In addition to causing reddened, peeling, and painful skin, sunburn can also cause itching. Sunburn can damage the outermost layer of the skin in the form of nerve fibers that are responsible for the itching sensation. Damage from sunburn causes nerves to react so that they itch until the wound heals. Meanwhile, you can use home remedies, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription drugs to relieve itching and heal the skin.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Overcome Itching with Home Remedies
Step 1. Seek medical attention for severe burns
While they may be helpful, home remedies are usually only intended for minor burns. If you have blisters, you feel dizzy, have a fever, or the wound has a potential to become infected (pus, with red streaks, and severe pain), you should contact your doctor before attempting to treat the burn yourself.
- If you or your friend feel weak and unable to stand, feel confused, or pass out, you should call an ambulance.
- Skin that looks fatty and white, dark brown, or bulges and crusts over are signs of a third-degree burn. Although rare, sometimes sunburn can cause burns this severe. Seek medical help immediately.
Step 2. Spray the sunburn with apple cider vinegar
Vinegar is a weak acid that is sometimes used as an antiseptic. Vinegar can balance the pH of the skin so that it speeds up healing and relieves itching. The vinegar smell is strong, but it should go away after a few minutes.
- Pour apple cider vinegar into a clean spray bottle. Test it first by spraying it on a small area of the burn and see if the area is painful or has a certain reaction.
- Spray vinegar on the area that has a sunburn. No need to rub it on the skin surface.
- Spray again whenever the skin feels itchy.
- If you don't have a spray bottle, just pour a few drops of vinegar on a cotton ball or washcloth to apply to the burn.
- Some people claim that plain white vinegar has the same effect as apple cider vinegar, so you can use it in place of apple cider vinegar if it's not available.
Step 3. Soak in a warm oatmeal solution
Oatmeal can moisturize dry skin and restore the normal pH of the skin which often increases when it is dry and itchy. You can use colloidal oatmeal, which is a fine powder that floats on the surface of the water to increase its exposure to the skin's surface. Or, you can also put 3/4 cup of raw oatmeal in stockings and tie them tightly.
- Prepare warm water (hot water can actually make the skin dry and more itchy).
- Place the colloidal oatmeal in the tub while the tap water is running so that it mixes well. If using stockings, put the stockings filled with oatmeal in the tub now.
- Soak for about 10 minutes. If you feel sticky afterwards, rinse your body with lukewarm water. You can soak in the oatmeal solution up to 3 times a day.
- Be sure to dry yourself by patting the towel, not wiping it. Wiping the skin with a towel can make skin irritation worse.
Step 4. Apply diluted peppermint oil on the burn
This oil, available in most drugstores, has a soothing and soothing effect on the skin. Do not use peppermint extract as it is not the same as the oil.
- Dilute peppermint oil in a carrier oil (such as vegetable oil such as jojoba oil or coconut oil). For adults, pour 10-12 drops of peppermint oil into every 30 ml of carrier oil. For children, pregnant women, or people with sensitive skin, just pour 5-6 drops of peppermint oil.
- Test the peppermint oil on a small area of the burned skin first to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction.
- Rub the oil on sunburned skin. Your skin should feel a cold/hot sensation and the itching will subside for a while.
Step 5. Apply witch hazel to sunburned skin
Witch hazel contains tannins, which can reduce swelling, pain and itching. Witch hazel is another pretty good option if you don't want to use hydrocortisone cream.
- Apply a small amount of witch hazel cream to the burned skin (after testing it on a small area of skin to make sure you're not allergic).
- Use a cotton ball to rub the witch hazel liquid onto your skin.
- Use witch hazel up to 6 times a day to relieve pain and itching.
Method 2 of 3: Overcome Itching with Medication
Step 1. Use 0.5%-1% hydrocortisone to relieve pain and itching
Hydrocortisone is an over-the-counter steroid cream that often works well for inflammation, redness, and itching. This cream can inhibit the release of inflammatory compounds by cells so that it soothes the skin.
- Apply hydrocortisone to sunburned skin 4 times a day by rubbing it.
- Only use a small amount of hydrocortisone on the face, and not for more than 4 or 5 days.
Step 2. Use an over-the-counter antihistamine for itching
Sometimes, itching on sunburned skin is caused by immune cells releasing histamine to relay this problem to the brain. Antihistamines can suppress this reaction and temporarily relieve itching and swelling.
- Take a non-drowsy antihistamine (such as loratadine) during the day. Follow the instructions on the package to find out the dosage and how to use the medicine.
- At night, you can use diphenhydramine which can cause drowsiness. Do not try to drive a vehicle, operate machinery, or do any activity that could endanger yourself and others while using this antihistamine. Go to sleep after drinking it!
- If your skin feels very itchy, talk to your doctor about hydroxyzine. This prescription drug will suppress the body's central nervous system as well as act as an antihistamine.
Step 3. Use a topical anesthetic to relieve itching
Local anesthetics available in the form of sprays, creams, and ointments can block nerve signals in the body so that you no longer feel the itch.
- To use an aerosol spray, shake the can first, leaving it 10-15 cm away from the skin, then spray and rub gently onto the surface of the skin. Be careful not to get this medicine into the eyes.
- To use the cream, gel, or ointment, simply apply it to dry skin and gently rub it in. Look for a brand of medicine that contains aloe vera so it can also soothe the skin.
Method 3 of 3: Coping With Extreme Itching
Step 1. Take a hot shower for severe itching that doesn't respond to other treatments
If you experience severe itching (also known as "Hell Itch" that occurs about 48 hours after the skin burns), the best treatment is a hot bath. Severe itching that doesn't respond to other treatments and doesn't go away can lead to sleeplessness, depression, aggressive behavior, and suicidal ideation.
- If other treatments don't work, including medication recommended by your doctor, you can try this method. If you are under 18 years old, please consult with your parents first.
- Take a bath in water that is as hot as you can stand. Do not use soap or scrubs, hot water alone will dry out your skin, and soap will make this condition worse.
- Continue taking hot baths until the itching subsides (usually about 2 days).
- Hot showers can relieve itching because the brain can only process one sensation at a time. The heat from the water activates the pain nerves, which then suppress or numb the itching sensation.
Step 2. Consult the use of high potency steroids
If your itching is so irritating that you can't concentrate on anything else, you can't work, sleep, and feel frustrated, your doctor may be able to help you with stronger treatments. High potency steroid creams can reduce inflammation and soothe itching.
Drugs like these can only be purchased by prescription and can weaken the body's immune system, and cause severe side effects. This medicine should only be used in extreme cases
Tips
- Use sunscreen before leaving the house.
- If possible, wear comfortable clothing that isn't tight or covers sunburned skin. Burns from sunburn should be left exposed to air and not covered.
Warning
- Make sure you are not allergic to any of the drugs used.
- Severe burns and excessive exposure to sunlight can trigger skin cancer. So try to avoid the scorching sun by staying indoors from midday to around 3-4pm. Prevention is always better than any sunscreen cream.
- Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to prevent further skin damage.
