feb 10, 2010 12:41 AM

Guest :

i have had AP for many yrs now, my itch is when i dry off after being wet, being wet and cold, sweating or tempature change. for me the only things that help are hot showers and sun, i find going to a tanning booth once a week will stop or minimize the itch for a while.
a good sun tan/burn also helps short term as later the itch comes back with ferocity untill i tan again. so it ends up being an interesting choice , itch all the time or tan itch much less but run the risk of skin cancer.

Feb 25, 2010 5:08 AM

Guest :

hello everyone. i am really happy to read all your comment. i am 25 and i had this condition since i was 12. my family never believed me. My doctor referred me to a dermatologist and he told me i had AP. it was a relief to know that i wasn't going crazy! i take only hot shower, and i don't use soap to avoid my skin go dry so i use oils. i have itch mainly on legs, arms and back..face and hand never itches. cotton clothes and blankets helps and summer is my favourite season because its hot. i don t use swimming pool.i am scared to swim and its a shame because i used to love swimming. I never had depression because of this but now i started eating less to lose weight so i have less skin that itches. i am not obese or overweight at all and it might sounds crazy, but this itchy conditions is driving me crazy so i rather lose weight and have to deal with less itchy skin. I wish there could be a cure for it so I can start living normally again.

Mar 27, 2010 9:03 AM

Guest :

very good articles all very true , I know how they feel i suffer myself.

Apr 6, 2010 8:36 AM

Guest :

i have AP and have always taken really hot showers. the heat seems to make me itch more. i haven't tried taking cold showers just because i can't stand the thought of getting in cold water, but i may have to try it. anything else other than heat that may help? i love the summer and getting into a baking car after it's sat in the sun for a long time, but anytime i sweat i scratch my face and neck like crazy---so i'm not sure if heat would help me.

what do you guys think?

Apr 8, 2010 12:49 PM

Guest :

I've suffered from AP for 15 years now, it's extremely unpleasant to say the least, as we all know. I've been taking a very hot bath and adding Baking Soda to the water, I try to do this 3 times a week. I buy the big 4 lb. boxes of baking soda and it lasts me at least a week. Sadly I wasn't told how much baking soda to use, so you may want to test using more or less, but I would guess I use 1 to 2 cups per bath.

May 2, 2010 12:55 AM

Guest :

I am a 42 y/o woman who has suffered with this for over 20 years, and although I wouldn't wish this on anybody it gives me comfort to know I am not alone, nor crazy, I do have a couple of family members that have some degree of this condition so I do believe there could be hereditary factors involved. I also find that hot showers ONLY at night are the best. If I take a shower in the morning or afternoon, it is unbearable... I start itching, then get anxious and I think that aggravates my condition more. Sometimes, I will throw a towel in the dryer for a while and get it very hot before I get in the shower, the warmth seems to help as I dry off. I also have a small gas stove in my bathroom and I get the bathroom nice and warm before showering because the temperature changes from shower to cool air is also horrible. I'm glad you guys are out there.

May 13, 2010 7:07 PM

Guest :

I have had AP for all my life but it has only gotten to be unbearable starting 5 years ago (I am now 45). It is triggered by anything that gets my skin wet (pool, shower, sweat, humidity), blowing wind, change in clothes. It occurs on my chest, back, legs, and arms. Never my face, palms, or the bottoms of my feet. I have been tested for every possible disease including Polycythemia Rubra Vera. I tried several dermatologists and ended up at the Dermatology Clinic at Emory University. The doctors there are very aware of AP and know that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else. I have been treated for the itch using several psychotropic/tricyclic drugs (Xanax, Risperidone, Naltrexone, Doxepin, etc.) steroids, and antihistimines to no avail. I am currently taking Accolate, Hydroxyzine HCL, Cyproheptadine (just before showering), and Neurontin. This combination (namely the Neurontin) seems to have it licked. I tried Neurontin's cousin Lyrica also and it did not help either. Also, many of your suggestions including the hot water at the end of showering, cotton (everything that touches your skin), sun (UV), evening showers, mentioned above also help. I have also noticed that Hydrocodone HCL helps when I get an attack. Sometimes my attacks are so severe that I get my wife to apply baby powder (corn starch) using a washcloth to rub it into my skin. It seems the constant stimulation of the nerves tends to "wear out" the itching stimulus. Sorry for the long post. Good luck to all getting help for this debilitating hellish disease!

Jun 26, 2010 5:45 PM

Guest :

Sounds like there is no right anwser for this, but analyzing all coments expecially the baking soda on the water I believe that having your body to acidic may trigger this itching nightmare, try to elevate the Ph level of your body. Ex drinking a shot of wheat grass 3 times a week and having more chlorophyll base diet, stay away from refine sugar and white flour.

