Why Do I Have Hives When I Go Swimming In The Ocean & Pool?

Question

When I was little and during my teenage years I've been okay with me swimming in our public pools and in the ocean (cause I live in Hawaii). But not that I'm 20 and ever since I've hardly ever gone swimming to those places, I've recently developed hives under my arms and on my face and the side of my bikini area on my thighs. Its really irritating me cause I want to go swimming with my friend but then I'd have to reject it cause I now develop this whenever I go swimming in the pool and the ocean. It is just an allergic reaction to the water or my body isn't use to it anymore? And is a possibilty that I can never go swimming again because of it? Are there any treatments that I can take as well before I go in the water?

Another weird thing about it is that when I was little I developed hives by eating foods that included chicken, eggs, shrimp, and crab. And my doctor prescribed me with medicine to treat it. But ever since I started eating those foods and have not developed hives to the point where I just stopped taking my medicine, I thought my hives went away already. But now when I go swimming in the ocean & pool, I've started to develop my hives from there?!? I also do have Asthma and Senstive skin but I was hoping that if I try to go swimming in those places more my hives would go away as well. Any suggestions that might work?

When I swim in the pool my hives are not as bad as I get little tiny bumps on my body. But when I swim in the ocean, my hives are really worse cause they get swollen and red and ichty.

Yeah I usually shave by my bikini areas and under my arms of course. And usually those are the places that really get swollen than the rest of my body such as my stomach and arms for example.

I do take baths everyday and it doesn't effect me having hives. Weird thing. I only get hives when I go in the ocean or pool (mostly the ocean) but during a shower/bath I don't get hives.

Answer 1

My daughter (11) got hives from the swimming pool last summer. The dermatologist said it was because of the temperature difference -- the cold water shocked the skin, and the immune system kicked in.

I suspect, though, that stress is a big part of it. She only gets hives when she's stressed out, tired or not eating right. So, try and improve your lifestyle. BTW, she's been fine this year so far.

See a dermatologist if you are really worried. S/he might be able to prescribe an anti-histamine that you take before you go in the water. But like cold medicines, some anti-histamines can make you sleepy, so be sure and get it from a doctor who knows you want to go swimming!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Do you shave the places you get hives in? That can easily irritate the area.

There may also be something in the water you're allergic to, possibly related to shellfish or crab. Possibly just a chemical.

Go see a doctor and have an allergy test done to see what your options are.

Answer 3

Have you tried taking an antihistamine before you go in? If it's really an allergic reaction that should prevent/help. But if it were me, I'd see an allergist, because allergies can be tricky things--hives one day, bad reaction the next.

Answer 4

it may be because there is something in the pool that your body doesn't like, maybe bodies swim in pools and sometimes you never really know how clean it is. try swimming in different pools and see if your body reacts the same way, or maybe try seeing a doctor. hope this helps.

Answer 5

do you get hives when you go in the shower ?? if you dont it might just be that your body is reacting to the chlorine or the salt water but it dosent react to the fresh water

Answer 6

Dirty water... I get that sometimes.

Possibly from people who didn't shower.

Larger possiblility to have an allergy than the body being not used to water.(unless you don't take baths, ever)