Sunburn with horrible Pins and Needles Sensation

[cf_gal]

Hi...I am a 28 year old female.  I rarely sunburn and can count the number of times on one hand.  However, three days ago, I spent about three hours at the pool.  I covered myself in sunscreen prior to going and while there.  When I came back, it appeared I had a nice tan.  Then, as the hours passed, my back and the back of my legs became very red.  Since I was in the sun, I spent even time on both sides of my body so as to get an even tan, but for some reason only my back side burned.  

The real issue here is that now, after three days, I am experiencing extremely uncomfortable sensations that feel like pins and needles in addition to the fact that the burn hurts to touch, is hot, and red (although some redness has now gone away and some of the heat radiating from the burn has subsided).  Is this normal for a sunburn?  I haven't had enough of them to know really.  But, I have literally been awake all night and in tears because I cannot bear this sensation of pins and needles.  Is there anything that I can do to make this stop?  I am desperate.  I work and cannot function without sleep.  I cannot take off work as right now as I have deadlines that must be completed on time.  Please...is there anything that might help???  This is terrible.

Thank you for assistance.


This discussion is related to Sunburn .

[MarkPenn]

Thank You to everyone who posted before me; so glad to know I'm not alone with this!  I have had this twice now; this is my 2nd experience.  I found some relief drinking TONS of Gatorade and water to stay hydrated, and I took  800 MG Tylenol PM, combined with 800 MG Advil or Aleve liquid-gels but did not take meds on an empty stomach--  I was sure to eat first. I know I cannot / will not sleep for 2 days until this passes.  I might "pass out" from exhaustion and get a little sleep, but it won't be much.  I will try to get some Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton Allergy 12 hour oral tablet) tomorrow and hope that helps too.  The pins & needles really ARE quite beyond belief!  In fact, my first experience I was in the Army and they threatened me with court-martial if I insisted on going to sick call with a sunburn, but the pins & needles were INSANE so I said I didn't care (they never did, but I would have willingly been tried because the pain was too extreme to not seek help.)  Luckily it does pass and clear up in just 2-3 days so think how good you'll enjoy your sleep then.  In the interim, dear Lord I offer up my pain as a sacrifice for all those who are suffering with this condition but do not have the internet or did not think to search here; we know they are alone and in agony, and I ask that my suffering may be acceptable to you for their benefit, oh Lord-- please help them!  Please Lord give some relief (and sleep) to them who need it the most.  Amen.

[Slackmamf]

Paracetamol and a good antihistamine are very good for this excruciatingly painful pins and needles sensation brought on by the sun

[Slackmamf]

The antihistamine in tablet form works best...

[Stevelawson93]

Thanks so much for recommending hot water. I honestly thought a hot shower would add more burning sensation to the sunburn but infact took the pain away. I only happened to try it as a last resort as the aloe gel and moisturiser turned into a sharp prickly heat which pulsed across my back, chest and stomach. I couldn't bare it for much longer so jumped in the shower and turned to heat to roughly 40 degrees. Funny enough I didn't experience any burning sensation but slowly felt the pickling fade away within minutes. I don't understand why this works and why Google's "best ways to stop sun burn" is using creams and cold heat which only added further pain and irritation. Thanks to your comments I can now soothe the pain

[USMDude]

I just had the same sort of feeling two nights ago for the first time with a sunburn. The way I described it to my wife was like being electrocuted over and over again in a few spots. A cold shower directly on the painful areas was somewhat helpful but the ultimate answer appeared to be Benadryl anti-itch cream. It took about 30 minutes to start working, but thankfully it did. I was about to have my wife call 911 because I had never felt pain like that before (sunburn or not).

[Smanc71]

I have had this 3 times in my life and I am no baby but I am DEATHLY afraid of the sun now because of this feeling. My father called me a baby, my wife thought I was just burnt and a baby.  Until tonight.  When my son got the same reaction.  The twisting contortions movements.  And my son has the highest pain tolerance we have ever witnessed.   He didn't flinch when his appendix burst.  No lie.  He is flipping out now.  I bought benzocaine 20% spray and calydrl clear lotion.  This is day 2 after burn.  Just like mine.  It is working for him so far.  I wish my father ran out an bought up Walgreens to help.  I will post tomorrow.   I hope he doesn't go through more of what I and others did.  This was horrific for me and for us to watch with him.  Anyone know a medical term for it?  Seems like it's not just burn but a a sensitivity to the burn.  I am Italian with olive skin.  He is part Italian.   Anyone else here have a particular ethnicity or sKim pigmentation that might explain the sensitivity?

[Oggy1987]

HOT SHOWERS OR BATHS!!! I had the same "hells itch" in Mexico 3 years ago and am now stupidly in the same position experiencing It again only this time in Thailand, anything cold drives me crazy....Air con, bath or showers, towels, after sun, sudocreme and other lotions, just stick to a HOT as you can bare shower or bath for half an hour at at time and be patient, the affected area still tingles for a while but the sensation of someone driving pins deep into your (in my case back) is lessened massively and will all go away I found in a few hours, hope this helps anyone reading it.