This Woman Is Allergic to Her Own Sweat
Photograph courtesy of Julie Reid
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According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, this hypersensitivity affects roughly 4 to 5 percent of Americans, and it usually begins between the ages 20 and 39. It may stem from the way certain antibodies in a person’s immune system respond to antigens (any substance that triggers an immune response).
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These irritants can be anything from tears, to exercise, to warm temperatures, as in Julie’s case. Some people even experience reactions from emotional responses like over-excitement, stress, or anxiety. When an outbreak of hives occurs, it can disappear within an hour, or last up to six weeks; more than that, it’s considered chronic.
Photograph courtesy of Julie Reid
Some researchers suspect that the condition may be linked to abnormally high levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, but more research is needed. Currently, the standard treatment involves either a drug called Atarax, or another called ketotifen, which is used in more severe cases. In milder cases, over-the-counter antihistamines can be used to ease itching and lessen the redness from the hives, which sometimes respond to a topical cream (benzoyl scopolamine).
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Unfortunately, none of the normal treatment options have worked for Julie—and she’s been denied health coverage. She’s developed agoraphobia, no longer goes outside, and has had to quit her jobs teaching dance and working at a gymnastics gym. In the three years since she was diagnosed, Julie has gained 100 pounds from being “so severely depressed that [she copes] with food,†she writes on her website, where she also documents her story and raises money to fund her necessary medical expenses. Julie says she’s hoping someone in the medical community will see her story and help her figure out a solution, so we hope she finds some kind of relief soon.