Sunburn Pain and Itch Relief Taking a cool shower or bath can help relieve pain from sunburn and cool your warm skin. After getting out, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel, but leave a little water. Applying a moisturizer can help replenish the skin and trap water inside to ease dryness.
Products like hydrocortisone, aloe vera gel, or Solarcaine will help cool off the skin and reduce redness. If you are shopping for sunburn treatment products: Aloe vera from a plant works slightly better than gel, but either one will help. Look for products that contain hydrocortisone or mentholated ingredients.
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. For mild to moderate sunburn, apply nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area three times a day for three days.
It's unclear exactly why hell's itch happens, but it may be due to damage in the nerve endings at the site of your burn, triggering an overreaction. It seems to happen more often with severe sunburns.
The immune cells and extra fluid squeezing into the skin cause the swelling, redness, heat and pain we know as sunburn. Blisters develop when whole sheets of cells die and lift away, and fluid fills in the space below. Later, dry peeling results when large sheets of dead cells peel off to make way for fresh ones.
Hell's itch can be painful and even excruciating in some cases. However, the itching will usually resolve within a few days as the skin heals.
Use creams, lotions or gels that soothe and cool the skin.
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).
Symptoms of sun poisoning last longer and are more severe. They start with a red rash and can progress to blisters, severe pain, swelling, and fever. Blisters indicate a second-degree burn and can result in severe complications, including: dehydration from loss of fluids and electrolytes.
In hot weather, use air-conditioning, fans, and cool showers and baths to stay cool. Dry your skin thoroughly after showering or swimming. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes made of cotton. Avoid wearing synthetic fabrics.
Management and Treatment
Covering your sunburned skin while it heals, especially when outside. Cool, damp cloths may help you feel better. Using topical cooling and hydrating gels and creams like hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel.
Hell's Itch is an inciting dermatologic reaction that can occur after sun exposure and is often characterized by symptoms such as intense pain, itching, paresthesia, and suicidal ideation.
cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes – do not use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter. make sure the person keeps warm by using a blanket, for example, but take care not to rub it against the burnt area.
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.
The fingertip test. Fingertip test for checking that skin blanches which is a normal skin reaction. Skin that does not blanch when gently pressed is damaged. Remove finger and there should be a blanched (pale) area where the finger was.
Over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs and antihistamines can reduce pain and itching, while moisturizing lotions and steroid creams can aid in healing. Prevent sunburn itch by limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
“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. ”
An aloe vera lotion or gel or calamine lotion can be soothing. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying. Avoid products with alcohol. Drink extra water for a day.
NEOSPORIN® Burn Relief First Aid Antibiotic Ointment helps relieve minor burn pain while allowing burns to heal properly by preventing infection. This topical first-aid ointment features a maximum-strength, no-sting formula to help soothe and reduce pain of minor burns, such as cooking burns.
Itching is a natural part of the healing process and can occur as new tissue forms and nerves become more active. However, excessive scratching can disrupt healing and increase infection risk. Try using gentle methods like cold compresses or moisturizers to relieve itching.