Jul 7, 2010 4:50 PM

Guest :

I've had AP regularly for 7+ years now, (I'm 34). I'm surprized hot water is so frequently recommended. I use baby oil and a cool, 4 minute shower approach. In the winter it usually calms down so I can do nice hot, relaxing showers. It's worse whenever I lose the tan (or red, I never get brown tan ufortunately). People make fun of me for having this so I keep it to myself and rarely mention it. Someone may say, "Oh, I have sensitive skin too" when you tell them, and you just get so freakin annoyed. I try to say it's like a swarm of subcutaneous gnats or horseflies having a freak-out but you can't get any real sympathy. I went to a dermatologist for a few moles and mentioned this to him at the end. He didn't seem familiar with it. He was able to figure what it was based on the two words. Some doctors don't like when you've figured something out on your own and I didn't really care to go into it. Besides, I'm not slathering myself with capaicin or popping pills before a shower.

Jul 14, 2010 12:18 PM

Guest :

So I spent a good part of my day reading all of these posts (and others) and really don't have anything meaningful to add that you might read and say "Wow, that really helps me with this painfully irritating problem that no one understands, for which there is no cure and has caused so much distress in my life for the last X number of years!" But I can relate that I've *suffered* from this dreadful condition for the last 11 years, on and off. This is what I've noticed. Showering at night sometimes helps and I don't typically experience the itching at night but sometimes I do. Covering my legs and arms (recently my arms have begun to itch as well which makes me think the condition is worsening) with clothes helps "treat" the condition but I still itch, just not usually as bad. *AEROBIC EXERCISE* is the silver bullet for me! I need a good heart pounding, sweat dripping run/walk to drive the daemons from my skin! Here are the environmental circumstances that as I am learning may contribute to my condition: I eat too much sugar; I drink too much caffeine (diet coke); I don't eat enough vegetables; I don't drink enough water; and I have a high amount of stress. But with that said here are the facts: no one's ever going to hand us a pill and say "here ya go. this will solve your itching problem!" I simply think that there are too many variables related to this condition for it to to fit into a prescribed pill type cure. And while there are a lot of us out here, there's probably not enough for the medical community to spend time researching this from a clinical investigation perspective which is often financed by big pharma. The only way that we can combat this condition is to diligently be aware of our environment, which quite frankly is probably the biggest contributor to our suffering, and take the necessary steps to minimize the things that contribute to this. Try to be healthier, eat better, anaerobic exercise regularly, shower in the evenings if that helps, hot or cold whichever works better for you, etc. I'm confident that if we can be more mindful of our environment and change our behavior, we can help mitigate the effect this condition has on our lives! Good luck! I love you all...

Jul 18, 2010 11:08 PM

Guest :

Finally I can put a name to what I have endured for years. In 1980's I remember showering before school and I would itch like crazy!-I was afraid of the water, I have had a problems at the stores when trying on clothes my skin would be itching terrible I didn't understand. Just recently I had my window open in my bedroom and the breeze came in and I started to itch I got dressed a the itch stopped so I desided to google my symptoms and there it is Aquagenic Pruritus!

Jul 21, 2010 8:10 PM

Guest :

Hi everyone,
I'm 25 and have had this condition since I was 13 or so. I am SO GLAD that I can finally identify it. I can also attest to really hot water solving the problem, perhaps because it damages the skin, which desensitizes it? Great to read all the other ideas that you have tried. I will be sure to give them a shot!

Jul 31, 2010 5:50 AM

Guest :

I'm 14 years old and I think I have Aquagenic pruritus but i'm not sure, I get these symptoms sometimes after I shower, but not always. When I do it is very painful and distracting. I find myself applying heat/lotion after showering but this hardly does the trick. The itching lasts about 45 minutes and it is very prickly and annoying. I don't know how to cure it if i do have this skin condition because it has random outbursts.

Aug 1, 2010 12:00 PM

Guest :

It's sooo hard to get a handle on this, thanks everyone for writing! I'm a 32yo male living with AP for 20 years - is puberty the reason why so many of us begin with this around 12-13 years of age? I've tried the creams, ointments, pills and all the techniques. Have also lived in different regions ticking off every hot/cold/dry/humid combination. I can manage (but not eliminate) using the following, Inside: the building has to be dry and warm. Damp and cold sends me bananas. Outside: if I've worked up a sweat, I need a hot shower. If I'm wet or in wet clothes, I need a hot shower. If it's say 25C+ I'm happy to swim outside with only a little discomfort afterwards while drying, otherwise no deal. Shower: only hot and strong (against doctors' wishes), and only in the evening/night. But the real trick for me is after shower: dry and warm room, clean cotton pyjamas and bedding and yes, sometimes the wife's hair-dryer! Works 6 days out of 7. Downside as an Aussie male: need for face moisturiser due to hot shower and inability to swim outside at the drop of a hat! Good luck everyone!

