Why do you feel raindrops on your skin? (+15 facts)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss why you get raindrops feeling on your skin even when you are dry. We will also discuss some clinical interventions that might reduce the raindrop sensation on your skin.
Why do you feel raindrops on your skin?
You feel raindrops on your skin mainly because of the nervous system’s abnormal response. One of the common causes is paresthesia which involves abnormal sensations in the body without any apparent medical conditions.
However, other neurological diseases can also cause raindrop sensations on your skin like sciatica, and nerve damage. Due to abnormal responses to your nervous system, you might feel raindrops on your legs, hands, chest, abdomen, feet, and arms.
These sensations are often short lived and goes away on their own without any need of clinical interventions. Immediately consult your doctor if these sensation do not subside after few minutes or are constantly occuring.
What neurological factors cause raindrop sensation on the skin?
Various neurological disorders and diseases can cause raindrop sensations on the skin. Some of these factors include:
- Chronic paresthesia: Acute paresthesia occurs when you put pressure on the nerve (e.g. arm numbness while sleeping).
Chronic paresthesia might occur due to traumatic nerve damage or neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. It might also be caused by ischemic heart disease, encephalitis and transverse myelitis (1).
- Sciatica: Sciatic nerve pain can cause chronic and intermittent pain that feels like water going down in the thigh.
- Carpel tunnel syndrome: Carpel tunnel syndrome can cause nerve damage in the wrist and arm, causing subsequent raindrop sensation on the skin.
- Peripheral neuropathy: It happens when the nerves of arms, feet, and legs present outside the brain and spinal cord get damaged.
The patient often feels a tingling sensation and a feeling of wetness on their hands and feet despite being dry.
- Diabetic neuropathy: High levels of sugar in the body (diabetes) can cause nerve damage. It often damages the nerves present in the legs and feet.
- Multiple sclerosis: Although limited evidence is present, some patients have reported feelings of raindrops on their skin due to multiple sclerosis.
What other diseases cause raindrop sensation on the skin?
Other diseases and underlying causes which might cause raindrop sensation on the skin include:
- Poor blood circulation: Onstructed blood vessels can cause poor blood circulation. This leads to raindrop sensations, tingling sensations, numbness, and cold fingers.
- Tumor: When the tumor or vascular lesion presses against the brain or spinal cord it might cause increased abnormal sensations.
- Oedema: Water retention in the body might cause raindrop sensations due to fluid accumulation.
Kidney, liver, thyroid and heart disease are common causes of water retention in the body. Some nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Celebrex are also known to cause water retention.
What are the possible treatments of raindrop feeling on the skin?
The raindrop feeling cannot be stopped completely because it is often connected to the underlying disease conditions. Some of the medications that might reduce the intensity of sensations and pain include:
- Anaesthetic patches: local anaesthetic patches like lidocaine (5%) can be used to reduce the neuropathic pain causing raindrop sensations (2).
- Antiepileptic drugs: Gabapentin is often used to treat neuropathic pain, numbness, and tingling sensations associated with paresthesia.
- Capsaicin cream: It is often used to relieve pain associated with neuralgia.
I often get a feeling of water dripping on my arms but it goes away in seconds. Although some neurological diseases cannot be prevented, it is important to make lifestyle changes to reduce abnormal nerve sensations in the body.
You must take special care of your diet to improve nerve health. Green vegetables (broccoli, and spinach), nuts (walnuts and peanuts), salmon, and fruit (berries) are a rich source of magnesium and helpful in nerve repair.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Imbelloni LE, Gouveia M, editors. Paresthesia. BoD–Books on Demand; 2012 Feb 29. https://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=1H-ZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP10&dq=chronic+paresthesia&ots=TuUInjQoHK&sig=7a78f2K5VvqOiftOLhxdHTJ0bVs&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=chronic%20paresthesia&f=false
2.-
Hans G, Robert D, Verhulst J, Vercauteren M. Lidocaine 5% patch for localized neuropathic pain: progress for the patient, a new approach for the physician. Clinical pharmacology: advances and applications. 2010 Mar 30:65-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262358/
