Woman Suffers from A Rare Health Condition; She’s Allergic to Water
Loren Montefusco, a young woman from South Carolina, faces a unique challenge: she's allergic to water! Every time she showers, her skin reacts with severe itching, highlighting the complexities of her rare condition.
A young woman from South Carolina named Loren Montefusco suffers from a rare condition. She is allergic to water ! When she showers it causes severe itching on her skin.
In medical terms her health condition is called Aquagenic Urticaria. In this condition, hives appear on the skin after being exposed to water.
Only 37 such cases have been documented in the world so far which makes it a rare problem.
The changes were first noticed when Loren was twelve years old. A doctor, however, detected the problem three years later.
The itching could last for an hour after her skin is exposed to water. It could also be triggered by being in the ocean, pools and even by her own sweat.
“I just have to ride it out. I claw at my skin to put myself in more pain so I don't feel it irritation of the itching,” the 22-year-old said.
Since there is no treatment for this condition as of now, Ms. Montefusco has a minimum number of baths or has a shower as quickly as possible. She slips into a change of clothes quickly as the cold air could add to her pain.
Loren Montefusco has fortunately found a community of followers on social media who share a similar problem which makes it easier for her to deal with this uncommon condition.
Aquagenic Urticaria highlights that rare health problems can hamper life for individuals to a large degree. Kudos to Lorena for manoeuvring her way around this challenging condition so early in life.