Aug 10, 2010 2:14 PM

Guest :

I finally have an answer to my insanity! I think I have been dealing with this since sometime in middle school. I wasnt sure what drove me nuts more, the itching or not knowing what was causing it. Luckily it seems to come in spurts. I can go weeks maybe even months without itching and then it seems to come around for a few weeks. It mostly happens after getting out of the shower but sometimes it happens first thing in the morning when I wake up. Im not sure if this is because Im anticipating it happening or what. Im just happy to know that its actually caused by something and Im not the only one. Now we just have to find a cure!

Aug 20, 2010 11:29 AM

Guest :

hii all,

i am also suffering from this problem from 5 years . i am 20 now .
i remember the day when it was really started . i was in 9th class . when i went to himachal pradesh (India) for a school trip . its a hilly area so temperature is coolant as compared to where i lived .AT that time it was fine and after when i went back to my home after 10 days ,. The very next day i took a shower , and after taking the shower and when my skin gets dried its starting to itch . at that time i really don't even know the word itch . it started all over my body except face , hands , and feet . so u can guess how horrible was that and i literally cry at that time . and couple of years i thought i am the unluckiest man in this world. and i was afraid to tell anybody on that . i hate going to water park with my friends , i hate swimming , i hate bathing as well
and now its a positive sign , not saying i really get the cure for that itch but its now minimum . i mean the itch is normally on my thy area and on my arms and lil but on chest part . now i just do to get into normal activities like taking bath everyday , don't bother about any itching or so . and use of hot water ., the talcum powder also works . i pour it all over my chest part and i generally get on clothes on my body as soon as possible .
i feel very bad that we cant enjoy the rain and swimming . Its a challenge for me to go and take a bath. i guess for everybody its a chalange to take bath . everyday i have to think how to take bath in order to get min itch .i really felt bad sometimes that when bathing makes everybody refresh , why i makes me depressed.

but i m optimist. whatever the situation is bad or good . i will take bath everyday
Some advice for all the people . The water is a very natural thing , it wont hurt . yeah but we feel to get affected . So don't really feel bad . Take shower twice a day . make ur skin always clean . dont really bother about itching . while taking bath try going outside to the market . it will minimises your itch beacuse you are focused in some other work . and the itch will went off from your mind
i hope we all get the perfect treatment , not the temperoary cure of that problem . iand i pray no one get infected by that problem .
If you want to share something with me on that problem e-mail me on that at pamila.landy@gmail.com
the id not contains my real name !!

Nov 15, 2010 1:02 PM

Guest :

I'm so thankful that there is a name for this condition!!! I'm a 41 year-old male living in Los Angeles, California. About 4 years ago my legs (below the knee) began itching about 4 minutes after I'd dry off following showers. The itching would last for about 30-45 minutes, then go away. Over time, the condition has expanded to the area 6 inches above my knees. In addition, at night time, I itch on my legs and back. The itchiness at night seems to be triggered by a polyester comforter on my bed (which I will be getting rid of after reading the other posts). There are no physical signs of irritation on the skin -- no redness, no bumps, no dryness. Like many others, I have tried many modifications to my routine to try to pinpont the cause. I've changed soaps, detergents, added a chlorine filter to my shower, used lotions and topical medications. None worked. The only thing I have found that helps is fish oil tablets. About a week or two after starting to take 3 pills per day I noticed that the itching was less intense. Please keep sharing your information -- it's very helpful.

Nov 20, 2010 10:32 AM

Guest :

I am soo glad that I found this article and I know there are others out there going through this with me. I'm 20 and I have been suffering with this painful itch since I was a child. I remember throwing fits because my parents wanted me to shower but I just couldn't. When I was younger I would scream and cry and hit my legs with a brush to make the itch go away. my parents never understood and I have heard the whole 'its all in your head speech' too many times to count. I remember just wishing I could cut off my legs! that would sure make the itch go away! haha. what works for me is showering at night and dressing quickly after the shower. When I shower in the morning, no matter how many lotions I use, the pain is just so intense that I simply lay in bed until the itch subsides, usually in an about an hour. no one has understood what I go through until now. its good to know there are other like me living with this horrible disease.

Dec 21, 2010 2:46 PM

Guest :

I have been suffering from Aquagenic Pruritis for only a few years. At first it would only happen occasionally, but now it's begun to happen every time I go into the water. I've tried a good deal of different pills and stuff but most of them haven't worked too well. The one thing that I've found that has worked is putting vasaline on before going into the pool. It feels very slimy and makes you look really shiny but better that then the itching. The only other downside is that it doesn't come off very well and I end up sticking to my blankets and being water resistant for days.
The other thing I have to say has helped is not clawing at my legs. What I do is take a shower at night and as soon as I get out, I hurry downstairs and grab my computer, rubbing my legs with my fingertips. As long as I don't use my fingernails, the itching is fairly bearable. I was horrified when I read these posts about people clawing at their legs with hairbrushes and how nails just didn't get the job done.

