text: For most couples, a  peck on the lips is a quick way to show affection. But for Kerrie Armitage, a kiss from husband Peter can trigger agonising hives. The mother-of-three, from Leeds, suffers from the ultra-rare condition aquagenic urticaria – an allergy to water. She was diagnosed two years ago after her skin erupted in agonising blisters when she got caught in a rain storm. Now the 28-year-old has had to stop kissing her husband of four years, because the saliva on his lips can trigger a painful flare-up. Kerrie Armitage, from Leeds, suffers from the ultra-rare condition aquagenic urticaria – an allergy to water. She claims a kiss from her husband Peter (right) can trigger a painful flare-up, due to contact with his saliva . She said: 'Because Peter's lips are wet, the saliva can make me react. He's got to make sure his lips are dry before he gave me a kiss. 'It's not every time - I can do the same thing time and time again and not react, but then I'll do it once more and get a flare-up.' Her condition means that external exposure to water is the main problem, rather than drinking liquid. The situation has become so bad that hugging her children can trigger an episode, as their body heat makes her sweat - and she has trained herself not to cry. However, she added an allergic reaction tended to depend on the circumstances. 'For example, if Peter was to give me a kiss on a hot day when I'm flushed, I'd probably flare up, but maybe not if I was in a cool environment,' she said. 'It can be frustrating but he's really supportive. 'After years together, it's become normal. You learn how to get used it. But it can be bothersome.' Mrs Armitage now faces a daiily battle to protect her skin from agonising flare-ups - and has also been forced to give up her job as a cleaner because she cannot not touch water. Even hugging her children Katie, nine, Emily, two and four-year-old step-daughter Savannah,  can become a nightmare as their body heat can trigger a reaction. 'It affects every aspect of my day to day life,' she said. 'I have to choose between doing the washing up and bathing my kids. My hands can't take them both – it's too painful.' She added: 'When I've got my children sat on me giving me a cuddle their body heat can cause me to sweat and have a reaction. Her condition has become so bad that her hugging her children can trigger an episode, as their body heat makes her sweat - and bathing them can be problematic . 'Even tears can trigger the hives. I've had to train myself not to cry. 'I've learned not to get too angry or frustrated, as this can make my body flush and cause me to sweat, which can be very painful.' Due to her condition, Mrs Armitage must ensure she bathes in under 10 minutes to try and minimise the allergic reaction. 'I've found the closer the water is to body temperature the faster I react, so I have really hot baths to try lessen the reaction,'she siad. 'I also  don't drink cold water - it feels quite sharp at the back of my throat - so I stick to coffee.' Mrs Armitage, who has to keep antihistamines and an EpiPen with her at all times, also suffers from exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Previously a size eight, with a keen interest in fitness, the exercise allergy combined with side effects of her medication have seen her expand to a size 14. She discovered this second allergy just months after her urticaria diagnosis after playing on a Nintendo Wii Fit game at home. 'It was completely out of the blue,' she said. 'I couldn't breathe, I was on the floor struggling to get air into my lungs. 'Thankfully, I stopped the exercising straight away and my breathing slowed, but I was left feeling quite sick for a few days afterwards.' The mother-of-two suffers from the ultra-rare condition aquagenic urticaria – an allergy to water. She was diagnosed two years ago after her skin erupted in agonising blisters when she got caught in a rain storm. Swellings known as weals appear between 15 minutes and two hours after exposure to water . She can now tell when an episode may strike - and knows she must stop whatever she's doing when she feels the earning signs. 'I can't articulate what's happening at the time - it all becomes quite foggy in my head,' she said. On another occasion, Mrs Armitage was forced to sit on the floor, gasping for breath in the middle of Leeds' White Rose shopping centre after a reaction was triggered by simply walking up a flight of stairs. In a vicious cycle, the anaphylactic reaction causes her to sweat which, in turn, triggers her water allergy. She said: 'The two worst episodes I've had have been after no more than five minutes – the equivalent to a warm up. Urticaria, also known as hives or nettle rash, is a condition in which short-lived swellings occur anywhere on the body. These swellings (weals) may be pale, pink, or red, of different sizes and shape and itchy. As the raised weals flatten, they leave red marks that disappear usually in a day. New weals may then appear in other areas . The itchy reaction is caused by the release of histamine in response to a number of different triggers. Some form of it affects 20 per cent of people at some point. However, aquagenic urticaria - triggered by water of any temperature - is extremely rare. The weals appear between 15 minutes and two hours after exposure to water. In more severe cases drinking water can cause minor swelling in the throat. There is no known cure. Symptoms can be lessened by reducing exposure - such as taking quick showers, applying petroleum jelly to the skin as well as taking anti-histamines. 'I've had to rule out exercise completely now, it's just too much of a worry.' Mrs Armitage, who has spoken out as part of Allergy Awareness Week, has also had to teach eldest daughter Katie how to administer an EpiPen injection. Now, she faces a daily checklist to ensure she's done everything she can to avoid reactions. 'Before leaving the house I have to ask myself if I can get to the bus stop or if it's too far and likely to trigger my reactions,' she said. 'I have to check if it's going to rain and make sure I have back-up clothing in case I get too hot or too cold. 'My social life has gone to pot. 'Before, I could just say, "of course I'll come out' but now, it's, "where are we going? What's the weather? Can I park somewhere close so I don't have to walk and risk my anaphylaxis triggering?"' 'There are all these stupid little things I have to consider.' Amena Warner, nurse advisor at Allergy UK said: 'Urticaria is also known as nettle rash or hives. 'It is a red raised itchy rash and is very common, affecting one person in five at some point in their life. 'In most people, it settles quickly and is no more than a mild inconvenience, but in some people it can be severe and long lasting. 'A very rare form of urticaria is that which is triggered by water, which is called aquagenic urticaria, the red raised itchy rash comes up on contact with water. 'Treatment can help the symptoms and the person should receive specialist information from an allergist/immunologist.' This week is Allergy Awareness Week. For more information, visit the Allergy UK website.
target: Kerrie Armitage, 28, from Leeds, suffers from an allergy to water .
  External exposure to water - rather than drinking liquid - causes a reaction .
  Condition also means sweating or crying can trigger a painful flare-up .
  Also suffers from exercise-induced anaphylaxis, so has put on weight .