itchy hands and arms

[nina62]

Hi
I have been experiencing extreme itchiness on both hands(on the back of my hand not the palms) and arms especially my righ arm up to half my fore -arm.it started 4 days ago and they look red and swollen .the affected area starts from above the thumb joint towards my wrists and forearms.(the fingers are spared)
it has burning sensation and itches mostly during daytime(not at night).
I had a much milder similar experience 3 years ago after walking on the beach for 2 hours.However I have been trying to avoid the sun and wear long sleeves while driving!
I have tried topical hydrocortisone(1-2 times daily and one day I took antihistamin claritin with no results)
please help!

[nina62]

Thanks for the commentI will do that!

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
This could be a sunburn or an allergic reaction to the sun light.Minor sunburns typically cause nothing more than slight redness and tenderness to the affected areas.The burn are occasionally followed by peeling skin in 3 to 8 days. Some peeling and itching may continue for several weeks.
This might be exacerbated by dry skin conditions.The most important aspect of sunburn care is to avoid exposure to the sun while healing and to take precautions to prevent future burns. The best treatment for most sunburns is time. Given a few weeks, they will heal; however, there are a number of treatments that help manage the discomfort or facilitate the healing process. The skin can be hydrated by applying topical products containing Aloe vera and/or vitamin E, which reduce inflammation.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunburn
In case it is an allergy you are using the right medications.Just give it some more time.In the mean time use sunscreens when you are out in the sun.