Jan 27, 2011 3:26 AM

Guest :

I've noticed that (among all the other things that everyone has mentioned) it seems to be related to the acidity of the water (for me anyway). More acid makes it worse, more alkaline is better - that's why sea water is not so bad and why bicarb helps - both are higher pH. I once used a bicarb soap, which was great, but haven't been able to find bicarbs soaps since then. I now use Thursday Plantation Tea-tree soap - I don't know what ingredient in it works (ie if it's just this brand) but it helps. Bicarb spray in the shower is good too.
Because it's also an early morning thing and temperatures affect it, I wonder if it's something to do with skin pores opening? I can't have a shower if I'm just out of bed, regardless of the time of day, but if I wait 2-3 hours after getting up, it's bearable.
To deal with it, I shower at night, and (in the tropics) try and sit in a strong breeze afterwards, or in aircon under a fan, which helps stop me wanting to scratch. Or get into cool bedsheets. I read something to distract me, and I don't ever scratch (it make it much worse!!), but just stroke my arms and legs when I really can't stand it. On the bright side AP helped me deal with adult chicken pox, cos the pox itching was nothing like as bad!
After reading all these posts I now realise how incredibly lucky I've been, cos my mum has the same, so I've only once heard that 'it's all in my head' (and that once made me angry enough - why would anyone make this up!!) and I've never been forced to shower in the mornings. Show them this site, and keep up the posts!

Jan 29, 2011 7:19 AM

Guest :

ITCHING STARTED ON MY BACK AND IS NOW SPREADIND ON MY ARMS AND TORSO.-THE APPLICATION OF « SARNA » AFTER SHOWERS BRINGS SOME RELIEF.

MARC B.

Feb 11, 2011 10:53 PM

Guest :

I have been suffering with itching/burning/tingling arms and legs after showers since I was a kid. I thought for a long time that itching was a symptom of my panic attacks, now I know it's what causes them! It went away for several years and reared it's ugly head again about two years ago. My doctor blamed it on hard water but I have a softner and a filter. I've tried everything from organic soaps, oiling up before and after, hot and cold, everthing!!! The only thing that works for me is tanning. I realized last summer after an all day float trip that I didn't itch for several days but then it came back. I made the connection then. I was an avid tanner during the end of highschool and college but stoped tanning when we started trying to get pregnant which is when the itching came back. I don't like being really dark, especially in the winter so I try to space out my sessions to about once a week. As long as I keep a base tan I don't itch. My assumption is maybe the dead layers form a barrior or something. I also wonder if it's not more of a nerve issue than a skin issue as for me it's more tingling and burning than itching. I'm currently snowed in still thanks to Snowpocolipse and haven't been able to tan for a while so I'm sponge bathing and washing my hair in the sink until I can get out which is why I was googling about the itching and found this site. I didn't know there was a name or others who suffered from this. Now I have something to take to my doctor to show her I'm not crazy! I'm curious to know if tanning works for anyone else?

Feb 24, 2011 10:53 AM

Guest :

I have dealt with this since childhood, now 50 as have all my siblings and my kids. Completely by accident we came upon an oral treatment that stops the itch almost immediately. Great for beach trips, working in the yard, or as a preventative when you know you will be in a situation that will result in an "episode". I completely agree with the other comments regarding HOT water showers, and the fact that cool or even luke warm water is to be avoided. Obviously someone who doesn't suffer from this thinks that oils and lotions before and/or after a shower offer any type of remedy.

My father had severe rhumatoid arthritis. One of the medications he was taking was to reduce pain sensation he had at the skin level in his feet when walking which resulted from his RA meds. The drug is Neurontin. I have taken it in 100mg and 200mg doses, either works equally effectively. When taken it will typically stop the itch completely within 5-10 minutes. If taken as a preventative in situations where you know you will most likely have an "episode" it will generally totally eliminate any potential issue. I have discussed this course of medication with my dermatololgist and he 100% concurred. I, as do all my siblings and now my kids, use neurontin or its generic form with 100% success for the complete elimination of symptoms.

