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title: This Utah Teen is Allergic to Water
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# Meet the Utah Teen Who Is Allergic to Water

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by 

[Eliza Gray](https://time.com/author/eliza-gray/)


## Eliza Gray


Apr 18, 2015 6:53 PM UTC

by 

[Eliza Gray](https://time.com/author/eliza-gray/)


## Eliza Gray


Apr 18, 2015 6:53 PM UTC

Ever since she was a little girl, Utah teen Alexandra Allen has [broken out in hives every time her skin was exposed to water](http://www.people.com/article/alexandra-allen-utah-teen-allergic-to-water?xid=socialflow%5Ftwitter%5Fpeoplemag).

In 2013, her family discovered that her condition was most likely aquagenic urticarial, an allergy to water when it comes in contact with the skin. There are only 50 cases documented in medical journals worldwide.

To avoid water exposure, Allen takes five-minute cold showers twice a week, cut her hair short and became a vegetarian so her body would produce less oil.

Read more at[ People.com](http://www.people.com/article/alexandra-allen-utah-teen-allergic-to-water?xid=socialflow%5Ftwitter%5Fpeoplemag).

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