Acne Information List of Dermatological Diseases

Aquagenic pruritus

Aquagenic Pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, prickling-like epidermal discomfort that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water at any temperature. The name is derived from Latin: Aquagenic, meaning water-induced, and Pruritus, meaning itch. Symptoms are commonly felt 15 minutes after contact with water, and persist for roughly 40 minutes. The disease appears more commonly in middle aged males. Treatments can include applying copious amounts of capsaicin cream on the affected areas, or even Ultraviolet-B Phototherapy. Since pruritus is a result of histamine, H1 and H2 blockers such as Claritin or Cimetidine can be prescribed. The symptoms may recur after each water exposure for years. Many sufferers now 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.

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Aquagenic pruritus.
Steinman HK, Greaves MW.

The clinical characteristics of aquagenic pruritus (AP) based on a series of thirty-six patients are presented. AP is characterized by the development of severe, prickling-like skin discomfort that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water at any temperature. Other causes of pruritus associated with water contact must be excluded. In the thirty-six patients, skin discomfort developed within minutes of water contact in approximately half. In others, discomfort began 2 to 15 minutes after water exposure had ceased. The pruritus was usually generalized, lasting from 10 to 120 minutes (average, 40.6 minutes), and in 55% was associated with symptoms of acute emotional liability. There was no increased prevalence of atopy. Thirty-three percent reported a family history of water-related itching. Of fourteen patients treated with ultraviolet B phototherapy, eight (57%) noted significant relief. Of thirty-four patients, sixteen (47%) noted partial relief with oral antihistamine therapy. Patients with polycythemia rubra vera (PRV) may present with symptoms similar to those of AP, and all patients with symptoms consistent with AP should be investigated for the presence of PRV.
PMID: 2411768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aquagenic pruritus".