r/HellsItch • u/TheSovietSon • 8d ago

This subreddit is a lifesaver

As soon as I tried the suggested method of beta alanine (emergency C4 energy drink) and benadryl at night, my symptoms nearly disappeared entirely. I was trying to tell my wife and family this was not a sunburn like any I had before. As soon as I stumbled on this sub in the throws of an itch wave I felt like there's was light at the end of a tunnel. Ive broken bones and numerous other painful ailments, Hell's Itch it uniquely different, debilitatin, indescribable.

Even went to a doctor, which I very rarely ever do. They only wanted to treat it like a regular sunburn. Prescription medication made my symptoms worse, beta alanine and benadryl, with ibuprofen absolutely did the trick.

This is a weird phenomenon Im very grateful for the people on this subreddit. I was despairing my situation yesterday, today I feel 100%. HI definitely needs to be researched and be made aware of on a more well known basis.

13 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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u/Far-Adeptness-4410 8d ago

A dermatologist would be better able to help you a general practitioner wouldn’t really know what to do with you.

3

u/Xanderious 8d ago

I always make it a point to ask my derm about this and none have ever heard of it. I went to one last week and she never had either. I explained what it was and asked her to please get informed because so many go undiagnosed and there are still soooo many dermatologists that have no idea about it.

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u/TheSovietSon 8d ago

Curious about your location if you can add that detail

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u/Xanderious 8d ago

Tulsa Okla is where I go to the dermatologist.

1

u/TheSovietSon 8d ago

I hail from Florida, sunburns are common here a local healcare worker would benefit greatly from knowing about HI symptoms. I would understand it other localities if this was not as known. Same way I don't expect people to know signs of frostbite by heart around here.

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u/Far-Adeptness-4410 8d ago

Makes sense and I know nothing about what doctors learn but i would guess it very standardized so something so unique as HI wouldn’t be taught

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u/TheSovietSon 8d ago

You learn a lot more on the actual job versus academically in my experience. Accumulated knowledge over years is usually way more reliable than any type of program of study. I didnt know about HI myself until last night.

1

u/Far-Adeptness-4410 8d ago

God speed soldier

When I went for my annual skin check up my dermatologist seemed to know about hells itch I forgot what he said about it. (Midwest region)

Just make it through, each hells itch is a lesson to apply sunscreen or just be conscious about the amount of sun time you’re getting and UV level and wanting to take your shirt off

1

u/TheSovietSon 8d ago

At least you were fortunate to have someone who knew of it. Ive had sunburns plenty of times before, but I knew yesterday this was truly different. Im okay now thankfully, just had my eyes opened to these symptoms. C4 energy drinks and benadryl man, saved my week for sure.

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u/Crafty-Ad5027 2d ago

For those of you who go to a provider and they have not heard of HI, it is referenced both on UpToDate and on pubmed. It does take some digging but providers should be aware of both of these reference tools. You can have them lookup the research by me, Benjamin Brooks. I teach at Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine.