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Extreme Itching - Month Old Sunburn
Hello,
I am a fair-skinned person who had been doing some light tanning in preperation of vacation. On the day that I went to the beach (a month ago tomorrow), I made the oldest mistake in the book... I didn't use sunscreen because it was a cool and windy day with a good cloud covering. Needless to say, I got one of the worst burns of my adult life. I don't believe it was quite sun poisoning, because there was no purple skin and no throwing up, but I definitely ran a high fever and was absolutely miserable for a good week. Then the skin began to heal. There was an EPIC peel and some mild itchiness to go with it. I was diligent about using a good lotion and aloe daily.
After three weeks, the worst of the burn was gone. I'd had some areas on my chest where the skin had peeled due to abrasions with my bra and the seatbelt of my car which were very raw - but they finally seemed to be healing. (I had been putting an ointment on those diligently every day). I thought I was fine and had learned my lesson, and I returned to my water aerobics class - which I have been attending twice a week for the last 18 months, and had only missed for a few weeks because I didn't want a wet bathing suit rubbing up on my sore skin.
Within 12 hours of getting home, my skin began to itch uncontrollably - only in the areas where I had been sunburned. The skin became red again, in all the places where the burn had been the worst, even though I had not been exposted to sun. I assumed that the chlorine aggravated my skin and I have not been back since.
That was 8 days ago. Every day I use a hypoallergenic body wash and wear no perfume. I am on a diet that excludes gluten/wheat, soy, sunflowers, and peanuts due to allergies and intolerances. The itch has not gone away. It does not respond to itch creams. Benadryl spray offers minimal relief, but not total. Every lotion I use on my skin irritates it more now - the only lotion that doesn't cause near-instant painful itching is my expensive vitamin-enriched facial moisturizer. The itch gets significantly worse at night.
What should I do? Tomorrow will be the "one month sunburnaversary" and nine days since I swam in chlorine. For the record "ignore it" or "don't scratch" is not an answer that works. This itch is one that becomes increasingly intense and makes a pain deep under my skin the longer it gets ignored. For the first time in my life, I understand how people can claw their own skin off.
Thanks in advance,
Liz
I am a fair-skinned person who had been doing some light tanning in preperation of vacation. On the day that I went to the beach (a month ago tomorrow), I made the oldest mistake in the book... I didn't use sunscreen because it was a cool and windy day with a good cloud covering. Needless to say, I got one of the worst burns of my adult life. I don't believe it was quite sun poisoning, because there was no purple skin and no throwing up, but I definitely ran a high fever and was absolutely miserable for a good week. Then the skin began to heal. There was an EPIC peel and some mild itchiness to go with it. I was diligent about using a good lotion and aloe daily.
After three weeks, the worst of the burn was gone. I'd had some areas on my chest where the skin had peeled due to abrasions with my bra and the seatbelt of my car which were very raw - but they finally seemed to be healing. (I had been putting an ointment on those diligently every day). I thought I was fine and had learned my lesson, and I returned to my water aerobics class - which I have been attending twice a week for the last 18 months, and had only missed for a few weeks because I didn't want a wet bathing suit rubbing up on my sore skin.
Within 12 hours of getting home, my skin began to itch uncontrollably - only in the areas where I had been sunburned. The skin became red again, in all the places where the burn had been the worst, even though I had not been exposted to sun. I assumed that the chlorine aggravated my skin and I have not been back since.
That was 8 days ago. Every day I use a hypoallergenic body wash and wear no perfume. I am on a diet that excludes gluten/wheat, soy, sunflowers, and peanuts due to allergies and intolerances. The itch has not gone away. It does not respond to itch creams. Benadryl spray offers minimal relief, but not total. Every lotion I use on my skin irritates it more now - the only lotion that doesn't cause near-instant painful itching is my expensive vitamin-enriched facial moisturizer. The itch gets significantly worse at night.
What should I do? Tomorrow will be the "one month sunburnaversary" and nine days since I swam in chlorine. For the record "ignore it" or "don't scratch" is not an answer that works. This itch is one that becomes increasingly intense and makes a pain deep under my skin the longer it gets ignored. For the first time in my life, I understand how people can claw their own skin off.
Thanks in advance,
Liz
Best Answer
Prednisone is already helping - on day 3 of 6. Having some side effects from the rx but it's a walk in the park compared to the itching!
