Never heard of such a thing until this morning.
Was out in the garden Saturday planting tomatoes and took off my shirt for about a half hour, first time this summer. I'm fairly dark completed and spend a lot of time on the boat, and usually have a pretty good tan by now but the weather this spring has been a lot of cloudy and damp so I'm behind. Got a minor sunburn. Had wife put some aloe on it that night and last night, no problems.
Was out in the office doing some computer work this morning when my back started itching. Kept getting worse, thought maybe it was something in my shirt, so took it off. Still kept getting worse, just on my back mostly where I couldn't reach it. Nobody else home, finally got so bad I got in the shower thinking that might help. It did for a few minutes, but it started again. Felt like I had on a fiberglass shirt. Put up with it for awhile, finally got back in the shower. Looked it up and found this.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc ="s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CA8QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medhelp.org%2Fposts%2FDermatology%2FWhat-causes-this-particular-type-of-sunburn-itch%2Fshow%2F1301105&ei=x5tjVfivJ4WmyQT_2YGoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHXwRFsSxMznifXJdkE3uEWQm-rcg&sig2=1cZqTXvWWQv8puO1RLaAqg"
Sounds like it exactly. Wife came home, found some Benadryl and took a couple, and had her apply a generous dose of Benadryl cream, still itching. Then tried coating it with Vaseline, and so far that's working. Hopefully it continues. It's every bit as bad as described in the link.
Over the years I have experienced "the itch" from a bad sunburn. There's lots of things you can try. If something gives you some relief, stick with it.
I don't remember who suggested it to me, but I've found relief with an astringent mixture of brewed tea and apple cider vinegar. Approximately half and half, diluted with water after mixture. I've sponged it on daintily and I've poured it on with frustration.
I has worked for me. Although I swore off sunburns about ten years ago when the dermatologist started whittling bad spots off of me like last year's storage apple.
There is not much point in your wife taking the Benadryl! 😛
On a more serious note, I hope that it subsides VERY soon.
I have never had to use this myself for sunburn, but growing up at the beach the EMT's would advise a paste made of white viniger and baking soda to be spread on the sunburned area. Same recipe as used for jelly-fish stings. Now that I can vouch for it working on. From what I remember it does really cool the skin down almost instantly.
Hope something works for you.
I have experienced that before. It is unbearable, at least the case I had was. I never, and I mean never, take my shirt off outside any more.
My case happened about 20 years ago, and I got sunburned at my mom's pool. It felt like my skin was crawling, and I was so close to going to the emergency room. I thought I was going to go crazy.
Now I wear long sleeve shirts in the field as much as possible, and almost always wear a wide brimmed hat in the field. Two of my mentors have been cut on enough by the dermatologists that I am trying to learn by their experiences.
I hope it eases up soon.
The rest of the story
Well, after about 8 hours of it is was over. Got a good night's sleep and feels fine today. One of the folks posting in that link pretty much summed up what it feels like.
I just had what you guys are calling "hell itch" for the first time this week, and I'd put the pain on the same level as the kidney stone I passed several years ago and with the pain I experienced when I threw my back out several years ago as well and couldn't move. I've heard many women say that the pain of this itch is worse than childbirth. Like a former commenter said, it's like a thousand knives being plunged into your skin or, as I described it to my fiance, like being attacked by a thousand wasps.
And as a few said, it started about exactly 48 hours after the burn. Benadryl cream, Vaseline, Benadryl pills,and a couple of beers, that's what it took.
The rest of the story
>...Vaseline...pills, and a couple of beers, that's what it took.
Sounds like a typical three day weekend 😉
The rest of the story
> >...Vaseline...pills, and a couple of beers, that's what it took.
>
> Sounds like a typical three day weekend 😉
and didn't require a two week course of penicillin. 😉
My ex woke up one night after a day in the sun. She looked like she was scratching her skin off. I asked what was going on and she said her body was itching and tingling all over. I turned on the light and her face looked like she'd gone a few rounds with Ali. Sun poisoning. To this day she can't get a mild burn without swelling up and getting sick.
I encourage the young guys to get long sleeve shirts and wide brim hats. Not only can you end your career you can take a huge chunk of enjoyment out of life...
A Sunscreen Recommendation
I use Supergoop sunscreen and have found it to be far superior to any other product I have tried.
Here is a link to the manufacturers site although I am sure my wife finds it for cheaper elsewhere online.
http://www.supergoop.com/shop/everyday-with-cellular-response-technology/
I worked at a shop with 8 senior party chiefs who had decades of experience and seven of them had had skin cancer in one form or another.
I've never heard it called that.
Solarcaine always worked me when I used to get burnt.
I used to get real bad sunburns when I was a kid.
Now I have permanent scars on my shoulders.
Like others, I no longer ever take my shirt off outdoors - ever.
Rarely out in shorts either but that's on account of skeeters and bees.