Mar 25, 2011 12:18 PM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,
Well, I never would have thought there would be this many people with this problem. Unlike most of the comments of the people I've read here, I've never had this problem until about a week ago. I concur with everything everyone is stating, my skin itches for about an hour after I take a shower. It's the weirdest most irritating damn thing I've ever dealt with!
So, I'm going to be a bit of a guinea pig and see if I can't find out how this all of a sudden started happening and of course try remedies to get the hell rid of it.
Without giving you an entire background check it'll help if you have some info: male, 47, 210 lbs, never had any skin conditions, active, non-smoker, non-drinker, living in NorCal, not taking any prescription meds--okay, enough already, but at least you have a mental picture.
Today is Friday, so on Monday after my shower I noticed my skin was really itchy, I mean driving me nuts! I immediately thought it was the shower soap I was using or that the rinse cycle somehow missed the towel I was drying off with, and just figured I was having a itching/burning type reaction to one of those two things. I put the towel in the hamper, rubbed on some skin lotion, just some basic over the counter stuff, to my legs, arms, body, and got dressed - - but the itching lasted quite a while.
The next day I had the same problem. I was actually getting quite pissed that my skin was ithcing so much and it took about a 1/2 an hour before I felt like I could do anything besides check my email.
Wednesday I made it a point to purchase a different soap, I googled some stuff where people were mentioning Dove soap, well, it didn't help, nor did the different soap I used on Thursday, or the Ivory bar soap I used today. I did notice on Wednesday after I was leaving the gym, that after I took my shower, using whatever cheap crap for soap that is in their dispensers, that my skin started itching again, but not nearly as bad as my showers in the morning at home.
On Thursday, I mentioned I tried, I think it was Irish Spring, or Mennen, or some other over-priced "just for men" soap that didn't work, which is what led me to just try a basic bar of Ivory soap today, Friday. I did notice Thursday night after brushing my teeth before going to bed that I wiped some water off of my chest, (not drool), and that that area started ithcing a little. This was the first time I thought "could there be something in the water system".
It's been raining like crazy here in Norcal, flood warnings and all, and I've never had this problem, "ever", up until we've had this long period of rain, I dunno, but like I said, I'm just being a guinea pig right now. Oh, I did read where using capsaicin seemed to help, I used a little bit of the cream on the left side of my stomach and chest and did notice some relief about 10 minutes later, but was this due to the cream or my body getting over the itch.
Finally, cause I can't write forever and I'll try to keep updating, my itch does go away, and I mean totally (thank god for that). It does not bother me at night, it does not bother my hands, face, feet, privates, scalp at anytime. There are no marks - - actually I'm leaving marks from my scratching, no pimples, bubbles, rashes, bruising, nothing like that. Okay, that's enough, any ideas? I'll update after my itch session on Saturday.

Mar 25, 2011 1:12 PM

plasticbird27 :

Mar 26, 2011 11:08 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

I went to the gym last night, did the workout, and did not notice any itchyness while sweating (why does this sound funny and gross, ha, ha), anyway, I then went into the hot sauna, to relax for about 5 minutes, again trying to notice if as I was sweating was I getting itchy, but did not. I then went into the steam room for about 5 minutes, I never go into the steam room, but I wanted to see if the steam would make my skin start itching, but again nothing. Finally,
I took a shower, using the soap from the gym's dispenser, and once I finished I started feeling the itch, so I quickly got dressed. I used Vaseline on my arms and face but put nothing on my body from the waste down. Now here's something interesting, as I was getting into my car, I had the heater turned up all the way and the blower turned up all the way, I wanted to get the car warm and also dry my legs out a little, about 2 or 3 minutes later the itching on my legs went from a feeling of about 7 (10 being I'm going to the hospital), down to about a 2. I had read somewhere on-line in some articles that heat played a major part to the level of how itchy your body felt, there may be some truth in this for me.
I just want to reiterate that I have "never" had a problem with getting out of the shower and feeling like I wanted to scratch my skin off until 1-week ago. I did notice about a year or two ago that if I did not go jogging for about 6-months and then suddenly decided to jog instead of ride the stationaly bike or use the ergo-machines, that the first few times I'd feel like my t-shirt needed to be ripped off because my upper-body would feel like it was dipped in bleach. I attributed this to my body getting rid of some level of toxins in my skin, (what the hell am I talking about), because it would go away about 15 minutes into my jog and after two or three days of jogging would stop happening all together, so I'd just figured that my skin must have been getting rid of store chlorine / ph or whatever from not working out.
Okay, so today is Saturday, I'm going back to the gym to take my shower this morning, but I'm going to wash everything that I'm going to wear in clean hot water first including the towel. I'm going to go natural with the clothing, cotton sweatpants, cotton T-shirt, cotton undies / socks, and no lotions. I'm going to take a book and hang out in the lobby for about 20 minutes and see how my body feels. If I really start itching badly, then I'm going to walk and stand in the dry-sauna and see if by heating my body up, (like what happened in the car yesterday), makes a signifcant difference.
I hope my writings eventually end up helping not only myself but someone else, oh and by-the-way, any idiot that says this is bought on by stress - - nothing's changed in my life, which I'm enjoying, except this sudden problem - - it's causing me stress. I read somewhere that people who have been going to the doctor with this problem have been diagnosed that it's the stress in their lives causing this, hmmm, nothing a couple of week's in the Bahamas wouldn't solve, hey Doc, why don't you write me a prescription for that and see if my Med insurance will pay for it, SMH.

