Causes of hells itch how to#

To prevent Hell's Itch, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when outdoors. Some Reddit users reported using aloe vera reduced their redness but worsened the burning and itching sensation.Īvoiding hot showers and creams with unknown herbal components is also recommended. Sufferers can take ibuprofen or aspirin to try and ease their pain.Īccording to Healthline, other at-home remedies include: Leffell advised anyone experiencing Hell's Itch to contact their doctor for prescribed medications such as a prescription-strength steroid cream. 'The key is getting through the couple of days of potentially severe discomfort.' 'The condition is self-limited but does resolve on its own,' he shared. There is currently no 'cure' or 'treatment' for the condition. Leffell, Hell's Itch is under-researched and poorly understood.

Causes of hells itch how to#

How to Treat Hell's Itch:Īccording to Dr. Some Reddit users described their symptoms as feeling like 'if fire ants are crawling and biting' the affected area. While itchiness and peeling skin are not uncommon symptoms of sunburn, Hell's Itch is coupled with deep, throbbing pain. Hell's Itch symptoms typically appear 24 to 72 hours after extreme sun exposure and most commonly affect the shoulders and back where adequate SPF was not applied. While a painful sunburn is bad enough, one Reddit users described Hell's Itch as 'considerably uncomfortable, a horrendous needle-throughout-my-back situation.' What Are the Symptoms of Hell's Itch? Leffell, MD, section chief of the Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology Programs at Yale Medicine, explained. Some have described it as deep sandpaper rubbing on the skin or severe pins and needles,' dermatologist David J.

'It is described as a maddening, uncontrollable itch of the affected skin. What Is Hell's Itch?Īccording to Healthline, Hell's Itch is an extremely uncomfortable response to an intense sunburn that affects 5 to 10 percent of people. Read on to find out more about Hell's Itch.