People can try remedies such as cool compresses, aloe vera, and drinking plenty of water to ease the itch and encourage healing. Avoiding sunburn is important. This involves using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, covering the skin with clothing, and staying in the shade, particularly when the sun is at its strongest.
Cool Compress. Cooling the skin with compresses may provide relief from hell's itch. You can do this by placing a clean, wet compress or washcloth on the burn or taking a brief cool shower. 4 Avoid ice packs or ice cold water, which could numb or damage the skin.
People have described their experiences as feeling “like fire ants are biting you under your skin,” “wanting to rip your skin off” or “an uncontrollable itch that, when scratched, causes stabbing pain.” The symptoms seem to come in waves and typically relent within 48 hours.
Some symptoms of hell's itch can be treated at home, but if you show these symptoms, it's best to seek medical treatment: Chills. Dizziness or confusion. Blisters over large areas of the body.
Like sunburn, Hell's Itch is a manifestation of cutaneous damage after unprotected UV exposure. However, Hell's Itch exhibits key differences in presentation. Hell's Itch is reported as an acute, uncontrollable itch that causes stabbing pain when scratched [3].
Some things may make hell's itch worse or cause further skin injury. People with hell's itch should avoid: Using topical pain relief or numbing creams: These may cause irritation. Scratching: Scratching provides relief for only a moment before the itch returns and it may make itching worse in the long run.
Contact your health care provider if your itching is severe, does not go away after a few weeks, or does not have an apparent cause. You may need other treatments, such as medicines or light therapy. If you have an underlying disease that is causing the itching, treating that disease may help.
While your skin is peeling, keep using moisturizer. Take an anti-itch drug. An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, others) might help relieve itching as the skin begins to peel and heal underneath. Apply a soothing medicated cream.
Some hell's itch veterans swear by covering themselves in vinegar-soaked rags, or scratching the “burn” off until the entire layer of skin has gone.
Solar purpura is a skin disorder characterized by areas of purple or red discoloration, found most commonly on the arms, forearms, and legs of elderly people. It is often caused by minor traumas to sun-damaged skin, and it is diagnosed by a thorough medical evaluation.
Short-term use of nonprescription corticosteroid cream may offer short-term relief of itchy, inflamed skin. Or try calamine lotion or creams with menthol (Sarna, others), camphor, capsaicin, or a topical anesthetic, such as pramoxine (adults only).
Generally, it takes about 15 to 30 minutes for Benadryl to start working.
“A sunburn is the result of acute damage to the skin due to immediate overexposure to UV rays and does not transition into a tan. A tan is a more gradual process that develops as the skin responds to UV and tries to shield it from further harm. ”
Benadryl is quickly absorbed after oral administration and it starts to work within 30 minutes with peak effects reached within one to two hours. The effects of Benadryl last from four to six hours. Benadryl in the injectable form has a rapid onset of action.
Apply Aloe
Aloe is a tried-and-true remedy that will soothe your sunburn almost instantaneously. This succulent is known for its moisturizing, cooling and anti-inflammatory effects, providing the much-needed relief you are after.
Water is great for your health in many ways, including itch relief. Drinking more water keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out and flushes out toxins that can cause irritation. Remember, caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating and can worsen itching.
Apple cider vinegar may help reduce itching by lowering inflammation and increasing moisture in the skin, but scientists have not yet confirmed that this is the case. Vinegar can also irritate the skin and it may burn. Speak with a doctor before using it, dilute the vinegar, and do a patch test first.