Mar 28, 2011 7:17 AM

Guest :

I HAD aquagenic pruritus for a few years. My Dr. put me on an Anti-Candida diet for two months with anti-fungal meds. Since then I do not suffer from this. I still use fragrance free everything from soap to laundry detergent. My brother and dad have this problem too and are looking for anything to help this crazy problem. I really believe it is internal though because why, after being on that diet, am I okay? I went back to eating my normal diet after the anti-candida diet and have not had the itch in 3 years. It is worth a try for anyone suffering, but it is a really, really hard diet to follow.

Mar 28, 2011 8:29 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

I went to the gym and took a shower, I dressed and went to sit in the lobby. I did notice some itchyness, but not nearly as much as when I had taken my showers at home. After about 5 minutes, I realized I was not itching much at all (was it the lack of laundry detergent in my towel,clothes?), but I still wanted to see what would happen if I repeated by car heater experience. I went back into the gym locker room and stood under one of the raised hand blowers that youl find at swimming pools, they allow people to dry their hair and entire body. I must've looked absolutely nuts standing fully clothed underneath one of these air blowers, but I didn't care, I'm trying to figure this crap out. Anyway, I again gained additional relief from the blowing warm air, either because it was drying my skin out faster or that heat is a major factor in how itchy my skin feels, or perhaps both.
I was very active for the rest of the day, I did not feel any itching sensation when my body was moving and therefore warm. I did for the first time catch myself scratching my legs, arms, and parts of my back once I was home and just sitting around. I also noticed this same prickly feeling and itchy feeling while I was going to sleep. Uh-oh, this is getting weird.
So, if I'm feeling itchy when I'm not just getting out of the shower, even though water is making it worse, I want to start looking at other things.
Well, I want to get back to the bottom of this, so here is what I'm doing. I took a couple of ibuprofen and I'm hoping this will keep me sane if this problem is getting worse day by day, but I took the ibuprofen because this moring I'm going to take a shower at home, using soap, drying off and seeing how bad it is. Later today, I'm going to take a shower at my friends house who lives 30 minutes away and gets his water from a completely different water system (the gym I go to is less than five minutes from my home and is more than likely part of the same water source). Here's something I'd like to add, as I was going to sleep I noticed the outside my right foot was itching, so of course I scratched it, but it itched even more, so I scratched it more, finally after really, really, scratching it, it stopped itching altogether. I was wondering if I'd picked up some poison ivy / oak / sumac from working on the lawn last week, I dunno, but there is not one iota of rash, blistering or anything.
It's Monday, 8:30 AM, shower time > then I'll take another shower after work at a friends house - - yes, he thinks I've freakin lost it!!! But I told him, "bro, you gotta let me do this experiment".

Mar 29, 2011 8:21 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

As planned, I took a shower at home yesterd and used regular bar soap After drying off, I applied body lotion to my skin and got dressed. The itchy feeling lasted for about 15 minutes compared to the one hour, a week ago. I did not notice any significant scratching of myself through out the entire day, and later I did go and take a shower at my friend's house, where I experienced the same amount of discomfort, about 15 minutes, from my shower at home that morning.
Today I'm going to shower at home, use soap and body lotion, I'm also going to track everything I eat. I have coffee almost every morning and have for years.
Also, I've noticed my eyes have been a little itchy in the past day or two and I'm beginning to think I must've picked up something that's not showing up as a rash, but is acting like a mild form of poison ivy. Interesting.

Mar 30, 2011 12:04 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

Well, here is my current status:

After taking my shower yesterday my skin was really itching. I got dressed and went down to the local drug-store (CVS) and asked the pharmacy tech what he thought. He wasn't much help, but said that if it was poison ivy and it's been a week, then it's been too long, but benadryl would help me with the itching. So, I bought some benadryl, and it did help with the itching.
I have now noticed that my eyes, mouth, lips, chest and stomach seem to be burning a little, hmmm. Well, I don't think it has much to do with the showers or water - - other than the water somehow inflames things and it feels better once my skin drys out. I'm pretty much scratching myself through out the day right now.
I wanted to go step by step eliminating things from my diet and making suttle changes to see if I could figure out what the problem is, but with internal burning going-on, I'd better not take to many chances.
So, I'm going to go to the hospital tomorrow and see what the doctors have to say. I wonder if I'm having an allergic reaction to something? By-the-way, if the doctor tells me that this is being bought on by stress, I promise you I'll ask if my insurance will pay for a vacation :-).

