Sunburn Itch Relief

You may be looking for the sunburn itch relief because of sunburns you picked up on the beach. The itching pain, that you may be experiencing, can only be compared to that caused by repeated bee stings. In such situations, one tends to use every home remedy that is available, in the hope that it will provide relief from the sunburn itch.

Sunburn Itch
Before knowing about how to treat a sunburn itch or home remedies for it, it is important to know root cause and the working of the itch. The outer layer of the skin i.e. epidermis, is mostly composed of keratinocytes and Langerhans cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light can cause injury to the skin cells such as keratinocytes, langerhans, melanocytes, fibroblasts, skin mast cells and leukocytes. The destruction of skin cells releases certain proteins in the blood which triggers the mast cells to release pro-inflammatory histamine and cytokines. Histamine is a neurotransmitter and its presence in the blood is a sign that something is not right with the body. In such a situation, bodies immune system thinking that it is a case of infection, gears itself against the foreign bodies which, in this case are the proteins. In addition, more than normal levels of histamine in the blood causes you to suffer from the chronic inflammation and itch for a long time.

The presence of histamine in the blood, stimulates secretion of prostaglandin E, a neurotransmitter. Both, the histamine and the prostaglandin E, acts as vasodilators and escalates ultraviolet erythema, which is abnormal redness of the skin. This may explain sunburn itch and why you need to wait for a long time to obtain complete sunburn itch relief.

Home Remedies for Sunburn
When you are restless because of the sunburn itch and looking for relief, you tend to try anything. The following is a list of few home remedies for it that may help you:

• A dependable home remedy for the sunburns is to spend 15-20 minutes under a cool water tap. This may help you sooth your sunburns. Don't rub the skin while drying it and use soft towel.
• The dryness caused in the sunburned area can be countered by maintaining the skin moist such as by application of coca butter. You may have to apply it many times to the affected area, because it not an instant cure.
• Application of plain Aloe vera, which is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effect, may help you in getting relief from the nasty itch. Results can also be obtained by using Aloe vera combined with lidocaine.
• Sterilized paraffin wax can help you in relieving some of the pain and protect the sunburned area of the skin.
• Application of milk lotion or complete milk with the help of a sterile cotton gauze to the affected area may also bring relief to you.
• Another approach to get rid of sunburn itch is to restore the pH of skin. Add a cupful of baking soda to a tub full of lukewarm water. The baking soda acts as a neutralizer and the bath, eventually, allows your skin to cool down and breath.
• Ever heard of oatmeal bath being useful to get relief from the sunburn. Add a half a cup of oatmeal to a tub full of water and lie in it for a while before washing it off.
• There are instances when using vinegar or apple cider vinegar was found to be useful.
• Tea is also useful in getting relief from the pain and itch that a sunburn causes. Make it very strong so as to make it high in Tannic acid. It is the ingredient that helps this home remedy fight the sunburn. Store and cool the tea in refrigerator. While using it, soak a clean cloth in it and apply to the injured site.

Medical Advice for Sunburn
When home remedies fails to relieve you of the inflammation and the pain associated with a sunburn, it is advisable to seek medical advice. A medical professional is in the best position to judge, which treatments for sunburn can offer relief to you.

The doctor may prescribe you indomethacin, which is found to be more effective in treating sunburns than the corticosteroid creams. Studies show that intradermal injection of indomethacin and aspirin decreases sunburn erythema by inhibiting prostaglandin E. The doctor, depending on the severity of the sunburns, may also prescribe you to take Ibuprofen, a pain killer, and to apply a cream or lotion containing celecoxib to the affected area. It is found that it reduces edema and prostaglandin E levels which, in turn, provides relief. It also prevents skin tumors from forming as a result of exposure to UV rays.

Preventing a Sunburn
It is known that, "Prevention is better than cure." How to prevent sunburn peeling that is associated with a sunburn is a question that is often aired. Zinc oxide sunblock or suncream lotions containing antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C are a great help in avoiding a sunburn.

It is important to understand that if you have received secondary sunburns, they won't respond to the home remedies that easily. So the trick, while treating sunburns, is in knowing when to visit a medical professional and get proper advice.