I believe I know your pain but I know it as "Hells Itch." I've read about it bringing marines to their knees and people going as far as to take a lighter to the affected area because the burn is a relief from the itch. I started with a dose and a half of benadryl or anything with a antihistamine in it. Start at a bigger dose then continue to use it as directed on the container, hope I could help. Let me know if there's other questions.

The peppermint oil worked wonders for my back, are you sure you didn't have something else?

The peppermint oil worked wonders for my back, are you sure you didn't have something else?

It is not for treatment of itch from sunburn this is different and Yes it does work. This is the first time my daughter has had the pinching and biting sensation not itching that comes later with sunburn and peppermint oil was the only thing that gave her relief. She was ready to go to ER before I read this and put Peppermint oil on her. She has been sunburn lots of times before but this was the first time that this has happened

i recently got sunburn and had the terrible itch. The itch i get far outweighs any pain you could have from sunburn. It is not the first time I've been sunburn and got the extremely agonizing itch. I always felt if you could reproduce this feeling it would be the perfect torture method for our army as it will drive you nuts in a short period of time.  I have tried everything to figure out how to control this wretched feeling, from aloes which seem to only make matters, to applying vinegar to my itch which helped a little, both of which I've read to do from the internet.  I again turned to the internet this time looking for a better solution and i found it. I read a few places about 100% peppermint oil that will extinguish the itch so i tried it. I could not believe the results from this remedy, it truly works! I applied it direct;y to my skin and within 20 minutes i completely forgot that i was even itching. It's powers lasted around 4 hours before i had to reapply, but it absolutely works and worth your time. I picked some up from GNC, it costed about $7.00 for the small bottle, but they have a larger bottle as well. Today is 8/8/12

PEPPERMINT OIL WILL NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THIS DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I JUST WENT OUT AND BOUGHT IT LIKE YOU SAID AND NOW IM STANDING ON MY POURCH UNABLE TO BREATHE ITCHING WORSE THEN BEFORE!!!!!!!!

My father, my brothers and I have all experienced exactly what you are describing.  Until someone experiences this it is really hard to understand the intensity and the lack of treatment available.  I searched this out on the internet to offer help to those experiencing it as well.  

After literally spending days in cold showers and anguishing hours....we found a solution. PEPPERMINT OIL.  NOT Peppermint extract, PURE PEPPERMINT OIL.  You can find it at health food and natural food stores.  Some knowing pharmacists will carry it.   Apply directly to the burn.  Your hands or the hands of whoever applies it will feel quite cool for hours or days after because of the effect of the oil, but it is not painful at all (just don't touch your eyes, mouth or nose.   It smells like a candy cane factory for a few days....which after finally getting relief from this awful experience, will become the best smell in the world.  

It seems to work by opening the pores and releasing the heat held deep in the nerves.  

Peppermint oil is pretty strong to apply directly to the skin but it generally only requires one thorough application all over the affected area.  This DOES work.  This is the only thing that really works for this.  It is really quite amazing how well it works too considering how nothing else touches it.

What DOES NOT WORK.... ANY Kind of lotion or gel or cream makes it worse.  

This holds the heat, which is already being held in, and is continuing it's burn at the nerve level.  Avoid any chlorinated or treated water (especially hot tubs... though the pressure of the jets can divert temporarily just like cold shower spray, it is only temporary and can make it worse).

Just so you know, like you, we always experience this at least one to two days AFTER the initial sun burn.  We are not sure why we experience this and so many others do not but we highly recommend that you never repeat this kind of sun exposure.  It will reoccur.  Keep a fresh bottle of peppermint oil on hand just in case and if you ever meet anyone else who has gone through this pass on the word.