Woman allergic to own sweat and tears fears going outside – says she looks like a monster

Three years ago Julie Reid developed an immunological condition known as cholinergic urticaria. The disease causes her skin to be hypersensitive to exercise and emotional stress. Essentially allergic to her own body, she develops massive hives if she sweats, cries or even takes a shower. The Florida woman says she cannot leave her house during the day for fear she might sweat, and that the condition has “destroyed my life completely.”

“It’s torture living like this, it’s torture,” Reid said. “I just feel like a monster now.”

Reid was a dancer and a gymnast before developing the condition. She had to quit her job at a gymnastics gym because the sweat would cause her to break out in hives that would last for hours or even days. She says she cannot walk through a grocery store during the day without being stared at due to her appearance.

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the disease often comes on spontaneously, and usually stops as suddenly as it starts, although there is no set period of time when it might end. Sometimes the symptoms last for 6 weeks, other times for years. Doctors are only able to offer medications for the symptoms, such as antihistamines to help combat the hives.

Cholinergic urticaria is fairly common. Urticaria and angioedema affect about 20 percent of the population at some time. However, only 4 to 5 percent actually develop cholinergic urticaria. The disease is characterized by sensitivity to anything that raises skin temperature and causes sweating, including exercise, warm rooms, hot baths and direct exposure to the sun. Even eating hot foods may cause an episode.

Symptoms include hives that may come together to form larger red areas. The patches are typically intensely itchy. Some individuals also develop swelling of lips, eyelids, feet and hands. Occasionally it is associated with fever or difficulty breathing.

Unable to exercise and afraid to leave her house, Reid has gained 100 pounds. “I used to be beautiful, now I look like a monster,” she said.

Reid has no medical insurance and says she has been denied every time she has applied for disability benefits. The judge stated that the condition did not affect Reid’s daily life. On her website, where she is documenting her experience, she says, “This has DESTROYED my life.”