Imagine getting covered in all these painful, super itchy, red welts every time you drank water, worked out, walked in the rain, or took a shower.

想像一下這個情境：每當你喝水、運動、雨中漫步或淋浴時，身體就會佈滿這些又痛、又癢還發紅的腫塊。

Unfortunately, this is a reality for people with an extremely rare allergy to water called aquagenic urticaria.

不幸地，這對於那些罹患稱為水源性蕁麻疹的罕見水過敏者來說，屬於常態。

Since water is literally everywhere, it's said to have one of the most detrimental impacts on a person's quality of life of any skin condition.

因為水幾乎無所不在，所以它一般被認為對人的生活品質都有會負面衝擊，不論是什麼膚質。

For people with this allergy to water, coming into contact with it induces horrible rashes in as little as 15 seconds.

對於罹患此種水過敏的人來說，僅需要短短 15 分鐘的接觸就可能嚴重地起疹子。

Typically it's water-on-skin contact that causes the hives to erupt, but some people can't even drink it.

典型症狀是肌膚與水的接觸才會導致蕁麻疹發作，但有些人連飲用都不行。

They opt for things like milk or diet soda and avoid water, juices, teas, and coffees to keep their skin hive-free.

他們會選擇牛奶或健怡汽水，然後避開水、果汁、茶飲或咖啡以確保幾乎不起疹子。

While you obviously can't avoid an element that covers 70% of the planet and falls from the sky,

雖然你無法完全避免這個覆蓋地球表面七成、會從天而降的元素，

people with aquagenic urticaria have to take some serious precautions when carrying out basic everyday tasks.

但水源性蕁麻疹患者必須在執行每天例行工作時，嚴格採取預防措施。

Like washing their hands for example.

例如洗手這件事。

They often opt for hand sanitizer and wipes to avoid running water.

他們通常會選擇用乾洗手和擦手巾來避開流水。

Exercise kinda gets thrown out the window because of sweat.

運動也因為會導致流汗而變得不可能的任務。

And some people need to bathe in water mixed with baking soda to avoid a reaction.

也有些人需要在混有蘇打粉的水裡泡澡才能夠避免過敏反應。

Even crying is said to be painful.

甚至連流淚也是痛苦的一件事。

It doesn't matter how hot or cold the water is or where it came from, any and all water prompts these symptoms.

不論水溫多高、多低或來自何處，只要是水都會引發這些症狀。

The hives that come with this condition can be really itchy and really painful.

伴隨這個疾病而來的蕁麻疹可能導致極大的發癢或疼痛感。

And the rash can develop anywhere on the body, but typically, it will show up on the person's neck, arms, or torso.

疹子也可能出現在身體的任一部位，但一般來說好發在人的脖子、手臂或軀幹。

Rather than sticking around for days like many rashes do, this one subsides after about 30 to 60 minutes.

跟許多會顯現多天的疹子不同，這種蕁麻疹通常會在 30 至 60 分鐘後緩和。

It's believed that these rashes appear due to a release of histamine from immune cells in the skin called mast cells.

據信，這些疹子出現的原因在於皮膚上稱為肥胖細胞的免疫細胞會釋放組織胺。

This histamine then interacts with "itch neurons" which prompt that scratchy feeling.

這些組織胺進而和導致癢感的「發癢神經元」產生作用。

But other than that, not much is known about how it works in the body.

但除此之外，我們對於它在體內的作用所知有限。

Less than 100 cases have been documented, according to a 2011 paper, and that makes it really hard to study.

根據一份 2011 年的報告紀錄，目前已知案例不到 100 起，讓研究變得非常困難。

Some people believe it may be due to additives in the water, but since the welts will appear after contact with even the most purified water, many don't think this is the culprit.

有些人認為那可能和水中的添加物質有關，但因為腫塊連在與最純淨的水接觸後都還是會發生，許多人都不認為那是罪魁禍首。

Others think it may be due to a weird interaction between the water and an unknown component in the outer layer of the skin.

其他人則認為那可能跟水以及皮膚表層未知的成分產生的怪異作用有關。

It's suggested that this then causes a toxin in the body, but scientists aren't in agreement on a cause just yet.

這些人主張這會讓體內產生毒素，但科學家目前對於起因尚未有共識。

This incredibly rare condition is very poorly understood and treatments for it are few and far between.

這個極罕見的症狀一般有極不足的理解，而療法也寥寥無幾。

However, there are some things that have brought people relief.

不過還是有一些東西讓這些人的症狀得到緩解。

While UV rays typically aren't great for humans, there is a procedure called phototherapy that involves beaming UV rays directly onto the skin, and it's been pretty effective.

雖然紫外線一般對人體不好，但目前有一個稱為光照治療的療法，會將紫外線直接照射在肌膚上，而且也頗具療效。

Some doctors prescribe medications called SSRIs that are usually used for depression.

有些醫生則會開出通常是給憂鬱症患者的 SSRI（第二代抗憂鬱劑包括選擇性血清回收抑制劑）藥方。

And often basic treatments like steroids and histamines are suggested.

一般也會建議像是類固醇或組織胺等基礎療程。

Science is advancing more and more everyday and hopefully soon they'll have an answer as to why this very confusing condition comes around.

科學每天都在進步，希望有一天，人們可以找到這個令人困惑症狀出現的原因。

Is there another condition that you want us to talk about? Let us know now in the comment section below!

你有希望我們討論的其他病症嗎？請在留言區告訴我們。

Don't forget to subscribe and hit that bell button so you never miss out on a new video!

別忘了訂閱並開啟小鈴鐺，才不會錯過任何新影片。

Curious to know what happens to your body when you have an allergic reaction? Check out this video.

好奇有過敏反應時，身體會發生麼變化嗎？看看這部影片吧！

However, increased permeability doesn't just let white blood cells in, it also lets fluids out, causing the watery eyes and runny nose that you know and love!

然而，滲透性提升不只會讓白血球進入，也會讓水分流失，導致你熟悉且熱愛的淚眼以及鼻涕！

I'm not crying. I swear. It's just allergies!

我沒在哭！我發誓我只是過敏！

As always, my name is Blocko, this has been life noggin, don't forget to keep on thinking!

一如往常，我是 Block、這是 Life Noggin，別忘了繼續思考！