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What causes this particular type of sunburn itch?

So...I just graduated with a degree in environmental biology. I have a working knowledge of basic (I mean, VERy basic) animal (and human) physiology, but most of my courses were more "big picture" kinda things. Oh, and lots of stats.

Anyway, so 2 days ago I got this sunburn on my back. It's not horrible, but it is a healthy pink. Pretty painful. Now, I have this...condition. When I get a decent sunburn, I itch, but it's not the "normal" sunburn itch. It happens exactly 2 days after the initial sunburn. It is what I have come to know as "hell itch". I've found descriptions on numerous forums that describe this itch to a "T". It drives you insane. You become a madman/madwoman for about a day. You cannot scratch it. Any type of lotion/cream/ANYTHING causes it to itch more, ESPECIALLY the creams designed specifically for sunburn.

Now here's the deal: I'm not a sissy. I'm very outdoorsy. I can take some pain. But I can't take the "hell itch". I need to know: what causes it? I know that your body is getting rid of the dead skin cells and new skin is...blah blah blah, yeah I get that but that doesn't give me any specifics. What is the biological mechanism that drives this itching? My thinking is, if I know what causes it (specifically), I'll better know how to treat it.

For example, if it's a histamine response to the dead skin cells/debris that are still present in the skin, I would think a strong anti-histamine (prescription strength hydroxyzine perhaps? I mention this specifically because I have a small stash of it from an old prescription) would help. I also know dry skin is a leading cause of itching, but as I mentioned before lotions/skin moisturizers seem to make it unbearably worse. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. And remember: this is NOT the normal sunburn itch.
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Avatar universal
I just experienced this intense itch tonight, after using a tanning lamp 2 days ago. I received a horrible burn on my back, light burns on both upper arms and a mild burn on my face. Today, I started feeling a little itchy, and thought, ok, it's healing. But as the evening wore on, the itching increased. It then suddenly changed from itching I could stand to itching that I had to scratch, to itching, tingling, and spasming that no scratching could relive. Thank God for the Internet and those of you who bravely suffered before me. I googled "itch from hell," and stared reading, as I yowled in pain and my hubby strapped ice packs to both my arms. Hell's Itch, it would s called. I kept reading and found a to do list that started with hydrate and take an aspiring right after the burn. I can't take aspirin, but I popped an ibuprofen. Then it suggested Benadryl. Don't have any, but I do have Allegra. Pop. After that - boiling hot shower. That sounds painful. Peppermint oil - I happened to have some food grade peppermint oil that I intended to put in some chocolate candies, so I opened it and rubbed it on my arms, but it is so strong that the fumes are burning my eyes. I am laying in bed, my arms are starting to feel too, but it feels like a trail of fire ants are marching up and down my back with needles on their feet. OMG, hot shower, here I come!
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Avatar universal
HERE IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK GUARANTEED. Go to the ER and tell the ER doctor to Google Hells itch, because he probably never heard of it. Then tell them to give you an Antihistamine via IV. That will work like a charm. The only other option is, is to have someone blow a hot blow-dryer on the burnt area , but that only last as long as the blowing does. If you have easy access to an ER, that's the way to go. I tried almost everything else. I never had a greater feeling than Hells Itch becoming Heavens Slumber.
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Avatar universal
In the tub right now reading all these comments. Benadryl kicking in - Thank Goodness. Creams, sprays, allies do not work. Time, antihistamines, and hot water seems to. From now on I will never ever go the beach without spf 50 AND a swimshirt with upf protection.
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Avatar universal
My 11 year old suffered from this hell itch today exactly 48 hrs after he was in the sun.  Nothing helped {aloe, power, shower} he was screaming, crying, jumping up and down, itching and freaking out.  Thank you all for your remedies I gave him an antihistamine and put peppermint oil.. And FINALLY some relief.  If this ever happens again I will be taking him to the doctor and getting a rx for him.  THIS IS NOT A JOKE.  My heart was breaking for him I felt so helpless.  
