To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Woman With Allergy To Water Is Left 'Burning' By Own Tears

Woman With Allergy To Water Is Left 'Burning' By Own Tears

She has a rare condition that means she is allergic to water - even her own bodily fluids

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A woman with an allergy to water says even her own tears leave her in agony and like her 'blood is boiling'.

Niah Selway, from Hasting, has a rare condition called Aquagenic Pruritus - in her case it's so severe that she can't bathe, and is even allergic to her own bodily fluids.

The 23-year-old's reactions leave her in such pain she is 'immobilised' for hours and left feeling exhausted all the time.

ITV

Niah, who has had to give up work due to her condition, appeared on This Morning where she opened up about her life to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

She says she was born with the condition but adds it 'became worse' during her teenage years and started to have allergic reactions to showers.

She explained to the hosts that her allergy didn't cause immediate pain, but built up over five to 10 minutes, leaving her body burning.

When asked if she deliberately holds back her tears, she said: "It's a difficult one because I try not to deprive myself of the right to cry.

"Any surface that the tear touches becomes red and scratchy. It's not when water hits me it's... 'Ouch!'

"It's five or 10 minutes after I feel my body start to burn... it almost feels like my blood is boiling."

She went on to talk about how she lives her life day-to-day, including showering, adding: "That was one of the main challenges when it started happening... especially when I started having allergic reactions to my urine and sweat.

"Everything I have to do in my everyday [life] causes me pain.

"It completely takes over my body... it leaves me immobile.

Instagram/@niahselway

"It is absolutely exhausting. I use most of my time in recovery."

Niah explained that after coming into contact with water, her flare-ups can last up to three hours, making caring for herself 'an ongoing challenge'.

She added: "I stopped working when I started having the allergic reactions to urine."

It is not known if Aquagenic Pruritus is curable or what causes it - but it is reported to get better over time.

Niah has now launched a GoFundMe to try and raise £250,000 to get treatment at clinic Germany.

You can donate to Niah's GoFundMe here.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: UK News, Health