Sunburn Itch Relief

You may be looking for the sunburn itch relief, because of being in the sun for long, during a shopping expedition or due to sunburns you picked up on the beach. The itching pain, that you may be experiencing, can only be described as that caused by repeated bee stings. And you are trying every home remedy for sunburn available to you, in the hope that it provides sunburn itch relief. An important fact that you are missing is that, if you are suffering from sun poisoning symptoms or sunburn itch then most probably it is secondary sunburns and you may need proper medical attention.

Sunburn Itch
Before knowing, how to treat sunburn or home remedies for sunburn, it is important to know what exactly is sunburn itch and what is its root cause. The outer layer of the skin, i.e. epidermis, is mostly composed of keratinocytes and Langerhans cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light can cause injury to cells such as keratinocytes, langerhans, melanocytes, fibroblasts, skin mast cells and leukocytes. The destruction of skin cells may release unknown proteins in the blood which may trigger the mast cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines and the histamine. The histamine is a neurotransmitter and warns other groups of the body cells of impeding foreign body attack, in this case unknown proteins, and prepares immune system to fight it off. However, invasion of histamine, in grater amount, in the other body cells causes 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.

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

• A dependable home remedy for 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, by the application of coca butter. You may have to apply it many times, because it not a instant cure.
• Application of plain aloe vera, which is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effect, may help you in getting sunburn itch relief from the nasty itch. Same results can be obtained by using aloe vera combined with lidocaine.
• Sterilized paraffin wax can help you relieve some of the pain and protect the sunburned area of the skin.
• Sunburn itch relief may be obtained by application of milk lotion or complete milk with the help of sterile cotton to the affected area of the skin.
• There are instances when using vinegar or apple cider vinegar was found to be useful in obtaining sunburn itch relief.

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

He or she may prescribe you indomethacin, which is found to be more effective than corticosteroid cream as a sunburn itch relief. Intradermal injection of indomethacin and aspirin are found to delay and decrease sunburn erythema by inhibiting prostaglandin E. The doctor may advice you to take Ibuprofen, a pain killer, and to apply a cream or lotion containing celecoxib on the sunburned area. It is found that it reduces edema, prostaglandin E levels and the formation of sunburn cells in the affected sunburned area. It also provides sunburn itch relief and prevents skin tumors, which may result from exposure to UV rays.

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 can help you avoid getting sunburn itch and there won't be any need to seek sunburn itch relief for the the painful conditions associated with it.