Summertime means heading outdoors for picnics, hikes, or swimming at the beach. Having fun in the sun is a great way to spend time with family and friends while enjoying nature. However, too much sun — or not enough sunscreen in your skincare routine — can leave you with a sunburn by the end of the day.
Sunburn can range from mild to severe, causing moderate soreness, blistering, and pain. For some, sunburn also comes with itching, a side effect that can make an already uncomfortable situation even worse.
Signs of Sunburn
Sunburn is a kind of skin damage caused by too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Anyone can get sunburned, and it can happen even in overcast conditions.
Signs of sunburn include:1
- Skin that appears red, dark, or pink and shows signs of inflammation
- Skin that feels warm or hot to the touch
- Pain, tenderness, itching, or swelling in the affected area
- Small, fluid-filled blisters
Severe sunburn may cause headaches, fever, nausea, and fatigue.
Why Does My Sunburn Itch?
Mild itching is a common symptom of sunburn. Many minor wounds and burns itch during the healing process. Sunburn causes dryness and peeling of the affected skin, making it itchy.
Some people experience severe itching when they get sunburned. This goes beyond the usual mild itch and is described as a deep, painful, and persistent itch, sometimes referred to as “Hell’s Itch.”
Hell’s Itch symptoms typically appear 24 to 72 hours after sun exposure. It often affects the shoulders and back but can occur anywhere that’s sunburned. The sensation is extremely painful, with some people saying it feels like fire ants. Scratching the itch can cause severe pain and worsen the discomfort.2
Itchy Sunburn Causes
Experts aren’t sure what causes the severe itching associated with sunburn. Anecdotal reports indicate it affects only a small number of people, and it’s not clear if they get Hell’s Itch with every sunburn. It appears to be more common with severe sunburn.3
Itchy Sunburn Relief
There are many tried-and-true tactics for reducing sunburn pain, some of which can also provide relief for Hell’s Itch. You can try home care options such as:4
- Applying cool compresses or ice packs to reduce pain and inflammation
- Using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen
- Taking over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine or fexofenadine to reduce itching
- Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area (avoid ointments, as they can trap heat)
- Soaking in an oatmeal bath
- Drinking plenty of fluids
Aloe vera is another home remedy for sunburn that may help with Hell’s Itch.5 You can buy aloe vera gel at many drugstores or use the gel directly from an aloe plant if available. You might want to test it on a small area first to make sure it helps before applying it to the entire sunburned area.
You should not scratch the itchy skin, as it can aggravate inflammation and potentially open any blisters that have developed. This increases the risk of infection.
Hell’s Itch usually eases after a day or two. You can prevent itching in the future by limiting sun exposure. Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen as part of your regular skincare routine and reapply it every two hours. Cover your skin with light, breathable clothing, and wear a brimmed hat when spending time outdoors.
To learn more about sun protection, talk to a dermatologist near you or keep reading My Skincare Routine articles for more skincare tips.
SOURCES:
- Mayo Clinic: “Sunburn.“
- Cleveland Clinic: “What the Heck Is Hell’s Itch?“
- Medical News Today: “Sunburn and hell’s itch: How to get relief.“
- Cleveland Clinic: “What the Heck Is Hell’s Itch?“
- Medical News Today: “Sunburn and hell’s itch: How to get relief.“