This is itch is caused from healing. The sunburns you all are describing are pretty bad. While the surface of the skin, our bodies natural "armor" has recovered, it would seem that the burns went deeper. Think about slow cooking meat, and the degrees of "pink" , or uncooked, meat. Your tissue should always be raw, but is now struggling to heal the layers of damage with increased blood and nerve regeneration. We all know that itches like crazy! Remember "don't scratch!"? Anyway, adding a bunch of additional sprays and additional irritants to the skin will only prolong the misery. Especially if they have any drying agents like alchohol! The best, most effective, way to relieve the itching misery is to help speed up healing. Keep it moist by using gentle hydrating lotions that do not have any perfume or other irritants. (Aveeno is great and has the oatmeal which is also soothing to irritated skin). Drink lots of water! Hydrate from the inside! Very important! Use Aloe Vera. It will cool, sooth and promote healing, but be very careful of over the counter products containing Aloe. They have to add preservatives, and scents, for marketability and shelf life, the best bet is to get a plant, split a stalk and use that. You'll have more for later use then too! Healing takes time, the irritants applied to hurt tissue (under the skin) makes it take longer. Good luck! Hope you all feel better soon.
I have the same. I am fair skinned and messed up thinking I'd be okay for a bike ride at the beach without sunscreen on back and shoulders. I was wrong. It was a regular sunburn (for us gingers) - very red and tender but not horrible. No vomiting, no sun poisoning. BUT the itching has been terrible and it was 5 weeks ago and still itching. I have found some relief with A&D ointment - diaper cream... It helps me a bit when the itching wakes me up at night. Other than that, nothing seems to help, not aloe, not lotion, not showering... Nothing. I have had many sunburns over the years and never had this itching. Must have something to do with living in SoCal where it is so dry plus the hard water. I'm also taking Claritin daily which seems to help.
The same thing happened to me, try rubbing it with cbd oil, helped for me took the itch from a 90 to a 5
it was school sports day and i was involved in marching i was burnt terribly and my hair was sprayed with grreen hair spray and after i went home i washed off the hairspray but it didnt fully come off and for the first day i did not realise that then i started having an awful very itchy pain then rashes started to appear so i put calemine lotion but it doesnt seem to be helping me was it the lotion or the hairspray the sunblock or the sunburn. my sunblock was spf 110 but i only started using it the second day of my sports day please help me
thank you in advance
ANDREW
thank you in advance
ANDREW
Heeeeelllppp! it has been 5 weeks since I went to the beach. I am still suffering with SEVERE Itching, stinging,painful stinging on the areas that I got sunburnt! It's 1:25 am & again can't sleep! I feel like I have fiberglass, & ants crawling on ,in, & under my skin. I have been sunburnt many times due to my fair skin, & never, ever have I been in agony like this ! And 5 weeks afterwards! it seems to get worse after showering & at bedtime. I have tried solarcaine spray, Benedryl cream, fungus cream, aloe gel, Benedryl tablets,lotions, cool compresses & nada! nothing is stopping my misery , severe itching, stinging & tenderness, especially on my arms! please does anyone have an answer! I live in Florida & never will I lay out in a swimsuit or exposé myself to the sun again!!!
Nurse practitioner gave me an rx for prednisone. I will update soon to let you know how it works in case anyone else ends up in the same situation.
Thank you for your help. The itching hasn't gone away yet, but sometimes it gets a little better during the day. Taking a Claritin helps a little, as does Benadryl at night, but it doesn't go away.
Every cream I have used, including Cortaid, has made it worse. So has baby oil, aloe, benadryl spray, etc. It might feel better for a minute but then right after it becomes frantically itchy!
I can't get in with a dermatologist so I am going to go to the emergency clinic at work tomorrow - I will update you on what our on-site doctor has to say!
Every cream I have used, including Cortaid, has made it worse. So has baby oil, aloe, benadryl spray, etc. It might feel better for a minute but then right after it becomes frantically itchy!
I can't get in with a dermatologist so I am going to go to the emergency clinic at work tomorrow - I will update you on what our on-site doctor has to say!
1 Comments
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. i HAVE LIGHT SKIN. WENT TO BEACH FISHING .MY NECK ,ARMS SHOULDERS AND BACK GOT SUNBURNED. DIDNT REALLY KNOW IT WAS BAD TILL SEVERAL HOURS LATER. i WAS SICK TO MY STOMACH. COLD CHILLS .ON FIRE FELT LIKE. WELL MAKE LONG STORY SHORT .COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT BLISTERED AND STARTED PEELING .AND ITCHINGGGGGG. OMG BAD. i WOULD GET A BRUSH AND SCRATCH IT WAS AND IS SO BAD. BEEN A MONTH NOW AND STILLLL ITCHES .ESPECIALLY WHEN SWEAT . NEED HELP PLEASE
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For such itchy skin after sunburn and chlorine contact dermatitis, apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps. Also wear cotton clothes and use mild detergents.
For mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide). But they are available under prescription and should be taken only after consulting a dermatologist. Also avoid going out in the sun during this time unless and until you are wearing a sunscreen.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.