Aquagenic Pruritus

Hello.
I have not been formally diagnosed and just recently started feeling all everyone is mentioning here. An itch that is also a burn related to showering and sweating (but fine while in a pool). An itch that is really not relieved by scratching. When I explain it to someone, I say it’s akin to having rolled in that pink insulation used on walls. It’s horrible and no one who hasn’t experienced it, quite gets it.

I am a 62-year-old female on hormone replacement therapy. I was recently switched from creams to sub-lingual, and initially blamed estrogen delivery form to being the culprit of my itch, but I reduced the dose and the itch did not diminish; I am now going to start testing for something else.

My first horrible episode sent me to the ER, where I was prescribed an antihistamine and Ativan; the antihistamine does nothing and I yet have to try an Ativan; this was a week ago. I am not a fan of any type of benzodiazepines. What I have done so far is covered myself in coconut oil 30 minutes before lukewarm showers. I don’t allow the water to blast on my back, which is my most affected area; I wash my hair bent over. I wash my body with Cerave cleanser and pat dry. It has helped but I still get random itches. Nowhere as horrible. Some days are worse than others and I am always afraid to go in the shower. I do notice that if I have wine, beer, or a cocktail, I will have a worse day. Has anyone noticed that?
I live in San Antonio, Texas, where temperatures have reached over 100 degrees with extreme humidity. Sweating flares up the itch as does cooling off. I have been lucky that this has only started for me. I can’t wait to try BA. I am very healthy, but are there any contraindications for BA? I will do some additional research and check the Facebook Support Page as well. (I did see several of them, is one better than other?)

Thank you!

I have aquagenic pruritus since I was 12 / 13 years old.
Until my 30s it was bad.
Now I only have it few times and when it happens the itch is light and it lasts just for a few minutes.
My worst season is august september, I think because of the sweat and the skin peeling.
What works for me is drinking water regularly and reduce gluten in my diet.
I realized that I changed my food habits after I got 30 because I started to replace white bread and pasta with rice.
Every time I eat too much food with white wheat the itch comes back again (after shower on my arms and legs, mostly upper arms and lower legs). It also affects me worst if I forget to drink water.

I feel you I 'm a Texas girl who's had it for 24 years and tried and learned a lot of stuff.
today is a bad AP day...maybe because its 107 right now. Currently trying out beta-alanine.

What I need to know: after taking the BA last week which worked miraculously I stopped it. Now I am concerned it may have a REBOUND effect because the last two days I've had epic AP.
Since learning a little about how BA works I may not want to take it every day just use it as a rescue in place of Ativan which my new dermatologist refuses to prescribe. I loved Ativan because it was predictable. But this amino is new to me. it is also a stimulant and can deplete Taurine. I will continue this week with my normal routine of avoiding triggers and taking gabapentin 2 times a day. If I have an attack or a need earlier in the day I'll try the BA again.
Just trying to see how BA will overall fit into my AP management. Also still have the little bottle of compounded LDN in a drawer waiting for me to try but haven't heard much anecdotal evidence anywhere that it works. If it does really well for some please post that. This drug carries an inconvenient stigma with it and has its effects and interactions as well.

Beta Alanine is a life saver for me…the Facebook group - Aquagenic Pruritus Support Group is a great resource for AP sufferers…

I take 1500 mg 30 mins before showering, which works great when showering late in the day and 750 mg every four hours for change in temperature itch…I buy the NOW brand on Amazon…

LDN ( low dose naltrexone) has a “stigma” attached to it??? What does that mean??

I so understand your concerns! Anything we put into out bodies, we need to research and talk to our doctors for sure. We should also make sure to check any of our other meds and their different interactions as well.
With that being said, I also began wondering about Topamax/topiramate. The possibility of it flaring up AP is minimal but it exists. I am on it for fibromyalgia. Both my pain management doctor and dermatologist agreed I should taper down on it and start Gabapentin. I am hoping it works for fibro as well as Topamax has and that it also helps AP; it has helped others in the past. Today is my last day on Topamax and tomorrow will be my first full day on Gabapentin. I know some people don't like Gabapentin while others love it.
Now I do take BA often throughout the day. I did research it widely and talked to my doctors and no side effects, even with extended use, have been reported, so I am ok with taking it as it does control my AP. Some days I take only 1 gm, others I take up to 5 gm, I still have no idea what makes it worse. This weather doesn't help!
I have also requested my bioidentical hormones be administered via a cream as opposed to sublingual, which I felt the delivery was to intense, and other side effects have diminished, I am hoping, if indeed, my recent AP flareup is due to a sudden hormonal increase, it will go dormant again.
I also end my showers now with very hot water, it works for me. I avoid drafts of any kind until I am fully dry. Gold Bond Anti-Itch lotion with Menthol helps too. Icy Hot on particularly itchy spots stops the itch. I definitely prefer the slight burning sensation than the itch.
I can't wait for this recent flareup to go dormant somehow and I will make it do that!
May you all find relief soon, this is no fun!