Woman Develops Allergy To Water

An allergy to peanuts is one thing. Avoiding them is a challenge, sure, but it’s doable.

But an allergy to water? Are you kidding me? How in the world to you (1) develop an allergy to water and (2) what in the world do you drink?

One mum in the U.K., Michaela Dutton, developed such an allergy — she’s one of 30 known people to have been afflicted by Aquagenic Urticaria — after giving birth to her son a few years ago. Since then, she has had to avoid the substance, which, as you know, makes up 90 some percent of our bodies (hers included!).

Here’s how she copes: she takes 10-second showers once a week, avoids the rain (a challenge, considering where she lives) and — worst of all — can only cuddle her son while she’s fully clothed, she can’t bathe him, she can’t wipe his tears. If he drips or drools on her, she breaks out into a severely painful rash.

From the Telegraph:

Nina Goad, from the British Association of Dermatologists said the
condition affected the equivalent of one in every 230 million people.

She said: “The precise causes remain unclear but small weals occur on the
skin at the site of contact with water of any temperature, usually on
the upper part of the body. It develops within 30 minutes of exposure
to water and can be caused by both hot and cold water.

So how does she live without water? She only drinks Diet Coke. Unimaginable!

Photo: Telegraph