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Avatar universal
I've had countless numbers of sun burns in my life, living in Florida and being outdoorsy ad a kid, I've had the painful burn accompanied by tiny blisters and peel skin. I even worked at a tanning salon where I received free tans so yeah, I've definitely been a lobster more times than I can count... well its now been a few years since I've been burned, being older I now know the dangers of the sun, but I was at the beach over the weekend and decided to lay out and soak up some rays... this was Saturday, it's now Monday and I'm expecting the most painful thing in my LIFE and I've given birth! I feel like I'm losing my mind, I just was able to gather my composure after I crumpled in a ball in the shower, screening in agony. This pins and needles itch is unlike anything I have EVER experienced and if I could remove the skin from my back and shoulders, I would gladly do so. I feel like I'm losing my mind! I just read a few posts about taking a HOT shower and while that seems like the LAST thing I want to do right now, it's definitely worth a shot! I'll return with my follow-up if I survive lol...
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...here's my update, I'm baffled and would love to see some science as to why that worked! I probably have 3rd degree burns on the backs of my legs but the pins and needles itch had completely disappeared!! That's the craziest thing I've ever experienced! I also took some OTC allergy medication  (not benadryl) but I'm not sure if it contributed to any relief or not... God Bless the man that made the scalding hot shower!
Avatar universal
Im currently on holiday in Thailand with my wife and our daughter and a couple of days ago I took her to the Cartoon Network Waterpark. Great fun! Highly recommended. But as it was overcast that day I delayed applying the factor 50 sunscreen to myself by about 75mins in the hope that I could get a nice little tan. My daughter was well covered from the get-go so no problems for her. I inevitably ended up with sunburn, but not bad sunburn by any stretch, and not nearly as bad as what Ive experienced in the past. Anyways, I woke up about 6.30 this morning with just a slight itching on my chest. I immediately applied more Aloe gel expecting it to provide some relief but instead I ended up in HELL!!!! My chest and my back.... HOLY $HIT!!!!! I had to do something quick before I went insane, so I took a cold shower and it did absolutely nothing! Checking the interwebs for a clue I found this and another forum- but I couldnt just risk trying the methods of hot showers, cool packs, 100% peppermint oil etc etc, as Im due to be on a 14 hour flight back to Edinburgh in 2 days, so it was straight to the Emergency Room at the shiniest looking local hospital. Was given an injection of something, not sure what it was, but was told it was for the itching. Within 30mins the itching had subsided to a tolerable level. The relief was immense! Now taking 10mg of Hydroxyzine 3 times a day after meals and 10mg of Prednisolone 4 times a day and it seems to be doing the trick rather nicely. As a precaution though, I attempted to obtain the peppermint oil just in case the effects of the meds start to wear out before my flight- but to no avail. I swear that if I board that plane and this Hells Itch, Insanity Causing Itch, Suicide Itch, or whatever you want to call it, flares up again, I will be imprisoned in some backwards country and be shamed as the person who disrupted a bunch of peoples travel plans as our plane was forced into an emergency landing due to my in-flight shenanigans. And as far as the pain and discomfort on a scale from 0-10 goes, I give this sucker 1000!!!!!!!! If they could bottle this beast and disperse it over a large populace, it would definitely be classified as a WMD.

And BTW, I'm brown haired with nice tanning skin, unlike the Ginger haired, freckled, pink skinned type you normally associate with Scotland.

Seriously though, this condition demands more professional research and greater public awareness for sure.
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1 Comments
Second time I have had this HORRENDOUS itch , I have tried every cream home remedies you name it I have tried it !!!!! Only thing that does actually work for me is Benadryl and BOILING hot showers !!!! Whenever you feel the itch returning get straight in the shower as hot as you can take it ... I get about 45 mins relief in between showers which is better than I have had all day
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