A university student allergic to water breaks out in a painful rash and fever whenever she cries, showers or sweats.
The student, identified as Tessa Hansen-Smith suffers from Aquagenic Urticaria, a rare condition that affects an estimated 100 people across the world.
Hansen-Smith, 25, from California breaks out in a rash, develops a fever, suffers migraines within minutes of coming into contact with water.
Her allergic condition also implies she can’t play sports and needs to be shuttled around her university campus.
Ms. Hansen-smith diagnosed by her mother (a doctor) can only shower twice in a month and finds it difficult to even take a sip of water. Since her childhood, Ms. Hansen Smith’s first signs of the condition occurred at age 8 when bathing frequently caused her to break out in a rash.
Initially suspected to be caused by an allergic reaction from shampoos and soaps, the condition was officially diagnosed at age 10.
“I am lucky because my mum is a family medical doctor. When I kept coming out in these rashes, her first suspicion was that I was allergic to soap or shampoo.’ Ms. Hansen-Smith said.
She added: ‘Having aquagenic urticaria can really be a mental game at times. It’s difficult to take so many tablets every day knowing that it’s not actually ever going to stop. At a point, I was swallowing 12 tablets every day, but now I am taking nine.’
Nevertheless, Ms. Hansen-Smith is not allowing her challenges and condition to control her life. She continued: ‘I am determined to be very independent and leave my hometown for college. I make sure I take things one day at a time because some days are even better than others.’
Setting up an Instagram Page to raise awareness of her condition @livingwaterless, Ms. Hansen-Smith and her mother realized her condition after making some findings online.
