Some people experience allergic reactions when in contact with water. Does it come from the molecule itself or are there other reasons?
You will also be interested
It is possible to have allergic reactions in contact withwater but it is not the water molecules that are the allergensFortunately.
Allergic reactions due to water
Most often, what is taken for a allergy at thewater is actually an allergy to cold that is triggered by contact with cold water, touched or drunk.
The other cases of hydroallergy are linked to the substances contained in the water: mineralsorganic molecules, microorganisms.
These allergies caused by contact with water cause more or less serious disorders, from skin disorders (redness, urticariapruritus…) until loss of consciousness (hydrocution), which can cause drowning if swimming.
The cases of pruritus and aquagenic urticaria
Two rare diseases, aquagenic urticaria (caused by water) and aquagenic pruritus are sometimes assimilated to hydroallergy, even if the first is not an allergy. The origins of these two diseases are not well known, but they are triggered by contact with water.
Aquagenic urticaria results in an eruption of pimples accompanied by itching, while pruritus creates sensations of tingling, itching and burning without any trace of lesion in the areas in contact with water.
To find out all about allergies, see our complete file.
Interested in what you just read?
Subscribe to the newsletter Health question of the week : our answer to a question you ask yourself (more or less secretly). All our newsletters