What a weird sickness, I've spent several hours surfing the web looking for something that was similiar to what I have. Another note - - I did change toothpaste brands last week, hmmm. So, tomorrow it's back to Crest with whitening.

Wake-up one morning, take a shower, you whole body is itching, two days later it begins to go away, then one day later it's back with a vengeance and your mouth, lips, chest and stomach start feeling like they're covered with icy hot. Go figure? Doctor, doctor, here I come!

Apr 2, 2011 9:43 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

I did finallly get to see a doctor yesterday, I had several blood tests done and all they found was what I already knew, I'm anemic. They checked everything from HIV to my Liver and found nothing abnormal. My blood pressure was 121 over 76. I was given an allergy medicine called cetirizine to use for 30 days, a zinc oxide ointment, and a ointment called aquabase. I was also told to not take hot showers or take any extended showers at this time to see if my body's natural oil based skin barrier is the problem.
I did remember that approximately two weeks ago I purchased a hazelnut based creamer that I've been using in my coffee "every" morning. I guess some people I allergic to hazlenuts, really? I've heard of people being allergic to peanut based products, but a hazelnut flavored coffe creamer? I've used it before, but have never had it everyday like I'm using it now, just found some on sale and decided to spice up my morning coffee for awhile. So, today I'm having my coffee and just adding regular old 2% milk. Hell, it may be the coffee (caffeine) that's driving my body nuts. Anyway, I've been using the cetirizine for the past 24 hours and it seems to be working, much less itchy. Also, I'll go without the creamer for a week and see if this is part of the problem.

Apr 4, 2011 8:07 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

Well, I'm not itching that much anymore, so the two or three days on the allergy medication is doing its job. My eyes are a bit itchy and I'm drowsy from the medication, but overall I'm not having one hour scratch sessions.

Since this area is for people suffering from aquagenic pruritis, I don't think anyone wants to read about someone who contracted some type of allergy, and isn't able to find out what it is (the hazlenut creamer is a guess), and is able to get 90% relief by taking an allergy medication.

So, in two weeks (that's how long it is stated people usually get over a food allergy), I'll come back and update this again, because I want to see what happens when I'm not taking medications and just getting my body wet from the shower, pool, etc...I have not ruled out having aquagenic pruritis, but I can't tell because the allergy medication is helping - - but it just may be calming down my itching. I don't have any other symptoms that act like an allergy accept for slightly itchy eyes. As per order of the doctor I'm not taking full showers just quick wash offs and concentrating on the personal areas, okay, so in two weeks....

Apr 11, 2011 7:17 PM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

First, I'm not double posting my comments, somehow after I click on the submit comments button it just gets posted twice, ?

I'm only taking 1/2 of the10 mg allergy pill, I still have absolutely no symptoms that resemble an allergy, but the medication even in a small dose stops the itching. Also, it makes me drowsy so I only take it at night an hour before sleeping. I still itch a little after the shower, I've gone back to washing my clothes with detergent. I haven't had anymore hazlenut creamer or anything containing nuts in the past week, I really don't think that's the problem.

I'm going to ween myself off of coffee for a few weeks, that sucks, cause I like coffee, then again, I've been drinking it for twenty years, why the sudden change that it makes my skin itch. Weird, I'll keep posting.

May 9, 2011 12:18 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

Well it's been awhile since my last post. The itching has subsided by 95% - - even after I took myself off the medication. Now, my eyes and nose are watery, this happens alot because I work outdoors and is almost always like this more or less year round. So, I don't know why my skin still itches at 5%, but as mentioned, I said to heck with the medication. Last but not least, I had a house plant in my room and I took it out because i thought that maybe, somehow, around spring time - - that this house plan pollenates, I know, ridiculous, but upon its removal is about the same time I stopped taking the meds. I will try to remember to start writing again early next year to see if the allergy/pollen season makes my skin itch again.

May 29, 2011 4:12 PM

Guest :

I'm 15 years old and I suffer from this. I can't even go swimming anymore, which devastates me because I had to quit my swim team. I'm terrorfied of taking showers and have to face it everday. I have yet to find a cure and nothing said here helps. I'm just gonna go to the doctor asap.

May 30, 2011 8:41 PM

Guest :

What a relief it was to find this article! I've had this problem for so long and no doctor seems to be able to help me. I felt like I must have been nuts since there aren't skin rashes to back up my symptoms. I find that swimming for an hour non-stop is effective. I can take showers afterward without any itching. I'm thinking it is the endorphins produced by the exercise. Endorphins are a natural pain-killer. Likewise using my stationary bike after a shower stops it within 5 minutes (instead of the hour it usually takes).

May 30, 2011 11:48 PM

edbraunh :

I was told the coldest water was the best for reducing amount of itching. Now I'm reading here that the hottest water is the best. I'm thinking that the hot water works like a tens unit...overstimulating the brain so that it won't accept signals (or be able to interpret) signals from your skin about itchiness. I haven't tried it yet but I will (hesitantly).

Jun 1, 2011 11:35 AM

plasticbird27 :

Hello Everyone,

Again, I've stopped taking the allergy medication offered by my dermatologist. Here's an interesting thing, my doctor said she didn't know why my skin suddenly started itching the way it did, nor did she know why it became more irritated when I took a shower. She scoffed at the idea that I could be having an allergic reaction to water. It's so freaking irritating, because when I mentioned Aquagenic Pruritus, I thought she'd faint - - in other words, how dare you know something like that - - freaking "so-called" doctor's. It's like the mechanic who comes up to some lady holding her 2-year-old and says "me thinks you need a new starter", "dats why your car don't start", and the lady says, "did you check the battery or the ignition switch because my car's not getting power", gauranteed the freakin guy looks down at his service sheet to see if it's been done - - which it hasn't, he just figured that because the door light came on - - the battery is charged enough.
Anyway, back to my itching problem, it has subsided and I don't think I can offer anyone any rhyme or reason as to what happened, I'll just have to check back next allergy season.

Sep 3, 2011 9:46 PM

Guest :

I haven't been diagnosed with this, but it seems like it fits my symptoms perfectly.
I've noticed baby oil really helps..and I just started taking an antihistamine before I shower, so I'll see if that helps any. oh & sometimes my arms will itch randomly during the day, I don't know if this has anything to do with that.

Oct 20, 2011 8:20 AM

Guest :

i too suffer from this..i taught it was a systom of a disease, maybe diabetes. what does it for me is a good workout b4 taking a bathe wherever i shower..trhanks guys!!

Oct 20, 2011 8:21 AM

Guest :

thanks guys

Nov 14, 2011 2:10 AM

Guest :

Good article. I've had AP since I was 20, I'm now 63. It started the first time after I started on the pill. Thereafter, until I came off the pill permanently (33) it occurred for several weeks every time I came off the pill (had to in those days every 2 years), went back on the pill, or changed the pill. Then, until menopause (47), it only happened occasionally, each bout lasting about 6 months then going away for sometimes a year or two. Since then it has become gradually more permanent. So is it hormonal? It normally affects only my arms and legs so I can wash the power points everyday and bath every 6 months when I stay in the bath for ages (it doesn't usually start till 5 minutes after I get out), no additives to the bathwater, cool temperature and just rub off the dead skin that collects, and looks like like icthyosis, with my fingers.

Mar 8, 2012 6:21 AM

Guest :

Mar 8, 2012 6:21 AM

Guest :

Mar 22, 2012 3:24 AM

Guest :

Hi, I am Tammy. I have not been diagnosed with AP but, everything I am reading is how I am feeling after taking a bath or a shower. When I started back walking trying to take of a few pounds. I would notice that my legs would start itching and burning as my blood warmed up. Or riding my bike at home. I stopped working out . 1) I would sweat and start itching . 2) I would have to take a shower after working out. I started itching at The age of 27 I think. I am 32 now and I really hope hot water does it. No one believed me as well. I use to swim and take long baths and love ever minute of it. Then one day, it is all taken from you and replace by crazy itching. Also, rain and moister in the air by my humidifier. I learned that when I got a bad cold and turned my humidifier on and with then the hour. I was itching like a crazy person. I thought I had a parasite living under my skin. That only got awaken by my skin being wet lol . I thought I was alone and I felt hopeless. I feel depressed sometime cause I miss working out due to the fact that if i did , i would sweat and have to take a showerand itch for 30 min or more. I can't even teach my only child, my ten year old daughter how to swim cause the pool water makes me itch. I will try everything and come back and let you know how it is going. Everyone who tries anything on this site should updated and let us know if it worked or not. How else are we going to find a cure with out helping one another. Thanks to everyone who had any ideas or hint to making this itching stop. Now days, we can't just stand around waiting on a Doctor to hand us a miracle pill. We have to make them listen and realise this is not some made up BS. Or we would all be in the nut house scratching ourselves like a dog with mange all doped up on crazy pills. I also want to know what they are putting in are water. Or does it just start at a certain age for some people? Why is this happening? Is anyone even trying to find a cure? I am sure they want to cure Cancer, Aids, and Herpes before even thinking about a cure for a few people who is scared of a little itching. Until it affects one them. We have to help each other. I hope to try everything you guys have said, and again thanks for letting me know I am not crazy or alone in this very uncomfortably condition. God bless

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